Archived News:

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2014

Battlefield 4 "Netcode" Patch

The Battlefield Blog announces the patches to address problems in the "netcode" (never forget the airquotes) for Battlefield 4 are now available for the Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 editions of the military shooter sequel, with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 patches will follow later this week. They offer a video showing the impact of the patch, and explain how their new "high frequency bubble" helps make this work:
For the PC, PS4, and Xbox One platforms, we are adding something we nicknamed the “High Frequency Bubble”.

Within a certain radius of the player, we add the possibility to update the clients at a higher rate from the server. What this essentially means is that the server will update the client on what is happening more often than before. This normally results in a smoother, more “correct” player experience.

The High Frequency Update is by default turned OFF in this release. You will have to enable this setting to take advantage of the improved networking. To support players with a limited bandwidth connection, we support three different levels: LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH. Most players with a connection faster than 1Mbit should be fine using the HIGH setting. If you experience any issues, lower or turn off the setting completely.
Continue here to read the full story.

Gus Fring Reveals New PAYDAY 2 DLC

Overkill Software now offers a new "The Dentist" trailer from PAYDAY 2, their heist sequel. The live action trailer features both halves of a familiar face, as the substitute dentist/new contact is played by Giancarlo Esposito, aka Gus Fring from Breaking Bad. This teases a new DLC coming in two weeks on June 17th. Here are some details on the pack courtesy of All Games Beta:
Starbreeze, one of Sweden's leading independent game developers, today announce that the sixth DLC pack for PayDay 2, titled “The Big Bank Heist”, will be launched on Steam on June 17th. The DLC pack will be available for purchase at $ 6.99 on PC through Steam and other digital distribution channels.

"The release of “The Big Bank Heist” marks something truly special for us. Not only is it our biggest, most advanced heist yet, where we introduce a new contact called “The Dentist”, played by Giancarlo Esposito. It is also a throwback to the roots of the PayDay franchise. For our veteran players, the heist will feel extra special because it has everything that we love about the original game: a huge setting, an intense heist plan and plenty of replayability. New masks and the addition of the preplanning feature enable players to plan out the heist like never before. Players attending E3 will be able to play the heist in our E3 booth and talk to us directly.” said Bo Andersson Klint, CEO, Starbreeze . As always, everyone can play the heist as long as the host has purchased the DLC.

The DLC features

  • A new heist called “The Big Bank Heist”
  • A new contact called “The Dentist” brought to life by actor Giancarlo Esposito, also known from the “Breaking Bad” TV series and from the “Usual Suspects” movie
  • Preplanning, a new feature allowing players to plan out their heist in detail
  • Four new masks based on American presidents of old

Continue here to read the full story.

EVE Online Kronos Launches

CCP Games announces the launch of the Kronos update for EVE Online, saying this is the first release in "a new development cadence" for the sci-fi MMORPG. They celebrate the occasion with the release of two new Kronos chronicles as well as the grand opening of the New Eden Store. Here's word on the new expansion:
Kronos focuses on the continued decline of the four major empires and celebrates the concurrent rise of pirate factions and player influence across the constellations. It also heralds a change in EVE’s development structure, replacing two major expansions per year with up to ten releases. The change allows for more ambitious features, quicker delivery of content and functionality, and provides more frequent updates for players to look forward to.

In Kronos, EVE’s legendary space combat will forever change thanks to the new and deadly Mordu’s Legion ships, a stealthy mining frigate, and 38 other rebalanced ships and drones. Gorgeous visual changes include reimagined solar flares, warp effects and new ship skins. An entirely customizable soundscape allows players to tailor their own audio experience.

Low-security space sites and dozens of other changes round out Kronos and set the stage for the massive industry features coming in July’s Crius release.

Road Redemption Early Access

The alpha version of Road Redemption for Windows is now available on the Humble Store as an Early Access title, offering the chance to play the crowd-funded spiritual successor to Road Rash. The game is immediately available upon purchase, which also entitles the buyer to the beta and eventual release versions of the game for Windows, OS X, and Linux. They also offer this new trailer offering 96 seconds of gameplay showing the game's ultraviolent take on motorcycle racing. Here's word:
The final release of Road Redemption will include online play and local, split screen play for up to 4 players.

In Road Redemption you will take your gang on an epic journey, as you attempt to cross a war-torn United States. Road Redemption presents the player with a seamless world, covering thousands of square kilometers that's different on every playthrough. It's arguably the first time that roguelike principals have been brought to a combat racing game.

Road Redemption's entire main campaign will be completely playable in single player, splitscreen and online co-op modes.
Continue here to read the full story.

Enemy Front Multiplayer Trailer

A new multiplayer trailer from Enemy Front offers a look at competitive gameplay from NAMCO BANDAI's upcoming CryENGINE World War II shooter (thanks DSOGaming). Here's word:
Are you ready for some MP action? Check out the latest trailer showcasing fierce battles from Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Freedom Fighter MP modes. Up to 12 players online.

Powered by CryEngine 3, Enemy Front gives players breathtaking visuals, spectacular set pieces and destructible environments to interact with through iconic World War II resistance operations.
Continue here to read the full story.

Evening Crowdfunding Roundup

On Sale

Evening Previews

Watch Dogs Claims Sales Record

Ubisoft follows up on news that Watch Dogs has established a one-day company sales record with news that the open-world hacking game has sold-through more than four million copies in its first week. They say this is not only a Ubisoft record, but it also makes Watch Dogs the bestselling new IP in history based on NPD and GFK data and internal estimates as of June 3, 2014. "With such strong sales momentum and positive feedback from gamers, Watch Dogs has positioned itself as the must-have game of the moment," said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Ubisoft. "We’re really proud of this achievement, and are confident that the Watch Dogs brand has a promising future."

Batman: Arkham Knight Delayed; Batmobile Trailer

WBIE offers a new trailer showing off the Batmobile from Batman: Arkham Knight, the next installment in the Arkham series of Batman action games. The clip shows off the iconic car and its armament, concluding with the revelation that the game is being delayed, as it was announced for release this year, but the video says to now expect it in 2015. We also have some new Arkham Knight screenshots. Continue here to read the full story.

Xenonauts 1.0 Out; Official Launch This Month

A Steam Community Announcement has word that Xenonauts 1.0 is available as of last Saturday, saying this "marks the end of formal development" of the XCOM-inspired strategy game (thanks nin via Rock, Paper, Shotgun). This means the game will soon leave Early Access on Steam, a move Goldhawk Interactive explains is tentatively set for June 16th. They will be using the time between now and then to clear up any remaining bugs, and explain the implications of playing the game now versus when it's officially released:
There have been a lot of changes made since the previous Stable version. The game has a much smoother difficulty curve, more information for new players, new line of sight mechanics, much improved AI and all sorts of finer polish.

The choice is therefore up to you whether you want to play the "final" version of the game now or whether you'd prefer to wait a couple of weeks to make sure any stability kinks have been ironed out. We'll make more of a song and dance about the release when it comes to the 16th, but I thought it was best to explain this update and make it available to anyone who did not want to wait that long!

Crytek Announces HUNT: Horrors of the Gilded Age

German developer Crytek announces HUNT: Horrors of the Gilded Age, a co-op third-person action game set in the nineteenth century they are bringing to PCs and consoles, saying this "Games-as-a-Service" release will be the first project for their Crytek U.S.A. studio. This will be shown off to the public shortly when E3 kicks off, and they say closed beta testing on PCs will begin later this year, and they are already accepting signups on the game's official website. Here's the announcement trailer and here's a bit on the game:
Set in the late 1800s, HUNT depicts a world where so-called myths and folklore actually point to the terrifying truth about evil lurking just beyond the fringes of day-to-day life. Players act as hunters willing to take up arms and risk their necks by venturing into the deadliest of territories and facing the hideous creatures that have overrun them.

Adding to the thrill of the hunt is a special content generation system that ensures players never encounter exactly the same environment or set of enemies twice. As the surprises come thick and fast, the terror of knowing that one of the game's grueling boss battles could be just around the corner will keep everyone's pulses pounding. Defeating bosses will require close collaboration between hunters as they attempt to figure out and take down some truly terrifying monsters.
Continue here to read the full story.

Ex-Irrational Devs Announce The Black Glove

A group of former employees of Irrational games have come together to form a new studio called Day for Night Games, reveals Polygon, who spoke with Joe Fielder about the news. Day for Night announces their first project is The Black Glove, a first-person time-travel game, though they are being a bit tight-lipped about details like target platforms for now. More will be revealed soon, as they plan a crowdfunding game on Kickstarter next month. Here's a bit on what they are revealing for now:
In The Black Glove, players need to alter the past of an artist, a filmmaker and a musical act. They'll do this to improve their work in the present. The first-person game is set in a theater called The Equinox, which, according to the developer, could exist in the past, present or future — assuming it exists at all. As you might expect, changing the past has an effect on the game's narrative and the world in which The Black Glove takes place.

"There are certain games of skill and chance that allow us to interact with what you might call fourth-dimensional space," Fielder said. "The goal is to satisfy the whims of the creator, the critic and the crowd. You're trying to improve the use of these creators' works in the present by changing their past." Characters will offer hints, sometimes in the form of their reactions, about just how a player can accomplish that, and what players do will alter the course of The Black Glove.

WildStar Launches - Free Realm Transfers

Carbine announces today is the official launch day for WildStar, their science fiction MMORPG. Also, since preorder customers have been playing the game for the past couple of days, the WildStar Forums offer details on free realm transfers they are offering to help address long queue times. Here's the launch trailer for the game, and here's word on the launch:
Today, NCSOFT and Carbine Studios are extremely proud to reignite the MMO gaming category with the release of WildStar, the action-adventure sci-fi MMO that’s seriously going to shake things up.

Unlike anything currently available, WildStar delivers a beautiful and distinctive artistic animation style, robust housing customisation, unmatched Player versus Player and high-action combat that truly tests players’ skill with a fast-paced, reactive ‘telegraph’ system.

WildStar is packed with features for catering to the likes and play styles of both first-time MMO players and veterans.
Continue here to read the full story.

Duke Nukem 3D Musical Theme Downloads

The Lee Jackson Audio website now offers downloads of GRABBAG, the memorable theme from Duke Nukem 3D in all its original MIDI glory. These are being released freely for no charge as long as you don't use them commercially. Here's the explanation:
This song has been out in the public since 1996. The first half of it was released as a MIDI file along with the aforementioned game. The entire song was released as a CD Audio track on a later add-on pack for the game. From there, it went all over the place, as an MP3 file, a YouTube upload, and then as cover versions by too many people to count (including at least one very well known heavy metal band).

The one thing that hasn’t been out in the public is a full MIDI file of Grabbag. That’s because one never existed - until now.

If you’ve been waiting for the release of the complete, never-before-available MIDI file of Grabbag, then wait no longer. Thanks to the prodding of a LOT of people, the files are finally available, and you’ve come to the right place to get them!

Archlord 2 Closed Beta

WEBZEN announces closed beta testing is getting underway for Archlord 2, their upcoming sequel to the MMORPG they acquired from Codemasters. Those who already have beta keys can now redeem them, and those interested in getting a key of their own can head over to the game's Facebook page to try and get one. Word is: "CBT players will receive a special gift when the game goes into Open Beta, to mark their special status and as a token of appreciation for their support. As there won’t be any non-disclosure agreement, WEZBEN encourages all participants to share their Archlord 2 experience with friends and other players."

Battle Fleet 2 Trailer

A new preview trailer is online showing off alpha gameplay footage from Battle Fleet 2, Capital j Media's upcoming World War II naval strategy sequel. Here's a refresher on the game, which is expected later this month:
Battle Fleet 2 is coming to all devices in June of 2014. The game expands the original concept of turn based naval combat where the player controls the angle and power of their guns and the movement of the ship to include a campaign conquest mode in addition to stand alone scenarios. The combat system has been improved for faster and even more exciting battles and it all looks better than the original with the new graphical engine. Find out more at the Steam Greenlight page.

Additional improvements include better options for outfitting your ships, including the ability to place individual commanders with special abilities, expanded power-up cards to play, better multiplayer options, and an entirely new graphics engine. Battle Fleet 2 looks better, plays better, but is otherwise a true successor to the original best seller.
Continue here to read the full story.

Morning Previews

Game Reviews

Hardware Reviews

Out of the Blue

My mind still reels every time I recall the outcome of the fight between the Mountain and the Red Viper in this week's Game of Thrones. As far as story implications, that was not what I expected at all. And as far as a visual depiction, that was one of the most effectively gruesome special effects I've ever seen... I don't usually cringe at TV and movie gore, but that was an exception.

Exceptional Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play: Wolfgang Fights the Future.
Eat The Candy.
Artie's Dreams.
Stories: Edward Snowden NSA whistleblowing story to be filmed by Oliver Stone.
Stephen Colbert More Effective Than Journalists At Explaining Campaign Financing, Study Says.
Science: Cat people are smarter than dog people, study says. Thanks nin.
Democrats Have a Problem With Science, Too.
Monstrous rocky planet nicknamed 'Godzilla of Earths'.
Images: D-day landings scenes in 1944 and now.
Media: Dammit Jim, I'm a Proctologist.
Plane lands on sunbather on beach.
Follow-up: Why Solar Roadways Won't Work.
Star Wars: Episode VII Adds Academy Award Winner Nyong'o and Game of Thrones' Christie. Thanks nin.
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