|
|
 |
Archived News:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is planning on laying off staff at
developer Turbine ( Asheron's Call, Lord of the Rings Online,
Infinite Crisis). There is a statement about this from WBIE
on Joystiq: "As part of our normal business process, we're routinely
looking at the strategic alignment of our company. Unfortunately, in order for
us to invest in growth areas at Turbine, we have to eliminate some positions.
These are always tough decisions, which we don't approach lightly, but it's
crucial that Turbine is structured in a way that reflects the current and coming
marketplace."
Frozenbyte announces that the Trine series has sold over seven million copies
worldwide. They celebrate the news with the release of the level editors for
Trine and Trine 2
on Steam, with each game currently carrying an 80% discount. Also, along with
the previously
mentioned free Trine 2 weekend,
the original Trine is
free on Steam this weekend as well. Here's word on the editor: The editor
for the Trine games gives users a first-hand look at the development process.
Players can now do the same things to Trine or Trine 2 as the developers; They
can edit existing maps to their liking, create entirely new ones from scratch,
or even create a completely different game. The mods can then be published on
the newly opened Steam Workshop pages for Trine and Trine 2 for everyone to try.
While the editor software might take some time getting used to, a growing open
wiki with helpful guides for getting started has been made available at
www.frozenbyte.com/wiki.
A
Kickstarter update for Camelot Unchained has word on pre-alpha
testing of City State Entertainment's MMORPG follow-up. Word is things went
pretty smoothly with no major issues, they conducted 150 player battles with no
slowdowns, and that the game's server-side physic worked as planned. They offer
some new screenshots and Mark Jacobs concludes saying: "Now that we have a nice,
stable build up for our Pre-Alpha folks, our team will go back to building and
breaking new stuff." Thanks Medwynd.
Polish developer Destructive Creations
announces Hatred, an isometric shooter where the player is the bad guy
built on the Unreal Engine 4 (not that
Epic Games is pleased at the association). They
offer a reveal trailer
made with gameplay footage, calling this their "first propaganda
tool." The clip and their description of the game show they are quite willing to be
shocking with this, with the developers decrying both political correctness and games that aspire to
create higher art. Here's word: Hatred is an isometric shooter with
disturbing atmosphere of mass killing, where player takes the role of a cold
blood antagonist, who is full of hatred for humanity. It's a horror, but here
YOU are the villain. Wander the outskirts of New York State, seek for victims on
seven free-roam levels. Fight against law enforcement and take a journey into
the antagonist's hateful mind. Gather equipment of the dead ‘human shields’ to
spread Armageddon upon society. Destroy everything on your way of hunt and fight
back when it's disturbed...
...just don't try this at home and don't take it too seriously, it's just a
game. :)
The question you may ask is: why do they do this? These days, when a lot of
games are heading to be polite, colorful, politically correct and trying to be
some kind of higher art, rather than just an entertainment – we wanted to create
something against trends. Something different, something that could give the
player a pure, gaming pleasure.
Continue here to read the full story.
SEGA announces an incentive to pre-purchase Company of Heroes 2 - Ardennes
Assault on Steam.
Those who commit in advance to Relic's WW2 RTS expansion will get an extra
company of heroes to employ. "We are really excited to offer such a substantial
piece of content to those who pre-order," said Alex Price, Brand Director at
Relic Entertainment. "There are a huge amount of playthrough options for
Ardennes Assault already, but the inclusion of Fox Company adds even more
variety to the game." Also, as
previously noted,
Company of Heroes 2 on Steam
is free to play all weekend. Here's more on the bonus content: SEGA® of
America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced a pre-order incentive for
Company of Heroes 2™: Ardennes Assault consisting of an all-new Company known as
“Fox” Company. This band of Rangers is led by Captain Monte Durante and sits
alongside the three Companies already included in the game; Airborne, Support
and Mechanized. Players can choose up to three Companies on a campaign
play-through; each with its own unique play style, specializations, abilities
and Officer.
Captain Durante will have his own backstory for players to discover throughout
the campaign, which will allow players to experience Company of Heroes 2:
Ardennes Assault from a whole new perspective. The “Fox” Company DLC will
feature unique mission and company reports, thus representing a significant
amount of additional gameplay options and outcomes, all free for those who
pre-order.
This trailer shows
off gameplay from Dreadnaught along with commentary from developer YAGER
discussing what's shown in the clip (thanks
DSOGaming). Word is: "In this video, Game Director Peter Holzapfel and Game
Designer Eino Joas take you "play by play" through an action-packed session
showcasing the Archon Dreadnought." Here's a refresher on the game itself: Dreadnought
is an aerial armada action game scheduled for release on PC in 2015. It is set
in a futuristic era of war and hardship, where players take on the role of a
mercenary spaceship captain who owes allegiance to no nation, fighting for glory
amidst a galaxy of chaos. Battleships in the game are massive spacecraft that
come in varied shapes and classes. Commanders will assume complete control,
dedicating power to specific sub-systems, customizing weapons, engines, armor,
abilities, crew and their ships’ aesthetics. The game will feature 5v5
multiplayer as well as a single player campaign.
Continue here to read the full story.
Shrapnel Games announces Approaching Infinity, a science fiction
Roguelike in development for Windows and OS X at Ibology. The game does not yet
carry a release date, but its
product section
says it is "coming soon," and is accepting preorders, offering a playable demo
for each platform to help decide. Here's the announcement with further details:
Science-fiction gamers should begin to clear their calendars, stock up on
their favorite energy drinks, and prepare to lose themselves in a universe of
endless gaming. It is with great excitement that Shrapnel Games is pleased to
announce the upcoming release of Approaching Infinity from developer Ibology.
Approaching Infinity is a single-player, turn based graphical sci-fi rogue-like
game set in a unique and truly infinite universe; no level caps, no map limits.
Using the classic trope of a man and his starship the player begins with a
captain and his vessel. Initially this vessel may seem like nothing more than a
galactic scow, but over time components can be upgraded, skilled officers
brought on board, and eventually fame and notoriety will follow.
The amount of adventures one can have is limited only by the player's desire.
Within space itself asteroids can be mined, pirates evaded, SOS beacons
discovered, and more. Even exploration provides a reward, as data on the unknown
can be sold. Your starship will encounter planets, drifting derelict starships,
and alien embassies. Planets can hold treasure or death (or both). Away teams
can discover ancient star temples, ruined cities, or monsters in the darkened
corridors of a floating hulk. There are twelve alien races to interact with,
each with their own quests. A full crafting mechanic is included, along with a
nifty 'pay it forward' feature whereas a player can invest credits into future
games.
As a rogue-like Approaching Infinity contains procedurally generated content
(meaning every new game is different), permadeath, the ticking clock of oxygen
usage on hostile planets, and an achievement system. Yet Approaching Infinity is
also amazingly approachable for newcomers to the genre. Permadeath can be turned
off, there are in-game tool tips and a tutorial, and gameplay itself is smooth
and intuitive.
Continue here to read the full story.
A
Steam Community announcement heralds the release of a new version 1.14
update for Survivor Squad,
which adds a new free campaign called The Great Escape (dibs on being
Steve McQueen!) for Endless Loop Studios' strategy/action game. Word is: "Can
you fight your way through this place filled with action and devious traps while
keeping your Survivor Squad alive? Compare your score with your friends to see
who is the best Survivor!"
This trailer show
off the new campaign. Continue here to read the full story.
The Roberts Space Industries
website offers a bunch of videos that were part of last weekend's
festivities at CitizenCon 2014, the celebration of Star Citizen, RSI's
upcoming space combat game. The latest of these is a
Galactic Guide to the Baker System, and there are also clips
looking back at 2014,
introducing the Vanguard System, various studio reports, and more. Thanks
JDreyer.
I've been using a pedometer app on my phone while walking the Gunnar-man, and I
have to admit to myself that having data to crunch has inspired additional
activity, which is embarrassingly geeky, but a positive development nonetheless.
This has me considering the benefits of one of those fitness tracker bands,
which I find extra interesting since many of them also claim the ability to
analyze the quality of one's sleep and other related factors. There are a bunch
of these out there, so I thought I'd ask if any of you have any experiences with
these devices to share that might help with an informed choice.
Hey, speaking of athletics, here's an
NFL Week Seven discussion thread, though for me the less said about week six
at this point, the better.
R.I.P.:
Prolific Hispanic Actress Elizabeth Peña Has Passed Away.
|
Twitter 
