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Archived News:
GamesBeat has word that Chinese publisher Youzu Interactive has acquired
German developer Bigpoint for "up to" 80 million euros, or approximately $90
million. The article points out this is the next step in an existing
relationship: "China is important to Hamburg-based Bigpoint. Last year, it
partnered with Tencent to take its free-to-play online game Drakensang Online to
the Chinese market. The aim of that partnership was to take the fantasy online
role-playing game with 29 million players to an even larger global market." They
also give some background on Youzu Interactive, saying it "was founded in by Lin
Qi in 2009, and is publishes online and mobile and massively multiplayer online
games in China and the U.S.. Its games include League of Angels, Knight’s Fable
and Magerealm. They are played by hundreds of millions of fans."
GamesIndustry.biz has word that Sony has closed down Evolution Studios, the
developer on several racing franchises, including World Rally Championship,
MotorStorm, and most recently DriveClub, which the story calls "a
troubled project." They have the following official statement from Sony on the
move: Regular reviews take place throughout SCE Worldwide Studios,
ensuring that the resources that we have in such a competitive landscape can
create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects.
As part of this process we have reviewed and assessed all current projects and
plans for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to the
European studios structure.
As a result, it has been decided that Evolution Studio will close.
Continue here to read the full story.
BethesdaGameStudios tweets that they should be ready to offer a beta version
of the survival mode overhaul for Fallout 4 next week, saying "#Fallout4
Survival mode overhaul should be in Steam beta next week. #PleaseStandBy"
(thanks
GameSpot). More immediately,
Bethesda also announces the release of the Automatron expansion for the post-apocalyptic RPG sequel. All you need to know about this is on the
Fallout website, and
this recent trailer
shows off the pack. Here's word: In Automatron, the mysterious Mechanist
has unleashed a horde of evil robots into the Commonwealth, including the
devious Robobrain. Hunt them down and harvest their parts to build and mod your
own custom robot companions. Choose from hundreds of mods; mixing limbs, armour,
abilities, and weapons such as the all-new lightning chain gun. Even customise
their paint schemes and choose their voices! (For characters level 15 or
higher.)
Automatron marks the first add-on release for Fallout 4. In April, we’re
expanding the capabilities of settlements with Wasteland Workshop, and in May,
travel beyond the Commonwealth to Maine for Far Harbor – the largest landmass
Bethesda Game Studios has ever created for post-release content. And, that’s
just the beginning, with even more add-ons to be released in 2016. Stay tuned
for more details on free updates like Survival Mode and the Creation Kit, which
will allow you to create mods on the PC and then share and play them across all
platforms, including consoles.
Continue here to read the full story.
It's all downhill from here, as Frontier Developments announces the commencement
of the early bird alpha version of Planet Coaster, their new theme park
simulation. The game is not due for full release until Q4 of this year, but in
the meantime, you can play the in-development version and influence its
development by purchasing this through the
Planet Coaster page for $74.99 USD. An
alpha tutorial video
offers a look, and here's word: Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV)
today launched the Planet Coaster Early-Bird Alpha for PC. Planet Coaster is the
next great leap for coaster park simulation, building on a decade of experience
from the studio behind the genre’s benchmark.
Planet Coaster’s Early-Bird Alpha places the game’s first creative tools in the
hands of the community. Players can build rides, lay paths, place scenery and
explore the revolutionary modular construction system to create truly unique
parks for their guests to explore.
Future phases of the Alpha will add further features on the road to the Planet
Coaster’s launch in Q4 2016, when Planet Coaster will deliver the best creation
tools, the deepest coaster park simulation, the most expressive and believable
crowds, and the most comprehensive sharing and community features, all in the
world’s most authentic coaster park game. We hope you’ll join us for the
ride.
Continue here to read the full story.
Gearbox Software announces the release of the promised
Soban Fleet Pack for
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, saying this coincides with a Steam sale on
the Homeworld franchise. Here's word: They're a highly respected force
within the Northern Coalition, and starting today, you can experience battle
through the eyes of Kiith Soban with the Soban Fleet Pack. Although their
tactical prowess is renowned, it is their ability to leverage advanced military
technologies to deliver devastating long-range attacks, disrupt enemy movements,
and manipulate the battlefield that has made them one of the most effective
fleets to enter the battlefield in years.
This fleet pack adds the new playable fleet, Kiith Soban, to multiplayer and
skirmish modes in Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak. The Soban Fleet includes an all
new CARRIER, RAILGUN, BASERUNNER, and BATTLECRUISER, as well as unique Soban
textures for all units and new Soban Carrier Captain voiceover and processing.
To celebrate the launch of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak's first add-on pack,
we're holding a franchise-wide sale on Homeworld titles and DLC! From now
through March 26, save 50% on Homeworld Remastered Collection and its
soundtracks and 25% off Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak and the Deserts of Kharak
Expedition Guide and soundtrack add-ons!
The Hyper Light Drifter website
now offers a release date for this throwback-styled action/RPG, saying it will
come to Windows and OS X on March 31st, and that it is "coming soon 2016" to
consoles, also offering a
new trailer from the crowdfunded game (thanks
Digg via nin).
They say this is available for preorder, offering an exclusive wallpaper as
incentive, as they don't make incentives like they used to. Word is: "Hyper
Light Drifter is a 2D Action RPG in the vein of the best 8-bit and 16-bit
classics, with modernized mechanics and designs on a much grander scale." Continue here to read the full story.
Inkle announces that The Seven Serpents, part three of their Sorcery
revival, will be released for Windows and OS X on April 5th on Steam and the
Humble Store. Here's word: Spun off from the popular gamebooks of the
1980s, Steve Jackson's Sorcery! is a narrative game with a massively branching,
choice-driven storyline. With the city of Kharé at your back and the sacred
Crown of Kings driving you forward, Sorcery! Part 3: The Seven Serpents provides
the toughest challenge yet as you attempt to cross the cruel, cursed wasteland
of Kakhabad.
With rations dwindling and seven deadly serpents stalking you through a barren
desert, only the most resourceful adventurers will survive. And with no set path
to follow and time itself rippling like a flag on the wind, this adventure could
lead you around in circles -- or a thousand years into the past.
Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet is now available for Windows, OS X, and Linux
on Steam and other online
stores, offering a new point-and-click adventure with a comedic bent. This
launch
trailer introduces the concept, and here's word on the game: "Join Nelly
Cootalot in this new point and click adventure game, and rescue birds hypnotised
by the villainous Baron Widebeard. The game launches today on Steam and other
stores for Windows, Mac & Linux. It was created by award-winning British
comedian and filmmaker Alasdair Beckett-King and it boasts a fantastic voice
cast including Tom Baker (Doctor Who)." Continue here to read the full story.
-
Demoniaca by Fabio Consorti — Kickstarter. "DEMONIACA is a pixel art
indie game developed by Mnemosyne Games and set in a dark, gothic
environment. It is an action platformer that combines Castlevania's
aesthetic with classic Fighting Game combat mechanics, like "the King of
Fighters". In fact it is the first prototype of Kofvania."
There's a Spring Sale on
Green Man Gaming offering up to 80% off on select titles. Here's word from
the
Green Man Gaming & Playfire Community Blog: It's Easter week, and we
have a huge Spring Sale
kicking off today, with up to 80% off. There'll be three main sets of deals,
featuring three key publisher promos each, and we're starting with some of the
biggest names in gaming.
If you've been waiting for killer deals on the likes of Fallout, Elder Scrolls,
Shadow of Mordor, Half-Life and more, you're in for a treat!
Here's a new release trailer for
TrackMania Turbo, celebrating the worldwide availability of Nadeo's racing sequel on consoles
today and for Windows on Thursday. You can learn all about the game on the
Trackmania
website, and the trailer's description has a quick look:
Trackmania offers you the ultimate arcade racing universe where everything is
about reaching the perfect racing time. Test your skills in over 200 tracks,
experience immediate fun by challenging your friends at home (offline
splitscreen) or online. The competition lasts forever: design and share your own
tracks with other players in the Trackbuilder!
Continue here to read the full story.
The
Binding of Isaac website announces The Legend of Bum-bo, a "randomly
generated," turn-based "puzzle RPG type thingy" (thanks
GameSpot). It's not 100% clear how this connects to The Binding of Isaac,
as that's left as one of the mysteries in the indifferently punctuated post.
Here's word: Announcing (teasing) The Legend of Bum-bo!
James Id and i have been working on this secret project for a few months now and
we cant hold our tongues any longer!
The Facts:
The Legend of Bum-bo is a turn based puzzle RPG type thingy thats randomly
generated.
James Id is programming and handling
all the 3d aspects of the art as well as a ton of other thankless work ill take
credit for.
im designing, writing and dealing with the 2d art and character design.
once again Matthias and Jon (Ridiculon)
will be handling the audio.
but why is this on the isaac blog!? what does this have to do with isaac!? when
isaac!? isaac? isaac! why!?
well im sure those questions will be answered in the coming months once we tease
a bit more.
follow us on twitter for more cryptic messages.
JamesId /
EdmundMcMillen /
Ridiculon
The
Star Wars Battlefront website announces the release of the Outer Rim
expansion for the Star Wars action game, available as an individual purchase, or
as part of a season pass. Among other things, this adds a new Extraction mode to
the mix. "In an effort to encourage the community rally around our smaller,
close quarter game modes in the same way, we’ve created Extraction," explains
lead designer Dennis Brännvall. "This mode features high-intensity choke points,
rewarding flanking routes, deeper tactical mechanics and, of course, heroes."
Here's more: Extraction takes place on four maps: two different locations
within Jabba’s Palace and two areas in the factories of SoroSuub. Rebel forces
have entered some of the most dangerous places in the Outer Rim in order to
extract a valuable shipment of resources. Now they must bring the shipment to
their transport ship before time runs out. The Empire has scouted their
location, realized their intentions and arrived to stop them from reaching the
extraction point.
“Your job as a Rebel is to push the shipment through the entire level to reach
the extraction point – where a Rebel transport will fly down and take the
shipment away. The shipment will pass through several checkpoints along the way
that adds more time for the Rebels. The timer starts out at 5 minutes and each
checkpoint adds another 5 minutes to the timer, for a total of 15 minutes to get
the shipment to the Extraction Point,” Brännvall explains.
Play ball! Today is opening day for Out of the Park Baseball 17, the
latest installment in OOTP Developments' sports simulation. The new edition
boasts many improvements, expanding on last year's addition of MLB licensing to
use real teams and logos with an MLBPA license that includes player likenesses.
"Every year we make the most exciting, most immersive baseball management game
in history even better, and OOTP 17 is no exception," said lead developer and
lifelong baseball fan Markus Heinsohn. "We’re thrilled to have the game fully
licensed by MLB.com, MiLB.com, and the MLBPA, and we can't wait for armchair GMs
to try out the amazing new features available this year." The game is available
through the
Out of the Park Developments website or
on Steam. Here's part of
their opening day pitch: Out of the Park Baseball 17 is a baseball fan’s
dream. Step into the shoes of a GM and/or field manager to own the future or
rewrite the past of your favorite real-world franchise. Build the team the way
you want to. Start a new career with your favorite 2016 MLB team or span through
almost 150 years of baseball history and run any team from the past! You can
even set up your own fictional baseball universe or compete in online leagues
against other OOTP players. The possibilities in OOTP 17 are endless.
The brand new 2016 MLB roster set will include all projected Opening Day MLB
rosters as well as the complete minor league system down to the rookie leagues
and even future draft classes. Can Jake Arrieta, David Price, and Johnny Cueto
give their teams the pitching boosts they need? Will Albert Pujols, Chris Davis,
and Bryce Harper once again help power their clubs to victory? Can the Kansas
City Royals repeat or will the Chicago Cubs finally win the World Series again?
Find out and guide your favorite MLB franchise to glory!
Dive into the more hands-on management and set your team's lineups, pitching
staffs, and in-game strategy. You can oversee your league at a high level, or
play out each game, managing play by play or even pitch by pitch. OOTP players
progress realistically over time. Build a team through the draft, or sign big
free agents to put you over the top!
A
post on Wine Reviews includes
this video showing
Steam running on Android Remix using a version of CodeWeavers Software's
CrossOver software for Android. This is running on a laptop rather than a phone,
and the clip offers a shaky look at nothing more than a Steam window on the
screen, but according to the accompanying update, this is heading towards more.
"Our company, CodeWeavers, with the help of Jide Technology was able to
demonstrate Steam running on Android," CodeWeavers president James Ramey wrote
on Facebook. "Gamers will be able to play their PC based games on Android
devices. It's cutting edge if nothing else." Thanks
Slashdot via Ant.
Steam News announces the
release of Day of the
Tentacle Remastered, an updated version of this beloved adventure
originally from LucasArts. Here's the deal: Dr. Fred’s mutated purple
tentacle is about to take over the world, and only you can stop him!
Originally released by LucasArts in 1993 as a sequel to Ron Gilbert’s ground
breaking Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle is a mind-bending, time travel,
cartoon puzzle adventure game in which three unlikely friends work together to
prevent an evil mutated purple tentacle from taking over the world!
Now, over twenty years later, Day of the Tentacle is back in a remastered
edition that features all new hand-drawn, high resolution artwork, with
remastered audio, music and sound effects.
Happy 15th anniversary to Serious Sam, though the official birthday of
the release of Croteam's first-person shooter was actually yesterday. The
Croteam
website has a celebration of the news, discussing the project and offering
visual aids such as this
previously released video showing an early beta version of the game. They
also now offer
Steam Community -- Group Announcements -- Serious Sam 15th anniversary trading
cards on Steam and a sale
on the series. Here's word: After receiving hundreds of emails per
week from gamers all over the world who loved the demo, with our batteries fully
replenished and secured funding from GoD, we went on to finish our first Serious
Sam game. To be honest, The First Encounter was (and still is) one of our
dearest games, in which we poured our hearts, soul, sweat, and tears. It took us
years to develop it, but on 21st of March 2001, the wait was finally over, our
baby was released in stores worldwide. It had a great reception, everyone loved
the crazy over-the-top gameplay combined with beautiful visual and audio
presentation, and we were really relieved once first (positive) comments started
pouring in. And best of all, it won Gamespot’s prestigious Game of the Year
award, as well as numerous other awards and praises from the gaming press and
community.
Hope you have appetite for more cake, as CapCom announces today is another
anniversary, as the original Resident Evil was released 20 years ago
today. Word is: "Since the birth of the series on March 22, 1996, Resident Evil
has gone on to become one of the most iconic and successful gaming franchises of
all time. With game sales topping 66 million copies worldwide and its expansion
into successful Hollywood feature films, merchandise, attractions and events
across the globe, the series continues to infect the hearts of survival horror
fans everywhere." They also say they will be celebrating this over the course of
the year: The anniversary celebrations will continue over the next year
and the team is already hard at work to deliver some amazing new surprises. Stay
tuned to our channels throughout the year for more news on what the team has in
store.
A lunar eclipse is coinciding with a super-bright Jupiter tomorrow. That
sounds pretty cool, and will actually take place during a time when some of us
are potentially awake. Speaking of potential, I've been thinking a bit lately
about the possibility of getting a telescope. I think I'm concluding that I
wouldn't actually get enough use out of it to justify that, but this seems like
it would be a fun occasion to have one.
R.I.P.:
Legendary former Intel CEO Andy Grove is dead at 79. Thanks
Slashdot via Ant.
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