Archived News:
Sony Online Entertainment reveals plans to discontinue four of their MMOGs,
announcing March 31st will be the last day for
Free
Realms and
Clone Wars Adventures and that July 31st will see the closure of
Vanguard and
Wizardry Online (thanks
Massively). Where appropriate, subscriptions to these games will be
converted to SOE's new
all-access plan.
Each farewell message expresses regrets, with the Free Realms site going so far
as to say "even our own president's kids are huge fans and active players of the
game," but the Vanguard site offers the most detail on the reasons behind the
move: But here's the deal...player population numbers have decreased
making it difficult to justify the resources needed to support and update this
game. This is an older game and we're experiencing more and more technical
challenges to continue running and updating it in a way you deserve. Simply put,
these are issues that cannot be fixed in the long term and as a player, we would
be doing you a disservice and going against our company commitment to provide
the best gameplay experiences. So given this information, sunsetting the game
later this year is the inevitable conclusion.
Again, this is not a decision that we approached lightly or without serious
thought and examination. We've grown with you and the community throughout the
years and shutting down the game is certainly not ideal, but necessary
regardless.
SOE announces system requirements for the EverQuest Next alpha
(thanks
Ten Ton Hammer), in what may not be ideal timing in light of today's
announcement they are closing four other MMOGs. Interestingly, even the
minimum specs call for Windows 7 64-bit and 4 GB of RAM, and they note that
those who have purchased the Founder's Pack but feel their computer may not be
up to the task are entitled to a full refund. Here's the deal: As we
prepare for the beginning of EQN Landmark Alpha, we would like to share the
initial system requirements. Please note that these are our initial pre-Alpha
requirements. We will be performing optimizations throughout our testing period
and hope to lower these requirements over time.
Continue here to read the full story.
The
Call of Duty website announces that a double XP weekend is underway for
Call of Duty: Ghosts on all platforms, celebrating the imminent Xbox LIVE
release of the Onslaught DLC for the military shooter sequel. Here's the
deal: To celebrate next week's release of the Onslaught DLC Pack, we're
turning on Double XP this weekend for all platforms! From Friday, January 24th
(10am/PST) to Monday, January 27th (10am/PST), earn twice as much XP on all of
your Multiplayer and Squads accomplishments.
Looks like an NDA may have expired, as a few previews of Thief are online
today, offering looks at Eidos Montreal's upcoming reboot of the stealth/action
series. There are previews covering an unspecified amount of the game on
CVG and
Polygon, while the previews on
Destructoid and
Strategy Informer each boast hands-on impressions of the first four
hours of the game, which is probably not a coincidence, as the
Thief preview on games.on.net says it covers the same span. That last
article also includes a
seven-minute video
with new gameplay footage to accompany their impressions and there's also a
preview on Eurogamer with
their own gameplay video,
which runs nine minutes. Continue here to read the full story.
Paradox Interactive announces plans to add a new Duel Mode to Magicka: Wizard Wars, the upcoming PvP installment in the Magicka series of
madcap fantasy strategy games. Wizard Wars is currently in Early Access
on Steam, and the new
mode was inspired by the feedback from those already playing, as they explain:
"The new Duel Mode update was created in direct response to fan feedback
received during the Early Access phase, designed by Paradox North for fans who
wanted their conjuring chaos to get a little more personal, with purely
skill-based combat uninterrupted by one’s clumsy team-killing friends. Duel Mode
also gives new players a new opportunity to learn from expert wizards, watching
them in action and studying their moves before their own trial by fire and/or
lightning-infused jets of steam."
This trailer shows off
the new mode, and here's more on the plan: Paradox Interactive, a
publisher of games and a duel citizen, today at the Paradox Interactive
Convention in Miami announced the upcoming addition of a fast-paced Duel Mode to
Magicka: Wizard Wars, the upcoming multi-player spell-slinging game from Paradox
North. In Duel Mode, four players will step into an arena with a shortage of
personal space, and two randomly chosen players will begin the battle in a
one-on-one format while the others witness the carnage. When one wizard falls, a
spectator will take their place, with all four players cycling into the game
until one robe warrior has scored six murders – making them the champion. Duel
Mode will be added to Magicka: Wizard Wars in the very near
future.
Continue here to read the full story.
- A-Men on
Steam. Save 20%.
- Car Mechanic Simulator 2014 on
Steam. Save 25%.
- Guise Of The Wolf on
Steam. Save 30%.
- Nordic Nights Weekend Promo on
GOG.com.
Save 60%.
- Retro City Rampage on
Steam. Save 80%.
Indie developer Snowed In Studios is now accepting preorders for WindForge on
the WindForge website, saying
the game will launch on Steam on March 7th following a successful Greenlight
campaign. The game's development also relied on crowdfunding through a
Kickstarter campaign, and the prerelease version of the game that backers
received last month is now available to those who preorder. Here's word: "WindForge
is an RPG that allows players to build their own airships and explore the
hostile skies. It mixes 2D-shooter action with the freedom to create and
explore." A new official trailer
shows off gameplay. Continue here to read the full story.
The
Kickstarter for Kingdom Come: Deliverance shows that this
first-person RPG from Warhorse Studios hit its £300,000 funding goal just a
couple of days after the campaign kicked off. The fundraiser is now 10% past its
initial goal with almost four weeks remaining, but no stretch goals are listed
to suggest how additional funds will be utilized (Ned Beatty voice acting
perhaps?). The game promises "Realistic single-player RPG set in the medieval
Europe. Open-world sandbox with period accurate melee combat. Dungeons & no
Dragons." Its release is currently expected in the fourth quarter of next year
for Windows, OS X, and Linux.
Capcom Unity offers side-by-side comparisons of the original Resident
Evil 4 and Resident Evil 4 HD, the
recently announced improved edition
of the survival/horror sequel, which is coming to Windows PCs next month. They
show the impact of the game's new high definition textures compared to the
cruder look of the original, saying users can switch on the fly between SD and
HD graphics via a menu toggle. They also note that for those with high-end
systems, extreme resolutions are available, if not officially supported: "And
while 1920x1080 is the official supported resolution, you can crank things up to
2560x1600 or 2560x1440 if ya like - though be aware these aren't formal
suggestions so performance isn't assured. We've had it running great at those
sizes, but stick to 1920x1080 for optimal Plagas punishment." They also
offer links to this
trailer of the HD edition, showing it cranking along at 60 frames per
second.
This trailer features a
little play-testing of Daylight, showing the reaction of some ATLUS staff
while playing the upcoming survival/horror game and having the daylights scared
out of them. No gameplay footage or skivvies checking is shown. Continue here to read the full story.
Today is the 79th anniversary of the
debut of canned beer,
revolutionizing suds distribution forever. I don't mind canned beer at all
myself, though I know a lot of people who swear by bottles to avoid a metal
taste. I have never noticed such a taste in beer myself, whether it is served
in the reviled can or the purist's way straight from the tap, even though the
keg tap beer comes from is basically a gigantic can.
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