EA announces the launch of a new EA Competitive Gaming Division (CGD), saying this will be headed up by Peter Moore, who has the newly minted title of Chief Competition Officer. Here's what this is about:

As the latest step in our journey to put our players first, this group will enable global eSports competitions in our biggest franchises including FIFA, Madden NFL, Battlefield and more. The CGD will be built around three core pillars:

• Competition – To create highly-engaging competitive experiences with our games, officially supported by Electronic Arts.
• Community – To celebrate, connect and grow our community of players across all levels of expertise.
• Entertainment – To develop live events and broadcasting that bring the spectacle of competition to millions of people around the world.

There is no one better in our industry to lead this new effort than Peter. He was an early pioneer in championing competitive gaming programs, such as the FIFA Interactive World Cup and the EA SPORTS Challenge Series, and Peter’s personal passions for the player experience, sports and competition, make him a tremendous leader for this new division. Peter’s team will partner with our development studios, marketers and publishing teams to bring this new platform to life.

The Tribes: Ascend website announces the "out of the blue" release of a version 1.1 update for Hi-Rez Studios' multiplayer shooter, which they frankly admit is "about f*cking time" (thanks PC Invasion). This is a massive patch with new maps and other new content, but another goal is to remove pay-to-win elements from the game, so they are reverting previous purchases, as explained in this excerpt from the incredibly lengthy patch notes:

Due to the dramatic changes to the underlying game, all in-game purchases have been reverted and all Tribes Gold and XP refunded to your account. If you have previously purchased the Ultimate Weapon Pack or Game of the Year it will be re-added to your account. If there is any Tribes Gold on your account you will be automatically gifted the Ultimate Weapon Pack.

Trion Worlds announces the release of Devilian on the Devilian website, offering a devilish new free-to-play action/RPG. The Devilian launch trailer offers a look, and here's a rundown:

Trion Worlds, in partnership with Bluehole Ginno Games, today launched Devilian, the next game to stand alongside legendary MMOs RIFT, Defiance, Trove and ArcheAge, in North America and Europe. Combining the best features from action games, MMOs and MOBAs, Devilian offers visceral combat, a huge persistent world with deep guild and social systems, and competitive player-vs-player action, making it the all-in-one action role-playing experience on PC.

In Devilian, gamers play the role of the last guardians of Nala – unique half-devil heroes battling to save their world from a fallen god – and experience fast-paced action gameplay paired with MMO and MOBA features like crafting, quests, trading, cities, mounts, pets, guilds, alliances, wars, dungeons, epic 20 vs. 20 PvP battles and more.

Players can take up arms as rampaging Berserkers, harness destructive magic as mystical Evokers, wield heavy weapons as keen-eyed Cannoneers, or stalk their enemies as Shadowhunters brandishing bladed chains. Each Class hides a unique Devil Form with infernal powers they can master and unleash against their foes. Customize not only your class’ original form and skill trees but their transformed Devil form as well, equipping Devil-specific equipment and skills to gain the upper hand over enemies in battle.

Piranha Games has launched MechWarrior Online on Steam, offering another way to access this Windows free-to-play online shooter. They mark the occasion with the launch of the Community Warfare ("Faction Play") feature, and say additional large updates are planned for the near future. This post on Steam is a starting point, and they say they will hold a live stream tomorrow to further discuss their plans:

The road to victory in war is a long one: MechWarrior Online developer Piranha Games has been busy unleashing a series of mega updates for MechWarrior Online, adding the long-awaited Community Warfare (“Faction Play”) feature that allows players from around the world to collectively take part in the great Clan Invasion of the Inner Sphere. Today the Faction Play phase of development is now ready for full player participation with additional large updates planned for the near future as the game also goes live on Steam http://store.steampowered.com/app/342200/.

On December 11th, Piranha Games is holding an event at their development headquarters in Vancouver to be livestreamed on Twitch.TV at http://twitch.tv/piranhagames from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. Pacific, and will feature future development announcements fans will want to tune in for, livestreamed matches and fans from around the globe as 100 of the hardest core MechWarrior fans descend on Vancouver to attend the livestreamed event with the developers of the game.

Steam News announces a free weekend is now underway for Killing Floor 2 along with a sale on Tripwire's shooter sequel:

Killing Floor 2 is the successor to the ridiculously fun and successful original title, that was released in 2009. We released Killing Floor 2 on Steam via Early Access in April 2015 and over the last 7 months have rolled out 3 massive content updates as we get closer and closer to the final release.

In KILLING FLOOR 2 players descend into continental Europe where the outbreak caused by Horzine Biotech’s failed experiment has quickly spread and gained unstoppable momentum, essentially paralyzing the European Union. Just one month after the conclusion of the events in the original KILLING FLOOR, the specimen clones are everywhere and civilization is in disarray; communications have failed, governments have collapsed, and military forces have been systematically eradicated. The people of Europe know survival and self-preservation too well and lucky survivors have gone into hiding.

Creative Assembly now offers a new Age of Charlemagne Campaign Pack for Total War: ATTILA on Steam, adding new content to the historical strategy game. ATTILA has also received an update adding support for Linux and SteamOS. Here's a cinematic trailer from the DLC, and here's word on the releases:

Out now, The Age of Charlemagne Campaign Pack is an epic expansion for Total War: ATTILA; set in the Middle Ages, long after Attila’s vicious reign has ended.

Today, existing players will also automatically receive the latest free content update for the main game, featuring a New playable Faction and a free copy of the game for Steam OS/Linux.

The White Huns are the third free playable faction to be added to the game since launch, providing a new take on the Sassanid-dominated eastern reaches of the Campaign map.

While the Linux version of Total War: ATTILA which will be available for free to anyone who currently owns Total War: ATTILA on Steam.

In the largest Total War: ATTILA expansion to date - Age of Charlemagne Campaign Pack - brings a brand new campaign map resplendent in medieval-style artwork and focusses on Europe from the year 768AD. With the introduction of Knights, Housecarls and other new era units, battlefield conflict takes an iconic turn. With over 50 conquerable provinces and new campaign mechanics, a detailed and vibrant geopolitical starting position will offer hundreds of hours of gameplay.

Continue here to read the full story.

The Rockstar Games newswire has word on a new "Executives and other Criminals" update coming on December 15th to Grand Theft Auto Online. Word is this will allow players to participate in their own criminal organizations:

Become a VIP and create your own criminal organization in the latest addition to Grand Theft Auto Online, Executives and Other Criminals. Featuring all new gameplay modes and opportunities for luxury living, Executives and Other Criminals also includes new customizable apartments, stilt houses in the Vinewood Hills and the ultimate in executive excess: the extravagant, fully staffed and upgradeable Super Yacht.

VIP’s who run their own operation gain access to new co-op Jobs, challenges and special abilities in Freemode, as well as having the power to hire and fire other players for their team of bodyguards. Meanwhile, Bodyguards earn a regular paycheck and their own special benefits including RP, GTA$, and stat boosts for working for a VIP’s organization.

Organizations can go head to head in Freemode, with new missions that make full use of the latest executive defense options including new armored vehicle variants, the devastating Turreted Limo and the missile defense systems of the Super Yacht, which also comes with its own suite of supporting vehicle upgrades including the new SuperVolito Carbon helicopter and personal watercraft.

Techland announces details on the DrinkForDLC content for Dying Light that stems from their promotion over the summer making fun of a Destiny sponsorship. They say this is a three-part DLC that will be released on February 9th alongside the recently announced upcoming enhanced edition of the zombie game. Here's word:

Earlier this year Techland started a health-oriented campaign on social media under the hashtag #DrinkForDLC, encouraging people to drink water and stay hydrated. The fan response exceeded all expectations: the hashtag reached more than 15 million people and resulted in over 15 000 creative photos and videos of fans drinking water, not counting other expressions of support. As a thank you to the fans for their involvement, the development team designed additional free content for the game. Today Techland has detailed the contents of a three-part DLC pack that all Dying Light players will receive free of charge.

The #DrinkForDLC content pack will include:

• The Fountain of Youth – all-new exploration-based quest available in the Old Town area.
• Water 2.0 – blueprint for a new throwable weapon that intensifies the electrocution effect of all other weapons.
• Water Challenges – two brand-new parkour challenges designed around the theme of water.

The #DrinkForDLC content pack will be included in Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition, the complete and immensely improved version of the game to be released on February 9th, 2016. Owners of the original version of the game will receive the pack as part of the free improvements update, which will be made available on the same day.

UbiBlog announces the release of Tetris Ultimate for Windows, yet another iteration of the classic puzzle game. This is available on Steam, and they explain how this will allow players to get crazy:

Tetris Ultimate is now available on PC! The latest iteration of the iconic puzzle game features nine different modes, all of which allow for up to four players. Face off against players around the world in modes like Battle, Battle Ultimate, Marathon, Endless, Ultra, Sprint, Time’s Up, Landslide and Haunted. Whether you want to play some classic Tetris or try something a little crazier, there’s a mode for you. Grab Tetris Ultimate on PC now for $14.99.

• Sylvio 2 - Open World Horror Game by Niklas Swanberg —Kickstarter. "A single-player horror game set in broad daylight, where you record the dead with the help of a video camera and a portable TV."

• Tales from the Borderlands Retrospective Interview - Gearbox Software.

• Blood & Gold: Caribbean! on Steam. Save 10%.
• DOOM Franchise on Steam.
• League of Legends Champion and skin sale- 12.11 - 12.14.
• NEKOPARA Vol. 1 on Steam. Save 50%.
• Pale Echoes on Steam. Save 20%.
• Raiden Legacy on Steam. Save 25%.
• Total War Encore on Humble Weekly Bundle.

• BenQ introduces ZOWIE eSports Gaming Gear.
• Get Double GTA$ & RP in all Adversary Modes This Weekend Including Every Bullet Counts.
• Tickets Still Available For This Weekend’s GaymerX.

Thanks j.c.f.

• Security Flaw Fixed in Malwarebytes Antivirus.
• Hacked at sea: Researchers find ships’ data recorders vulnerable to attack.
• SAP Security Updates Patch 19 New Flaws.
• Critical Flaw Found in AVG, McAfee, Kaspersky Products.
• Microsoft Patches Windows, Office Flaws Exploited in the Wild.
• Adobe Patches 77 Vulnerabilities in Flash Player.
• Apple Issues Security Updates for OS X, iOS, Safari.

• Congress Pulls Together Proposal To Ban Internet Access Taxes Permanently, Likely To Become Law. Thanks HARDOCP.

• Steam controller update outlines what's new with the new hardware in the month since its debut…

Link of the Day: I Would Watch the GTA V Remake of "The Golden Girls" Forever. Thanks Ant.

Steam News offers a lengthy essay from Valve about their recent decision to put some obstacles in place to slow down the process of completing trades for Steam items to help prevent scams. Trades will still be completed instantly when protected by two-factor authorization using a mobile authenticator, but other trades will involve some extra time to make sure everything's legit. Here's the conclusion where they explain their reasoning:

Once again, we're fully aware that this is a tradeoff with the potential for a large impact on trading. Any time we put security steps in between user actions and their desired results, we're making it more difficult to use our products. Unfortunately, this is one of those times where we feel like we're forced to insert a step or shut it all down. Asking users to enter a password to log into their account isn't something we spend much time thinking about today, but it's much the same principle - a security cost we pay to ensure the system is able to function. We've done our best to make the cost as small as possible, for as few people as possible, while still retaining its effectiveness.

Hopefully this post has given you some insight into the problem, and why we've taken this approach. As always, we'll continue to read the community's discussions throughout the Steam forums and the web at large, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Focus Home Interactive announces Shiness, a new RPG in development at Enigami for release next year. This teaser trailer offers a first look at what they describe as the game's "magical universe." The official Shiness website will be where to keep up with this project, and here's what they have to say for now:

Shiness is a new role-playing game developed by French indie development studio Enigami. Travel through an enchanting yet hostile world in a new Teaser Trailer, where the lands of Mahera have become fragmented, and our heroes travel from the flying city of Mantara, to the Adorn plain and the Gromiz caverns...

Shiness immerses you in a vast world that you can interact with, thanks to the skills of your 5 playable characters: choose to destroy a giant rock blocking your way with pure strength, or use kinetic powers to activate mechanisms that will open a secret door.

Face dozens of lethal enemies during your journey that you'll need to defeat in hyper-dynamic combat, mixing magic with combos, as well as parries and blocks like a traditional arena fighter. Gain experience through combat, completing quests and progression through the story. Evolve your characters, learn new skills and spells, and become the hero who will unify the civilizations of Mahera.

Continue here to read the full story.

2K announces an XCOM 2 Digital Deluxe Edition, a bundle of the upcoming strategy sequel, three DLC packs, and a copy of the game's soundtrack. They are already accepting pre-purchases, which will set you back $74.99 USD, and the release is planned for February 5, 2016. Here's an outline of the plan, which also includes a separate bundle of the DLC:

2K and Firaxis Games today announced that the XCOM® 2 Digital Deluxe Edition is now available for pre-purchase for $74.99. Launching globally on February 5, 2016 for Windows PC and coming to Mac and Linux via Feral Interactive, the XCOM 2 Digital Deluxe Edition includes the sequel to the Game of the Year* award-winning strategy title XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the XCOM 2 Reinforcement Pack** and the digital soundtrack. XCOM 2 takes place 20 years into the future, where humanity has surrendered to the alien threat and XCOM is largely forgotten, forcing them to reclaim Earth and free mankind from the aliens’ rule.

The Reinforcement Pack** can be purchased separately for $19.99 and bundles three downloadable add-on packs. Each add-on pack will offer a unique twist to the core game experience by adding new missions, aliens, weapons, more extreme soldier customizations and other items.

The Reinforcement Pack** includes the following:

• Anarchy’s Children: featuring rebellion-themed content with more dramatic soldier customizations (releasing spring 2016);
• Alien Hunters: introducing new gameplay surrounding XCOM as an elite alien hunting unit tracking down “Ruler” aliens, along with a new mission, soldier customization options and more powerful weapons and armor (releasing summer 2016);
• Shen’s Last Gift: offering a brand new soldier class with unique upgradeable weapons, armor and customization features, as well as an additional narrative-driven mission and map (releasing summer 2016).

Players who pre-order or pre-purchase XCOM 2 or the XCOM 2 Digital Deluxe Edition will also receive the Resistance Warrior Pack, offering additional soldier customization options such as bonus outfits, headgear, and custom facial war paint. The Resistance Warrior Pack also includes a “Survivor of the Old War,” a new XCOM recruit who will appear in the Avenger’s barracks.

EA PopCap offers a new trailer showing off Solo Ops gameplay in Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, the upcoming PvZ action sequel. The clip is accompanied by this outline of the madcap options available in the single-player game:

Today, PopCap Vancouver released the Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Solo Play Walkthrough Trailer, a video that showcases some of the game’s all-new Solo Play features, including the Solo Ops game mode, hot-swapping between characters on the fly, and the fun new customization options in Crazy Settings. Experience the game on your own terms in Solo Ops with the ability to select a full squad of four characters and swap between them at any point during a match. Use their individual abilities and unique strengths designed to conquer an objective, deal extra damage, or support the team to win the battle! As an added bonus, players can earn experience for each individual character for as long as they control them. Crazy Settings lets players turn their game into a richer and crazier experience in either Solo Play, or private and local matches with the power to modify the game with fun, over-the-top options including:

• Infini-Ammo - Characters have infinite ammo without overheat.
• Speed Boost Craziness - Characters move crazy fast.
• Low Gravity - It isn’t just for the moon. The entire match will be played in low gravity.
• Simply Explode Mode - Characters explode when vanquished “simply.”
• Ridiculously Low Health - All characters have a max of one health – instant vanquishes.
• Super Crazy Knock-back Mode - Damaged characters get knocked back…really far.

Whether you strategically pick four characters to tackle a specific map, or customize your favorites before heading into battle, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 lets you call the shots in this unique Solo Play experience.

Continue here to read the full story.

The Starbound website explains that the Chucklefish Forums have been compromised, and that forum posts dating back to March have been lost since they were not backed up. They are keeping the forums offline for now while they work things out, and outline the following plan:

All of that said, here’s my current plan:

1. We’re keeping the forums offline while we fix things. This process may take awhile.
2. Rolling the entire forum back to March doesn’t make any sense – there’s an awful lot of discussion that’s happened since then that hasn’t been effected, as well as changes to the layout of the forums. It also doesn’t make sense to restore posts from March and put them right back where they were before, because… everyone would be responding to posts from March. I’d like to restore the posts from March and put them in an archive forum that people can refer back to.
3. We’re going to rebuild the sections of the forums that were lost and use this as an opportunity to improve them.
4. We’re updating Xenforo and taking steps to ensure that the forums are not vulnerable to future attacks.

This whole situation sucks. I’m sorry that a lot of your posts are gone, and I promise we’ll do better in the future.

• Sector 13 by Reactor Interactive —Kickstarter. "Strap into your favorite starfighter in this exciting multiplayer space combat game reminiscent of Wing Commander and Crimson Skies!"

• Doomworld -- The 22nd Annual Cacowards. Thanks Ant.
• The Kick Off 2 World Cup- Competitive e-sports with a 25-year-old Amiga game.
• League of Legends Worlds 2015 Viewership.
• StarCraft Arcade Rock the Cabinet 2015 – Contest Closed.

• Ark: Survival Evolved is coming to Xbox One this month.

• Calling All Planeswalkers! Magic- The Gathering - Puzzle Quest Launches on the App Store and Google Play.
• Battle Bros - Tower Defense mobile game now available.

• YouTube reveals the top ten most popular gaming videos of 2015.
• Western Digital Corporation Joins Active Archive Alliance To Push For Always-on Data Access. Thanks HARDOCP.

• Best CPUs of 2015 - TechSpot.

• Anita Sarkeesian and friends create online harassment prevention guide.
• Cyberattacks will compromise 1-in-3 healthcare records next year. Thanks Slashdot.
• Wi-Fi 'Allergies'- Is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Real? Thanks HARDOCP.
• Instead of news, UK paper delivered ransomware. Thanks Ant.
• Insurer now offering “troll insurance” for victims of online harassment.

• Anno 2205 on Malaysian Gamer.
• Star Wars: Battlefront on Zero Punctuation. NSFW.

• Acer Predator G6-710 on ocaholic.
• AMD R9 380X 4GB Graphics Card CrossFire on eTeknix.
• Antec Performance Series P380 Full-Tower Enclosure on PC Perspective.
• ASUS Z170 Deluxe Motherboard on Hardware Canucks.
• be quiet! Silent Base 600 Case on ThinkComputers.org.
• Bitfenix Nova Mid-Tower PC Case on eTeknix and Legit Reviews.
• Cooltek Skall on techPowerUp.
• OCZ's Trion 100 and Crucial's BX200 SSDs on The Tech Report.
• Phanteks Enthoo Evolv Galaxy Silver ATX on Benchmark Reviews.
• Streacom F12C ATX HTPC Chassis on TweakTown.

• Now Available on Steam - Romance of the Three Kingdoms Maker…

Happy birthday DOOM, as id Software's classic first-person was released on December 10, 1993, so it is 22 years-old today. I hope to play some today, but it's possible the game will just spend all day at a bar.

Doomed Links:	Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play:	Diseviled. Monkey Go Happy Christmas Tree.
Science:	Sponge injection could save the lives of domestic gunshot victims. Don't work overseas?
Media:	Orangutan loves Magic Trick. Finally, Stephen's Tolkien Geekdom Pays Off. Thanks nin. A fun day in Rollercoaster Tycoon.