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Archived News:
The
XCOM website announces a delay to XCOM 2, saying the this is now
expected on February 5th. Firaxis' sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown
was announced with a November release window,
but now they admit they need more time. Here's word: We want to give you
an update on the release date for XCOM 2. We’ve set a high bar for the sequel
and the entire team has been working hard to make sure we deliver a great
follow-up to Enemy Unknown. We just need a little more time to make it the best
possible game.
With XCOM 2, we want to have more depth, more replayability, and more investment
in your soldiers and this extension will give us the time we need to deliver on
our promise to you.
We appreciate your patience and continued support as we move towards February.
Good luck, Commander!
Double Fine Productions announces HeadLander is their next game, a
"retro-futuristic" action/adventure platformer (thanks
PC Gamer). The
HeadLander website is
online with an announce
trailer, and the description of the video reveals this is expected next
year, and that the PC is one of the game's target platforms. Here's word:
COMING 2016 TO PC & CONSOLE: Headlander is a a retro-futuristic,
side-scrolling, action-adventure game set in a world inspired by 70’s science
fiction. It is a world of automation, a utopia gone wrong in which all of
humanity have transferred their minds into robotic imposter bodies and are ruled
by a deranged computer.
You are the last known human in the universe, and all that's left of you is a
disembodied head. Seeking clues to your fractured past, you must travel through
a hostile world of machines, using a special helmet that allows you to dock into
and take control of any robotic host body. As you launch from one body to the
next, you'll start to discover that things are not quite what they appear to be,
and the fate of humanity has yet to be decided...
Continue here to read the full story.
The LawBreakers website now
offers a new trailer with
the first look at gameplay from LawBreakers, the recently revealed multiplayer
shooter from Cliff Bleszinski's Boss Key Studios. Word is: "Watch the first
gameplay trailer LawBreakers, the new FPS that's all about skill, not streaks.
Which side will you fight for -- LAW or BREAKERS? " Continue here to read the full story.
WG Labs announces details about a Collector's Edition of Master of Orion, their
upcoming 4X strategy expansion. This will include all three of the original
games in the series, Early Access, an exclusive race, and more. They have all
the details on
the game's
official website where they are already accepting preorders. Here's the
whole plan: WG Labs today revealed details about the Master of Orion
Collector’s Edition. This special digital bundle for the reboot of the
critically acclaimed sci-fi strategy game will include the first three legendary
Master of Orion titles, a beautifully detailed digital art book, modernized
orchestral soundtrack, special retro art style graphic motif, and an exclusive
new race only available in the Collector’s Edition: the Terran Khanate. Players
will also be granted Early Access—when available—so they can begin their quest
for galactic supremacy ahead of other explorers.
The Master of Orion series set the bar for the iconic 4X (eXplore, eXpand,
eXploit, and eXterminate) strategy genre, and is the foundation for WG Labs’
reimagining of the legend. With the Master of Orion Collector’s Edition, players
will have the chance to relive the classic version of the game. To complement
the inclusion of Master of Orion 1, 2 and 3, a digital art book is also
available, showcasing the game’s deep and intricate artwork. A digital version
of the entire modernized orchestral soundtrack by Dave Govett, composer for the
original Master of Orion, is also included to make this Collector’s Edition
truly epic.
A special retro art style can be applied to replace the modern 3D spaceships
with pixelated craft, reflecting the style of the original 1990s version.
Finally, a unique race, exclusively for Collector’s Edition owners is available.
Named the Terran Khanate, this race is an aggressive and threatening model of a
future humanity that mirrors the Human Federation but with a warlike bent,
giving players a new way to conquer the stars.
Here's the PAX Prime
2015 trailer from Sword Coast Legends, n-Space's Dungeons & Dragons RPG
that's on display this weekend at the show. Those attending PAX are encouraged
to visit the Wizards of the Coast in Booth 1642 for an opportunity to get your
hands on the game. Continue here to read the full story.
Paradox Interactive offers
this new trailer from
Cities: Skylines - After Dark that they are showing at PAX Prime to promote
their upcoming urban-planning expansion, and they are also holding a panel
discussion at the show to discuss modding the game. Word is: "The trailer
features an extensive look at the beautiful new nighttime city-scapes in After
Dark." Continue here to read the full story.
Lionsgate is planning "a tent-pole feature film" based on Borderlands,
Gearbox Software's first-person shooter franchise. The studio has concentrated on
young adult titles the past few years, and
has more recently begun dabbling in game-related projects with Telltale
and Starbreeze. Here's word: Lionsgate
(NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, is teaming with
the publisher and creators of Borderlands®, and renowned producers Avi and Ari
Arad to adapt Gearbox Software's critically-acclaimed blockbuster video game
Borderlands into a tent-pole feature film, the parties announced today.
Borderlands is an action role-playing first-person shooter video game created
and developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K, a wholly owned label of
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
The award-winning Borderlands franchise has been lauded by critics and over the
years has built a passionate global fan base, shipping more than 26 million
copies around the world since its launch in 2009, including 8 million copies
shipped during Take Two's fiscal year 2015 alone. Set in the frontier of a
sci-fi universe, Borderlands is best known for Gearbox's blending of irreverent
humor and characters, with a unique comic-book art style, and co-operative
four-player genre-bending, loot-grabbing gameplay. It's a franchise that in the
last six years has ushered in a new and popular category of first-person
shooters.
The Borderlands film creative team will be led by producers Avi and Ari Arad,
who are responsible for some of the most successful motion picture and
television franchises in history, including Iron Man, Spider Man, The Amazing
Spider Man, X-Men, Ghost Rider and Blade.
"We believe that we've brought together the right partners, the ideal creative
team and the perfect property to launch a new motion picture tent-pole for a
global audience," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and
Patrick Wachsberger. "Part of our strategy in entering the game space under
Peter Levin has been to source new brands with built-in audiences that will
translate into great films and television shows. The Borderlands games don't
pull any punches, and we'll make the movie with the same in-your-face attitude
that has made the series a blockbuster mega-franchise."
5 Lives Studios warns to get out your satellite umbrella, as they have launched
Satellite Reign, a spiritual successor to Syndicate created by
this developer formed from the ashes of SEGA Australia. Details on the release
are on the official Satellite Reign website
where they also have a
launch trailer featuring a bunch of gameplay. Here's how they describe their
game: Satellite Reign is a real-time, class-based strategy game, set in a
futuristic open-world cyberpunk city. You command a group of 4 agents through
rain-soaked, neon-lit streets, where the law is the will of mega-corporations.
Our programmer Mike Diskett worked on the mid 90s classic Syndicate, and was the
project lead on its sequel Syndicate Wars. Our goal for Satellite Reign was to
take this criminally neglected genre and evolve the ideas and themes to bring
them into the 21st century—while adding our own unique spin on the
concept.
Continue here to read the full story.
Cliffski's Blog announces the
full release of Big Pharma, offering no side effect warnings whatsoever
for this strategy sim from Twice Circled. Here's word: So its that day!
The lab management/strategy game
Big Pharma, developed by
Twice Circled and published by
Positech Games is officially released.
woohoo! Its now playable in English, German and French on Windows/OSX and Linux.
Plus you can now grab it from
Steam as well as the Humble Store
as well as GoG or
direct from us. Hurrah!
Games take a long time to make, and a lot of work, blood, sweat, tears, and
debugging. The first time the phrase ‘Big Pharma’ was used between us was on
21st February 2014, and we were going back on forth on ideas and names before
then, so its at least eighteen months in development. That may not sound long by
the standards of Duke Nukem et al, but it is a long time to stay focused on one
game as an indie. Hopefully its going to pay off :D
Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson announces the release of Age Of Empires: Castle
Siege for Windows 10, a disappointment to those of us expecting such revelations from
Windows 10's Major Healey. Here's word on the new installment in the strategy
series: Age of Empires: Castle Siege invites you to guide your empire
through the Medieval Era on your Windows PC or touch screen device. Choose from
one of several civilizations, including the Britons, Teutons, and Kievan Rus.
Upgrade your keep, fortify your walls, and garrison defensive troops to protect
yourself from marauders. Then, train an army to raid other cities, and command
them in battle to dismantle your opponents’ defenses. Over the ages, you’ll
research technology, live through famous battles, and recruit a variety of
heroes to your side, including Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, and Joan of Arc.
Outsmart your attackers and outplay your victims to earn achievements and climb
to the top of the leaderboards. Take command, and make your mark on
history!
Gamechanger is now running a "put a hit on cancer" promotion, offering a
free copy of Hitman: Absolution for anyone who donates at least one
dollar to help fight pediatric cancer. They are also on hand at PAX Prime to
shave heads of volunteers, saying Square Enix will donate $47 to the charity for
everyone who adopts the Agent 47 look (bar code not included). Thanks
PC Gamer.
Those surprised that the HTC (RE) Vive VR headset being made in partnership with
Valve was announced for release
this year will be less surprised to learn that HTC has now revealed the VR
headsets will not be widely available until 2016 (thanks
VG247).
The Verge has word from a press release stating: "HTC will offer the first
commercial Vive units via a limited quantity of community and developer systems"
later this year, "with larger quantities shipping in calendar Q1 2016." This
more closely aligns their release with competing units from Oculus Rift and Sony
Project Morpheus, which are also both due next year. No reason for the setback
is provided.
Developer Motiga announces closed beta testing is getting underway for Gigantic,
their not miniature MOBA shooter for Windows 10 and Xbox One. Testing will be on
weekends to start with, and will later expand to full-time, and those interested
in being among the first to go hands-on with the game should sign up on
this page. Word is: "New
features and regular content updates are planned for closed beta players,
including French, German, and Spanish language support. Opening the door to more
players during the closed beta will allow Motiga to further refine and test the
game in a controlled way, with a full release planned for later this year."
Here's a quick refresher on the game: Gigantic is free to play* and pits
teams of five heroes—each with a massive guardian monster—against each other in
explosive battles across a variety of fantasy battlefields. The game combines
intense combat with strategic map control, and the first team to defeat the
enemy guardian seizes the battlefield and wins the game.
* Xbox Live Gold membership sold separately for console play.
The Team Fortress blog
announces only one week remains for those interested in buying a pass to the
Gun Mettle campaign for Team Fortress 2, which still offers access
to all past contracts as well as the remainder of the campaign for the teamplay
shooter. They also announce a new option to allow trading up for better items.
Here's word: Speaking of those: If you've got ten campaign-exclusive
items just sitting around, we've got good news for you. Now you can trade them
in for a higher-tier item! Simply click on any Gun Mettle item in your inventory
and choose "Mann Co. Trade-Up" from the drop-down menu to give it a shot!
We're also shipping the Gun Mettle Cosmetic Case, an exclusive community
cosmetic item collection now available as a weekly random drop for folks who own
a Gun Mettle Campaign Coin. Just like the weapons, all of these 16 cosmetics
have a chance to contain Strange capability, and the nine hats in the collection
have a chance at being Unusual.
August is drawing to a close, and this weekend will be the third NFL preseason
games, so whether we're ready or not, the football season is almost upon us. A
thank you to Batman, who has put together this year's leagues, and once again
well have a
straight league to just pick the winners, and a more challenging
spread league where you have to account for the point spread. Good luck to
all participants, who should be prepared for random drug testing throughout the
season.
R.I.P.:
Darryl Dawkins dies at age 58
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