|
|
 |
Archived News:
Hotbed of gaming news
The New Yorker reports that the other shoe has finally dropped on the Hideo
Kojima situation, saying the famed developer's last day with Konami was October
9th (thanks
GameSpot via nin). Joking about the source aside, the article provides an
in-depth analysis of the circumstances that could lead to a rift between a game
company and such a highly regarded developer, which in part has to do with an
increased emphasis on mobile games from Konami. The story concludes with an
outlook on Kojima's future, quoting an employee of a completely different
Japanese developer: It’s likely that, after Kojima’s non-compete clause expires, in
December, he will find a new studio and continue making lavishly produced games.
But these future projects will be anomalies in a mobile-dominated Japanese
market. Although Western fans may mourn the loss, McCarthy doesn’t share their
despondency. “Honestly, I am not so sure that any threat to yet another
shouting, shooting game full of American grunts saving democracy from the wiles
of dark-skinned terrorists is any great loss to the art,” he said.
The Steam Game and Player
Statistics page reveals a new record for concurrent Steam users, showing a
recent peak of 10,761,566 players over the weekend (thanks
GameSpot). This far surpasses the previous record, which was 10,052,802
players in June.
CapCom Unity has details on the incoming second closed beta test for
Street Fighter V, which will admit Windows players, and test PC/PS4
cross-platform play. Here's the schedule: Hey guys, the second beta for
SFV is fast approaching and I know a lot of you are eager to know when the
festivities begin. As this is the first time we’re testing cross-platform play
between PS4 and PC, as well our character delivery system, you will want to keep
track of the times below to fully maximize your beta experience.
Beta 2 schedule (subject to change):
- 10/21/15 18:00 PST (10/22 02:00 BST/10:00 JST) –
The second SFV beta begins for PS4 users. Characters available: Ken,
Necalli, Vega, R. Mika
- 10/22/15 14:00 PST (22:00 BST/ 10/23 06:00 JST) –
Servers down for scheduled maintenance for 12 hours.
- 10/23/15 02:00 PST (10:00 BST/18:00 JST) – Servers
back online. Rashid unlocked.
- 10/23/15 09:00 PST (17:00 BST/ 10/24 01:00 JST) –
The second SFV beta begins for both PC and PS4 users (cross-platform play).
- 10/23/15 17:00 PST (10/24 01:00 BST/09:00 JST) –
Karin unlocked.
- 10/24/15 04:00 PST (12:00 BST/20:00 JST) – Servers
down for scheduled maintenance for 10 hours.
- 10/24/15 14:00 PST (22:00 BST/ 10/25 06:00 JST) –
Servers back online.
- 10/25/15 16:00 PST (10/26 0:00 BST/ 08:00 JST) –
Beta 2 concludes.
Alright guys, this covers the times worth noting. If you’re interested in the
content that will be on display during the second beta, you can check out my
previous post here. And yes, for those of you wondering after reading my
previous blog, we did move up the start time for PC users so that they will have
an extra day of beta participation.
Ubisoft has launched the
Ubisoft Club, a new program to reward those who play their games. Word is:
"Unlock exclusive benefits such as extra game content, limited edition goodies,
or discounts in the shop. Compete with your friends and stand out amongst the
crowd. This trailer
has more on how this works. Continue here to read the full story.
Here's a new final game
overview video from Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide, Fatshark's melee
combat game that they say was the top-seller
on Steam in advance of
its release this week. Here's what this shows: The new Game Overview
Video, voiced by the game’s very own Empire Soldier, gives a detailed and
immersive view into the world of Vermintide. Showcasing the five heroes with
unique skillsets and different weapon options, the video provides an insight
into how players can clear the hordes of Skaven.
The Game Overview Video also showcases the hit detection system and how the
speed and power of a strike can lead to the dismemberment and destruction of the
vermin Skaven that stand in the player's path. Couple that with the blood
splatter and the enhanced audio, the feel of combat in Vermintide makes for a
unique and detailed combat experience. In Vermintide, your efforts don’t go
unrewarded. The dice based loot system is explained; greater performance and
greater difficulty can increase your chances for better loot.
Finally the Game Overview Video also details the enemy in Warhammer: The End
Times - Vermintide: the Skaven. The Skaven are a fierce, cowardly, and
intelligent enemy all rolled into one.
Continue here to read the full story.
Indie developer
Exkee announces the addition of a new multiplayer mode to Kill the Bad Guys
as a free update to the game, coinciding with a
50% off sale on Steam for
the puzzling murder-fest. They offer
a new trailer showing
off the new mode, and here's an explanation: In Gangs of Bad Guys,
players will take control of their own very own Bad Guy, choosing from 16
different character skins. Play online with up to 16 other players (or A.I.) in
free-for-all or in team-based matches, fight it out across 12 different maps,
and select from 4 different gameplay modes.
Players can choose to be a lone wolf or a team leader and strategist - use
hackable items, collect in-game money to purchase new weaponry, take advantage
of each level's unique design, and execute actions with skill and speed. Make
master strokes to take down opposing Bad Guys.
Continue here to read the full story.
Wargaming announces the addition of German cruisers and Russian destroyers
to World of Warships, their online naval combat game.
This new video
celebrates the news, though it doesn't really offer much on the new ships. Here
are some actual details: In the wake of World of Warships’ release just
over a month ago, captains can now get behind the helm of vessels from two
distinct nations: Germany and the Soviet Union.
On the horizon for the German fleet are Dresden and Hermelin cruisers, swift
vessels capable of running rings around opponents. If that’s not enough, this
new line of German cruisers boast great endurance—especially as players progress
up the Tech Tree—along with solid armor and powerful guns.
The Soviet Tech Tree is ready to make some waves with Izyaslav, Gnevny and
Tashkent destroyers—plus many more. These vessels are the sharpshooters of the
sea; easily picking off targets from afar with their hard-hitting canons and
superb accuracy. Soviet destroyers are also extremely rapid making them a hard
target to scuttle. When adding their strong anti-aircraft armaments and rapid
turret rotation into the mix, players have a set of devastating attack runners
on their hands.
Link of the Day:
Never quit;
never surrender... That'll buff out.
TopWare Interactive announces that Vendetta: Raven's Cry is the new name
for Raven's Cry, the seafaring RPG released earlier this year after
several delays. They have continued to refine the game, and state that from
their point of view development was never properly completed. They announce they
are close to that point now, and have launched a new
Vendetta: Curse of Raven's Cry website
to celebrate. They also say that everyone who bought the original Raven's Cry
will receive Vendetta: Curse of Raven's Cry for free. Here's word from developer
Reality Pump: Here at Reality Pump Studios, we are excited to announce
the completion and upcoming release of our dark, bloody pirate epic, Vendetta:
Curse of Raven’s Cry.
After an almost seven year-long cursed development, we are finally ready to
unleash Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry as it was meant to be seen and played.
Development for Vendetta began way back in 2008, and has seen every game pitfall
imaginable. Even Christopher himself, actor Mark Strohman had an infection that
traveled into his brain, almost landing in Davy Jones’ Locker himself during
MoCap shootings. It’s been a long and wired journey, but after all the time and
all the setbacks, we are proud to say that the game is close to be finished and
we launch the new website today!
For new details, new screens and impressions please visit
www.vendetta-game.com
There's life in the old dog yet - stay tuned! Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry
will be available for Windows, Linux, Steam OS and Mac OSX. 50+ hours of game
play, over 360 characters, more than 500 quests, 120 minutes of cinematics,
authentic weapons, locations and ships, a free-flowing melee combat system and
intense naval battle action await you in this sprawling role playing adventure.
Every choice or deal has a price, and yours will dictate your journey, and your
fate.
An Infinity:
Battlescape volcanic moon flyover trailer shows off a prototype of Infinity: Battlescape, a space-based MMORPG which was first shown as a combat prototype in
2006 according to its
Wikipedia
entry (thanks JDreyer). Now nine years later the
I-Novae Studios website says this is
heading to Kickstarter for funding, and the
Infinity: Battlescape has a
timer counting down to when this will start on Wednesday, because teasing
upcoming fundraisers is apparently now a thing. Here's word from the description
of the video: "We'll be launching our Kickstarter campaign on Wednesday, October
21st at 1200 UTC. This video was recorded in real-time while playing the
prototype of the game. We'll be releasing a ton of new content, including a view
of the cockpit, once our Kickstarter launches!" Continue here to read the full story.
A
development update on the Roberts Space Industries website has the status of
the Star Marine module and plans to launch a version 2.0.0 alpha of Star
Citizen, Cloud Imperium's upcoming space combat game. Here's a bit from this
progress report: Brace yourselves for some brand new gameplay elements!
We’ve now got our basic implementation of the refuel, repair and restock systems
in-game so pay attention to your Quantum Fuel Tank reserves and choose your Jump
Points wisely to make sure you don’t get stranded out there! Then when you’re
not busy hurtling around at 0.2c, or fighting pirates in asteroid fields, you
can also experience the first taste of “rules and regulations” in the Universe
with the introduction of our first “Green Zone” that enforces a non-combat area
on all players. This is an important step towards building the bigger picture.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, the FPS team are working hard at getting the basic
movement and gunplay feeling good so that we have a solid foundation to build on
from, just like we did with our IFCS system for ships. The new additions of IFCS
systems have been in test for the past few days so we’re balancing all of that
out with Design and QA. Super Cruise, SCM (Space Combat Manoeuvring) and
Precision Mode will soon be ready for you to hone your space flight skills even
further; and we’ve even given EVA the “IFCS makeover” to harness all the hard
work that went in to that system which will give us a much more natural and
precise version of EVA manoeuvring.
The Sims 4 retains the top spot on the
GFK Chart-Track PC top 30 chart for the week ending October 17th. WRC is the
top new entry on the chart, as the racing game pulls in at number 10. FIFA 16
continues to kick ass on the
all platforms top 40, where Tales of Zestria shows up at number eight, and
WRC is number 12. Here's
the summary: ‘FIFA 16’ (-40%) takes a 4th straight week at No1
leading an unchanged Top 4 for the second week.
‘Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection’ (-50%) sees sales drop 50% but still
holds No2 ahead of Activision’s ‘Destiny: The Taken King’ (-22%). ‘Lego
Dimensions’ (-17%) remains at No4 ahead of a resurgent ‘Grand Theft Auto V’
(+4%), which climbs the chart for the third week up to No5. ‘Forza Motorsport 6’
(-16%) is pushed down a place to No6 just ahead of ‘Metal Gear Solid V: The
Phantom Pain’ (+15%) at No7, which benefits from price promotions.
Several new releases make their debuts this week although Bandai Namco’s ‘Tales
of Zestiria’ is the only one to make it into this weeks’ Top 10 at No8. ‘WRC 5’
races into the chart at No12 placing the 4th best launch in the series in terms
of week 1 sales. There’s no shortage of titles for RPG fans as Square Enix
release ‘Dragon Quest Heroes’ (The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below) at
No19. There’s also room for ‘Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance’ by NIS America,
which lands at No27 giving fans of the genre three titles to choose from.
Finally Koch Media bring ‘Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut’ to Xbox One and PS4. The
title includes a host of improvements and remastered visuals and rounds off this
week’s new releases at No36.
I had a great time playing paintball yesterday, and while this was part of an
annual outing for the entire group, MrKawfy, Devicer, and I are determined to do it more
often going forward. I definitely should be in better shape for this, I didn't
get winded, but my legs were rubbery, so that's something I'll want to work on
for next time. I had the feeling I'd be a decent paintballer from all my gaming
experience if nothing else, and I thought I accounted for myself well. I won
one game as the last man standing, had a few other games where I was the
last one out on my team (including a last stand at a corner barrier where I
managed to hold off a bunch of them for a long time and take a few with me), and
a few matches where I wasn't shot, but ran out of air. As a forum post noted, I
am not blessed with any natural padding for this, so apparently coming away with
only a half-dozen welts (that I'm aware of) is probably good news too
(especially after playing a "to the pain" final round), but I do have nice little
badges of honor
on a shoulder, bicep, thigh, collarbone, and both forearms.
|
Twitter 
