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Archived News:
Disney announced today during their
second quarter earnings call that they are cancelling Disney Infinity,
closing Avalanche Software, and departing the game development and publishing
business.
GamesIndustry.biz has the details on what went down, saying the company will
henceforth deal with gaming as a way to license its properties. Word is the shut down of Avalanche put 300
employees out of work, and the company is taking a $147 million write-down as a
result of the closure. They offer a quote from Jimmy Pitaro, Disney's chairman
of consumer products and interactive media: "This was a difficult decision that
we did not take lightly given the quality of Disney Infinity and its many
passionate fans."
Electronic Arts Reports Q4 FY16 and Full Year FY16 Financial Results,
showing better than expected earnings, partly based on Star Wars Battlefront
selling more than 14 million units. According to
Eurogamer the earning conference call with investors revealed a new
installment in the Star Wars Battlefront series from Visceral, most likely in
2018, and they note
power point-style version of the report shows Titanfall 2 with a fiscal Q3
2017 release window, which is Q4 2016 on normal calendars. Here's more on their
earnings:
- For fiscal year 2016, GAAP net revenue was $4.396
billion of which 55% or $2.409 billion was digital, gross margin was 69.2%,
operating margin was 20.4%, and GAAP diluted earnings per share was $3.50.
During fiscal 2016, EA recorded a $453 million credit related to the
reversal of a valuation allowance reserve on certain deferred tax assets.
This credit increased our diluted GAAP earnings per share for fiscal 2016 by
$1.37 per share to $3.50, but had no effect on non-GAAP earnings or cash
flow.
- For fiscal year 2016, non-GAAP net revenue was
$4.566 billion of which 55% or $2.531 billion was digital, non-GAAP gross
margin was 71.4%, non-GAAP operating margin was 28.5%, non-GAAP diluted
earnings per share was $3.14 and operating cash flow was $1.223 billion. All
of these are fiscal year records.
- For the quarter, non-GAAP net revenue of $924
million was above guidance of $875 million. Diluted non-GAAP earnings per
share of $0.50 was above guidance of $0.40.
The
DirectX Developer Blog has the news that Microsoft has addressed a couple of
the complaints about gaming on their Universal Windows Platform, saying they are
unlocking framerates and adding support for AMD Freesync and NVIDIA G-SYNC
technology in Windows 10. This comes right after some boasting "that Windows 10
is unequivocally THE place to be for gamers" though those features probably
should have been present before they made with the bragging. They offer a link
to get the OS update instead of waiting for it, but note that UWP games will
also need individual developer patches before you can enjoy unlocked framerates.
Thanks
Custom PC Review.
GOG.com confirms the rumor that
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine is due this month, as they have opened
up preorders for a May 31st release of the expansion for CD Projekt RED's RPG
sequel. They also offer the first teaser
trailer from the expansion. Here's word: Prepare to face the final
quest
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine, the second and final epic
expansion to the winner of over 250 GOTY awards, is now available for pre-order,
DRM-free on GOG.com, with a 10% discount.
No matter where Geralt travels, adventure follows. More often than not, these
adventures leave behind a trail of Blood and Wine, and a world forever changed
due to his actions. This time, Geralt of Rivia visits Toussaint, a never-before
seen region almost as big as No Man's Land, to face a night terror lurking in
the shadows of the kingdom. Join the White Wolf in a 20-hour long adventure full
of mystery and intrigue, meet new characters, and cut down new monsters, using
your awesome new sets of gear and your well-honed skills.
CD PROJECT RED have just released the first teaser for Blood and Wine, the
upcoming expansion to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Take a look at what awaits the
White Wolf in this perilous, exotic land.
Continue here to read the full story.
Eugen Systems now offers Act of Aggression - Reboot Edition
on Steam, an updated
version of their RTS game that incorporates a number of changes and improvements
over the original version of this RTS game. This comes as a replacement, and is
provided as a free upgrade to all owners. For newcomers, this is on sale for
half-off, and here's word on what it offers: Eugen Systems releases Act
of Aggression - Reboot Edition today, and can be purchased at 50% off on Steam!
This re-release version of the game comes with massive gameplay overhauls: a new
resource system, revamped base-building, unit control improvements, and much
more! Experience the dynamic, streamlined version of Act of Aggression in
skirmish mode against the AI, and in online multiplayer battles. Owners of the
original Act of Aggression can download this new edition for free! Once the
Reboot Edition is installed on your machine, you will be able to switch between
the classic vanilla version and the Reboot Edition.
The Reboot Edition runs on a single economy for war: money. Refineries will now
extract oil from deposits located around each map. Each faction has had their
building location restrictions altered and their builder units are controllable,
opening up new base-building options. Units have been tweaked to move and turn
faster, and their reaction speeds to orders have been cut in half. These
gameplay changes guarantee faster, more action-oriented gameplay that focuses on
the battle.
The gameplay details are summarized below:
- Streamlined Economy: Manage only one
resource as oil is automatically converted to cash, allowing you to focus on
the action. Unit expenditure is up-front, meaning no more micromanaging
production lines.
- New Base Building System: Like a
traditional RTS, base building units are selectable. Build directly from the
builder (or destroy your opponent's builder!)
- New Airstrikes: You no longer control the
planes mid-flight. They go directly to their target and strike, much faster
than previously.
- Huge balancing update and unit model
improvements as well as UI tweaks and changes: for example, all units
now accelerate and decelerate faster, guaranteeing more streamlined and
action-packed RTS gameplay.
The
Paragon blog announces the release of a new patch for Paragon, adding a
bunch of changes to the early access MOBA along with GRIM.exe, the game's newest
hero. This trailer
offers a look at the new character in action, and here's part of the update
explaining the balance update this brings: The Support balance pass will
affect Gadget, Dekker, and Muriel. Muriel’s abilities have been rebalanced to
reduce the impact of her shields in battle. The primary goal for Dekker is to
make her a more appealing option as a Support Hero by increasing the impact of
her Stasis Bomb and the Containment Fence in combat. Meanwhile, Gadget’s overall
abilities have become more potent and easier to use in battle. We’re looking
forward to hearing your feedback about these Heroes in combat!
Continue here to read the full story.
A new trailer from
Creative Assembly features another walkthrough for Total War: WARHAMMER, showing
off the Chaos Warriors campaign that's a preorder bonus for the upcoming
fantasy-themed strategy game. This shows off the race's "unique gameplay
mechanics, technology and battlefield units." Here's more: "Potentially the most
challenging race to play as, the Chaos Warriors have a frenzied need to dominate
and exterminate anyone they encounter in the name of the Dark Gods. This often
risks leaving them on a knife edge; in danger of over-stretching even their
mightiest hordes into enemy territory. This new video offers an glimpse at the
Chaos Warriors’ unique mechanics as well as their tech trees, building chains
and character progression." Continue here to read the full story.
Cliff Bleszinski invests in crowdfunding platform Fig.
-
Demoniaca- Everlasting Night by Fabio Consorti — Kickstarter. "A dark
gothic action platformer with unique mechanics that will take you along a
bloody journey of revenge."
-
Last Stitch Goodnight -- Steam Greenlight. "Last Stitch Goodnight is a
side scrolling action adventure that violently embraces a new modern
mythology. After you survive a near-death experience, you are kidnapped by a
doctor who is experimenting on people who satisfy certain… criteria.
Escaping the doctor’s death trap of a mansion will require new weapons, new
powers, and a strong stomach for facing science gone bad."
-
The Atari ST and the creative people- RISE OF THE DEMOSCENE by Marco A.
Breddin — Kickstarter. "Welcome! This is the first book especially
written about the Atari ST Demoscene and its origins. Unlike any other retro
book it combines a continuous essayistic storyline with a lithographic art
book presentation. This full-coloured hardback book contains over 200 pages
of Demoscene history and is just the beginning. The first volume enfolds the
timespan from 1986 to 1990 and focuses on the development and transformation
of the early core of the scene. "
- Spunk and Moxie is now available for Windows
on Steam, offering a
classic-style platformer with one-button input…
During an earnings conference call, CAPCOM revealed plans for three unannounced
games coming in the next twelve months, saying they will all be released by
April 2017. The only specific is that one of these is a Monster Hunter
title, though they note that the company
possibly seems to be teasing that one of the other games will be Resident
Evil 7. Here is the specific quote about that: "In the fiscal year ending
March 31, 2017, the Company is scheduled to release... Resident Evil Umbrella
Corps (for PlayStation 4 and PC) of the Resident Evil series, which marked its
20th anniversary in March 2016, as warm up to the full-scale offensive planned
for the second half of the year." The only other details they offer about these
three projects are sales projections, saying they expect the Monster Hunter game
and one of the titles to sell around two million units, while the third game is
projected to sell closer to four million.
Paradox Interactive announces that
Stellaris has broken
the company's record for first-day sales: Paradox Interactive and Paradox
Development Studio launched into space last night with the release of sci-fi
grand strategy Stellaris. The launch was received to almost universal acclaim by
the community, with an impressive 95% positive user reviews on Steam. With
68,000 simultaneous players on the day of release, Stellaris also managed to
de-throne the publisher’s other recent success Cities: Skylines, which
previously held their record for highest amount of concurrent players at launch.
Less than 24 hours after release, Stellaris has sold over 200,000 units,
breaking the revenue record for any of Paradox Interactive’s previous titles
during the same time period. For the internal development studio, the game has
broken every record available and is the studio's fastest selling game ever.
“We are immensely proud of the Paradox team for putting together such a stellar
release,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive and master of puns.
“This release is the result of hard work and dedication from the entire company
and in particular Paradox Development Studio. The incredible reception by
players, indicated for instance by the steam user reviews, is all the proof we
could ask for that our hard work paid off. Our fans have put their faith in us
and Stellaris will be a part of Paradox's onwards journey for a long time to
come.”
Headup Games reveals plans for SEUM- Speedrunners From Hell, a hardcore
first-person platformer they describe as "an unholy child of Quake 3 and Super
Meat Boy" coming to Windows PCs this summer. They show off what this is all
about in
the announcement trailer, and offer this outline of what this is about: Marty
had a bad morning. Demons disrupted his late breakfast and ripped off his right
arm, but the worst of it: they stole all his beer - the last batch of limited
edition Walrus Ale (tm). Mad as hell, he ripped off a demon's arm and attached
it to himself. So his morning plans have changed: he's heading to hell to get
back his beer - and deliver some payback..ASAP!
Pine Studio and Headup Games present SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell, the only
competitive heavy metal first-person platformer. You run, jump, fly and teleport
through more than a hundred deadly arenas, each more devilish than the last.
Play your best, and secure a top spot in the online leaderboards and find the
hidden beer cans hidden throughout in every level. Hell yeah - beer!
As spring moves along, SMITE is
already looking ahead with the launch of Susano, "the powerful God of the Summer
Storm," who is now live in the PC edition of the MOBA. The
version 3.8 patch notes have details on the new god as well as other
changes, new skins, and more in the new version.
This video features a
look at Susano in action, and here's more on what he brings to the party:
"SMITE’s latest addition to the battlefield is Susano, the powerful God of the
Summer Storm with a penchant for destruction. Hailing from the Japanese
pantheon, Susano commands the wind and the rain. Known for his violent temper,
he has a turbulent relationship with his sister, Amaterasu." Continue here to read the full story.
- Good
Game Series 12 Episode 13. Thanks Ant…
- Acorn Assault: Rodent Revolution is a turn-based strategy game that's
currently 50% off on
Steam. How can you resist this description: "Embark on an nutty journey
filled with a strange cast of characters through a historically inaccurate
retelling of the French Revolution with squirrels."…
Thank you Blizzard for extending the Overwatch beta by a day, allowing us to
close it out last night with our Monday night mutant gaming crew. We had a lot
of fun in the beta and last night was especially entertaining, as we used the
imminent conclusion of testing as an excuse to try some wacky comps, including
an all-Torbjörn team that didn't allow the attacking team a whiff of the
objective and an all-Winston team that started the game with a terrifying
ape-pile on every enemy we saw. In the Winston game the other team played along
and quickly switched to all Bastions to destroy us so we came back as six Genjis
and instantly demolished them all in a hail of deflected gunfire. I'm laughing
to myself as I think about this, and already have regrets that we don't have a
couple of highlight clips saved from some of our crazier exploits.
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