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Archived News:
There's a statement from Crytek
on GamesIndustry.biz addressing a
series of
rumors of financial
problems at the German publisher/developer, including reports of missed
payrolls. After previously denying
the validity of these reports, they now acknowledge they've had to secure
additional funding as they work through a "transitional phase" from development
studio to online publisher. Here's their statement: In recent weeks,
there have been repeated reports and rumors relating to financial problems at
Crytek. Having already given an update to staff across all our studios, we are
now in a position to share more details with members of the press and public.
Internally, we have acknowledged that the flow of information to employees has
not been as good as it should have, however we hope you understand that
communicating details of our plans publicly has not always been possible.
Like the games industry as a whole, Crytek has been in a transitional phase. Our
evolution from a development studio to an Online-Publisher has required us to
refocus our strategies. These challenges go along with an increased demand for
capital which we have secured.
We can now concentrate on the long term strategic direction of Crytek and our
core competencies. We kindly ask for your understanding, that we won't be
communicating further details about our developments and progress.
Ultimately, with our organization, capitalization, portfolio and technologies we
have now laid the foundations for securing Crytek's future - not just in the
short term, but also long term.
Through this period of speculation, we are thankful for the support and
encouragement we've received from our community and our partners, and for the
contribution all of our staff have made. We remain committed to doing what we
are best known for and trying to develop the best interactive experiences and
technology possible for everyone who loves gaming.
We are confident that we will be able to share more positive news on Crytek's
progress soon.
Steam now offers
Terrorhedron, a 3D co-op tower defense game for Windows. Here's word on the
game, which carries a 15% discount for the first week: Terrorhedron is the
3D, cooperative tower defense game for the PC. Unmatched challenge and
complexity is introduced to the genre through 3 dimensional gameplay,
micro-strategy through programmable turrets and 'edge of seat' gameplay is
extended to multiplayer with up to 8 players online co-op.
Defend wave after wave of colorful Terrorhedron spheres within attractive
abstract grid landscapes. Unlock new infrastructure, turrets, upgrades and
tracks in your quest to achieve all the stars. Terrorhedron offers a fresh look,
feel and an entirely new depth of experience to a popular genre.
Pyrodactyl Games announces the release of
Unrest, their Kickstarted adventure/RPG set in ancient India for Windows, OS X,
and Linux. Here's a launch
trailer, and here's word on the game: Set in a fantasy interpretation
of ancient India, Unrest is a story-driven adventure RPG in which you play as
five ordinary citizens struggling to get by in the city-state of Bhimra. You’ll
have to contend with poverty, disease, treason and political and societal
upheaval across a storyline that adapts drastically to the choices you make
in-game.
Whether you choose to talk through problems or resort to violent means, know
that the choices you make may have consequences for yourself, and others,
further down the line.
Continue here to read the full story.
WBIE announces a new October 2nd release date for the Windows edition of
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which is five days earlier than
the previous October 7th release date
for the Tolkien-inspired third-person action game. Having heard the clamor from
fans, they've pushed everything forward 120 hours to avoid anyone starving while
waiting on line for this: Based on hearing fans’ excitement over the
latest chronicle in Middle-earth, WBIE will release the action game earlier than
originally planned at all participating retailers. In the game, players will
experience the depth of the Nemesis System, where every enemy is unique,
differentiated by their appearance, personality, strengths and weaknesses. These
enemies are shaped by their encounters with the player to create personal
archenemies who are unique to every gameplay session.
Slitherine Group announces Commander: The Great War is now available
on Steam as well as
for iPad. Word is that everyone who owns the World War I strategy game is entitled to a Steam key:
"We are glad to announce that the
game is released on Steam as well. Faithful to our habits, we are also going to
offer a free Steam key to anyone who has a copy of the PC game, wherever they
bought it from, once the game is available on this digital platform! All they
have to do is register their serial here and they will be able to redeem a free
key to add the game to their Steam library!"
Focus Home Interactive offers a
new video from
Crimes & Punishments, the next installment in their series of Sherlock
Holmes games. Here's word on the clip and the gameplay it shows: "Having been
featured in all major gaming events recently, this is the first time players
will get a prolonged and in-depth look at the game and its mechanics, from
dressing up in a passable disguise to gain information, to throwing harpoons at
dead pigs in a test of might. This 23-minute long video - with developer
voice-over - is the most complete look at Crimes & Punishments yet." Continue here to read the full story.
Link of the Day: Oops, almost forgot to mention today is
System Administrator Appreciation Day. And
I'm the SysAdmin of the BlueTower... it's like I don't even appreciate myself!
YOUVE-BEEN-CHOSEN.COM is a
new website from EA and BioWare teasing an upcoming project with a
"Nightmare" teaser trailer
that carries a caption suggesting we'll hear more about this at next month's
Gamescom: "The time is near. They are watching. Your power is rising. Cologne,
Germany. You’ve Been Chosen." In the meantime, they are accepting signups from
those who want to keep up with this.
CVG notes that BioWare's email about this to fans used an image titled "ShadowRealms_Teaser_video.jpg,"
and that BioWare recently trademarked Shadow Realms, which seems to confirm this
project's title. Continue here to read the full story.
Surprise Attack Games announces Screencheat, a first-person shooter where
players are invisible, requiring they cheat by peaking at each others' screens,
normally an act of war in local multiplayer games. The plan is to launch beta
testing on August 4th and to release the game for Windows, Linux, and OS X later
this year. This trailer
takes a peek at how players can take a peek at their opponents' locations via a
split screen view, which shows how this works online. Here's word on the game,
which includes details on how to take part in the beta: Wannabe screen
cheaters can try out Screencheat for themselves from the 4th of August, when the
game enters into beta. Surprise Attack Games and Samurai Punk understand that
very few people will actually admit to cheating (it took Lance Armstrong over a
decade), so in order to distribute codes discreetly, a semi-anonymous
registration form has been developed on the
official
Screencheat website. We’ll need to grab your email address so we can send
you the redeemable code, but we promise not to publically name and shame you as
a cheater!
In the Screencheat arena, fast reaction times aren’t enough to keep you alive.
When all your enemies are invisible, players will have to master the art of
taking a not-so sneaky look at their opponent’s screens and working out where
they are based on uniquely coloured areas of the map and distinctive
landmarks.
Continue here to read the full story.
Kalypso Media announces the release of Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion –
New Frontiers Edition, a retail boxed edition of the sci-fi 4X/RTS game for
EMEA territories that includes the Forbidden Worlds DLC, a poster, and
the game's soundtrack. They offer
a trailer showing this
off, and here's word on all that's included: Sins of a Solar Empire:
Rebellion – New Frontiers Edition combines the tactics of real-time strategy
with the depth of the 4X genre (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate). Create a
galactic empire, master culture and trade, prove diplomatic skills, explore new
technologies and command powerful space fleets to conquer your enemies. The
retail version also contains exclusive items: including a poster and digital
soundtrack.
Features of Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion – New Frontiers
- Six Factions: Decide whether to play as a Loyalist
or Rebel – each faction unlocks new technologies, ships and play styles for
each race.
- More Planets: Colonize and exploit four new planet
types (Barren, Ferrous, Greenhouse, Oceanic), each created with beautiful
high-res textures.
- Planet Specialization System: Dedicate your worlds
to either social or industrial output.
- New Titan and Corvette Class Warships: Mighty
Titans and small versatile corvettes enter the fray of the war to tip the
scales of power.
- Updated Capital Ships: All existing capital ships
have been updated with four new ability levels.
- Additional Planet Bonuses: Discover more than 40
new planet bonuses during your exploration of the galaxy, unlocking the dark
past of the Sins’ universe.
- Great Visuals: Updated graphics, particle effects,
lighting and shadows, race specific UI and other enhancements make the Sins
universe look better than ever.
- Various Victory Conditions: Take multiple paths to
victory including Military, Diplomacy, Research, Last Flagship Standing,
Last Capital Standing and Occupation.
- Tutorials: New and updated tutorials make it easy
for both experienced and new players to quickly start building their own
solar empire.
- Extra content: In box poster and digital
soundtrack included.
Continue here to read the full story.
UbiBlog offers a Far
Cry 4 Vice Developer Diary, part one in a three-part series with a look at
how visiting Nepal altered the feel of how the area is depicted in the upcoming
first-person shooter sequel. For those interested in verifying this first-hand,
they are also running a
Quest For Everest Contest where the prize is a trek to Mount Everest. This
requires being a U.S. citizen 21 or over with a certain disregard for your
safety, as they note: "There is inherent risk of death and significant injury to
persons and property associated with the Quest for Everest experience and by
participating, winner understands and assumes this risk." Continue here to read the full story.
Publisher bitComposer offers a new
video developer diary
from Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms with more on Games Farm's upcoming action/RPG
sequel. Here's word on the clip, which includes a cameo travelogue: "The second
part of the developer diary contains an interview with Chris Bateman, author of
the Heretic Kingdoms universe. In the second travelogue, Tom Baker, former
Doctor Who actor, presents another region from Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms: the
Broken Spear Pass." Continue here to read the full story.
I get to visit my little pals again this weekend, as I have once again been
called upon to tend the neighbors' gecko and guinea pig. I'm still strongly
considering getting a lizard of my own somewhere along the way, but in the
meantime I'll enjoy visiting the little critters.
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