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Archived News:
Soldak Entertainment now offers a playable demo for Zombasite, offering the
chance to sample their upcoming post-apocalyptic action/RPG on Windows, OS X, or
Linux. You can pick this up
on Steam or directly from the
Soldak website. Word is:
"In the Zombasite demo, you can get a taste of the dynamic and ever changing
world. There is no time limit, but it does limit everything to around level 6.
The demos are about 250 MB and are currently version 0.924. You can see the
minimum and recommended
System Specs here." Here's a bit on the game: Zombasite is a nasty,
voracious, all-consuming Zombie Parasite. It doesn't just reanimate the dead
into mindless zombies. It is intelligent, insatiable, and unstoppable—infecting
and killing the living, spreading faster and in more ways, helping the dead
utilize many of their original skills, and mutating the dead with new powers.
Dark elf zombies are terrifying!
So what does this have to do with you? You are the leader of a clan trying to
survive the apocalypse. This is easier said than done. When a follower dies,
they can't be saved by any means. The Zombasite is highly contagious and zombies
are quickly ravaging the world's surface. Food is a critical resource that must
be obtained. Vendors are rare and have limited supplies. Some of the stronger
monsters have survived and are as dangerous as ever. Clans of humans and
monsters are fighting over what few supplies are left. Even within your own clan
it isn't safe. Humans living on the edge are even more unstable than usual. So
yeah, survival isn't easy.
M2H and Blackmill Games announce the release of Horrors of War, a new free expansion for
Verdun 1914-1918, their first-person shooter set in the
trenches of World War I.
This trailer shows off some of the content (and the gore) in the expansion,
which they describe as "massive," as it includes new units, a new region, new
weapons and animations, and a new co-op game mode.
This post has the details, and here is a bit: With this expansion we
offer more diverse historical battles in an immersive environment. Soldiers are
confronted with more WW1 situations such as fighting during the night, offensive
battles, more varied squads and a host of new weaponry that calls for careful
tactical maneuvering. The realistic WW1 atmosphere has been strengthened with a
new animation blending system, dismemberments, more blood, more corpses and a
whole new region; Champagne.
Continue here to read the full story.
The Steam listing for
The Banner Saga 2 now lists an April 19th release date, and
Steam News announces you
can now pre-purchase the RPG sequel with a 10% prerelease discount. Here's word:
The Banner Saga 2
is Now Available for Pre-Purchase on Steam and is 10% off!*
The award winning and BAFTA nominated saga continues in The Banner Saga 2.
Continue your journey soon after the climactic events of The Banner Saga. The
choices you made in the first game will affect who is alive and who is dead in
this exciting sequel. As the world continues to crumble around you, only one
bastion of hope remains, but getting there will require strong leadership, hard
sacrifices, influencing new heroes, and, as always, sound strategy in combat.
*Offer ends at 10AM Pacific Time
Heathen Engineering announces that early access is now underway for Terran
(or more precisely, Heathen Engineering's Terran), offering the chance to
help shape this space simulator where your character can help shape the galaxy.
This is available now for Windows, OS X, and Linux
on Steam. and the
developers say this is the first of several distinct early access phases that
will lead to an eventual full release, and
this recent video
introduces phase one of this process, warning this is aimed at the most hardcore
of gamers. The game will include the ability to design your own ships, fight
capital ship battles, manage a civilization, and more, all with native VR
support. Here's a summary: Heathen Engineering's Terran is definitely not
your average space life simulator. Start your journey as a young Terran pilot,
free from any allegiances or obligations. Join or form factions, corporations,
bounty hunter gangs, or even crime syndicates as you forge your story! Whether
you want to fly solo or with a massive fleet, take to government, or start a
corporation, the galaxy and gameplay will respond in kind to your choices and
performance. The events themselves represent mission orders, opportunities,
civil, military and environment activities, as well as non-intractable
occurrences which shape the galaxy.
Continue here to read the full story.
Paradox Interactive announces April 5th is when to expect the release of Mare
Nostrum, the upcoming naval-themed expansion for Europa Universalis IV,
their historical strategy game. A
new video
developer diary features Johan Andersson explaining some of the new features
in the expansion, showing off some gameplay, and also revealing some significant
changes in a free patch for all users that will accompany the add-on. Here's
word: Mare Nostrum adds new depth to many parts of the classic empire
builder, including new options for the merchant republics. These tiny
financially motivated states can now form Trade Leagues, uniting their
commercial might in a military and a mercantile alliance that makes everyone
richer and stronger.
The expansion also introduces new mercenary options with greater control over
your naval missions, the chance to rent your armies as condottieri, and the
ability to share maps with your neighbors.
A new developer video with Creative Director Johan Andersson outlines some of
the coming changes.
And, even if you pass on buying Mare Nostrum, April 5 will also be the occasion
for a substantial free update for all Europa Universalis players. This massive
patch will add new features, which will enhance the player experience. The
update will include:
- Map Expansion: Greater detail to Ireland
and sub-Saharan African, especially in the Congo and East Central Africa,
and new “States and Territories” system
- Espionage Reworking: Your diplomats can now
build spy networks in enemy nations, from where you can fabricate claims on
enemy holdings or undermine them from within.
- Interface improvements: Better tooltips
overall, and naval blockades are now more obvious on the map
- Naval Combat Changes: better morale system
and increased chance to capture enemy vessels
- And even more changes to game balance, AI and
modding triggers
Here is the official
trailer for Chronos, an upcoming RPG from Gunfire Games. This will be an
Oculus Rift launch title, but thankfully the video uses none of the binocular
vision so often presented to promote VR games. What the clip does offer is an
introduction to the game's story and a look at its environments and some
gameplay. Here's word on the game's unusual core mechanic: "Chronos is an
atmospheric RPG that chronicles a hero's lifelong quest to save their homeland
from a great evil. Grow wiser, stronger and more powerful as you explore the
depths of the mysterious labyrinth. But beware, the labyrinth takes a heavy toll
– each time your hero dies, they lose a year of their life!" Continue here to read the full story.
- Red Orchestra 2- Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm on
Steam. Save 75%.
- Ultimate Strategy Bundle on
Bundle Stars.
Registration for the bring your own computer area in this year's QuakeCon are
set to go on sale at 8:00 pm EDT tonight on the
QuakeCon website. These $40.00
tickets allow you to select and reserve a seat in the BYOC area and entitle you
to an official lanyard. General admission to the event is free, but tomorrow
they will also be opening the chance to reserve general admission access, which
will save attendees time by allowing them to preregister online. QuakeCon will
be August 4 – August 7 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, TX.
Videogamer has word from Gearbox Software that Battleborn will
require an online connection, even to play single-player modes. "Battleborn
requires an internet connection to play, whether you're playing singleplayer,
co-operatively with friends, or competitively against others. One of the reasons
for this is that experience points earned in Battleborn's Story Mode carry over
to Multiplayer and vice-versa," says the developer in a statement. "All XP
earned through the game's persistent progression system contributes to leveling
up individual Character Rank, as well as player profile Command Rank. In
addition, maintaining data integrity is a major priority for the team, and
online gameplay permits player's data to be accessible, even after experiencing
a hardware malfunction or purchasing a new console." Speaking of solo play, the
Gearbox Software website now offers a new
Live Together or Die Alone
Story Trailer from the upcoming teamplay shooter. Word is: "In the game's Story Mode, you're the commander of the Battleborn,
an uneasy alliance of intergalatic [sic] heroes from five different factions who have
banded together to stop a dark and mysterious enemy from destroying the
universe. Under your command, the Battleborn must live together or die alone."
Last but not least, the
Battleborn website now offers a schedule for the game's
promised open beta
test, saying the PC beta will run from April 13th to April 18th, and preloads
will begin on April 6th. Here are the details: Calling all Badasses:
To get yourself ready for the Battleborn Open Beta, wrap your mind around what’s
at stake. Set in the distant future, you’re fighting to save the last star in
the universe. You have 25 heroes – each with wildly different personalities,
powers, and play styles – at your disposal as you dip into the action-packed
Story Mode or go 5 v 5 in Competitive Multiplayer matches. Experience the
natural progression of the game as you rank up and unlock new heroes, skins,
taunts, Helix mutations, and more during the Battleborn Open Beta.
The Basics:
WHEN IS IT? April 8 to April 18!
- April 8th at 10am PST (5pm UTC) – PS4
- April 13th at 10am PST (5pm UTC) – PS4, PC, and
Xbox One
- Open Beta ends April 18th at 7am PST (2pm UTC)
PLATFORMS: PS4, PC, and Xbox One
Continue here to read the full story.
Robot Entertainment announces the
promised open beta access for Orcs Must Die! Unchained will begin on
March 29th, saying that the closed beta will not run this weekend as they
prepare for the change. Also, a
post from
last week explains how the exchange rate for real money purchases of gold is
being adjusted as the closed beta ends. Here's word on the testing
itself: After last weekend's successful closed beta stress test, Robot
Entertainment today announced that ORCS MUST DIE! UNCHAINED will be moving into
open beta on March 29th. Players should Sharpen their spike traps and warm up
their brimstone, because in just six days gamers everywhere will be able to
download and play the latest installment of the acclaimed action tower defense
series for free.
This weekend, the closed beta servers will not be coming online for their usual
Thursday-to-Sunday window. Instead, Robot Entertainment will be hard at work
making final preparations for the rollout of open beta next Tuesday. Part of
that preparation will include the wiping of all closed beta accounts, giving all
players a fresh starting point for the open beta. Robot Entertainment also
recently
announced that all in-game gold purchases made during the closed beta period
will be honored and adjusted to the new open beta gold rates, and all Alpha
Founder Pack content will be applied to accounts when they roll over.
To access the ORCS MUST DIE! UNCHAINED open beta, players just need to download
the game from Steam or from OrcsMustDie.com on March 29th and create a free
account. As the remaining few days count down, players can follow Orcs Must Die!
on Facebook and
Twitter for more news about what
to expect from the launch of open beta.
The Dota 2 website announces
plans for some "spring cleaning" in Dota 2, Valve's MOBA. That makes it
sound like a minor patch, but the post is pretty huge, an illustrated listing of
dozens of changes. Here are just some of the highlighted gameplay updates:
- Fixed crashes due to memory fragmentation over
long play sessions
- Fixed a bug with stun application timing that
could cause you to teleport to the fountain while stunned
- Fixed Auto Attack after spell to not trigger on
various other non-spell activities (like placing wards)
- Fixed seeing the courier die in an area after it
has already been dead for a while when you hadn't seen it die originally
- Fixed bots being stuck trying to ward near cliffs
- Fixed various effects malfunctioning when the
target moves in and out of FoW (causing things like the Hex effect to play
multiple times when the target reappears)
- Assists now get counted whenever you place debuff
on an enemy hero that dies
- Assists now get counted whenever you place a buff
on a hero that kills an enemy hero
- Fixed Lifestealer having the wrong HP bar color
when infesting Ancients
- Fixed Sunray having a delay on updating the visual
location of the ray
- Fixed Ice Wall debuff lingering on heroes that
become Spell Immune
- Fixed Untouchable lingering when attempting to
attack units other than Enchantress
- Fixed Lycan's ult wolf changing into a headless
Lycan model on death
On the recommendation of some of you in the forums I have installed
f.lux to govern my monitor's color
temperature, something that's supposed to help maintain a proper circadian
rhythm after late-night computing. This can be a little strange, as even with my
color blindness the shift away from blue after this kicks in at sundown is a
little striking, but it's something I can get used to. What I may not be able to
adjust to is how the mouse cursor remains the same, which after the yellow shift
makes it an almost blindingly harsh blue/white. A little poking around suggests
this is because the cursor is rendered in hardware, and I may go so far as to
delve into a registry hack suggested as a way to force a software cursor to
overcome this problem.
R.I.P.:
Bob Ebeling, Challenger Engineer Who Warned Of Shuttle Disaster, Dies.
Thanks
Slashdot via Ant.
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