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Archived News:
The
Positch website announces that the ballots have been cast, and
Democracy 3: Electioneering is now available, offering an expansion for
Democracy 3, the politics simulation sequel. The Windows and OS X editions are
out now, though the Linux edition "may take a little bit longer." Here's
a trailer and here's
word: Now some more general thoughts. This is the 4th expansion for
Democracy 3. It comes LONG after we stopped doing them, and it happened because
the one area that modders could not really flesh out the game was the area of
elections. The first 3 DLCs were concentrating on adding new policies and
simulation data, but that can only go so far before you want to get in there and
change the code. Thus, Democracy 3:Electioneering is not at all like the other
DLC it adds new mechanics and graphics and a ton of new code to the game. This
is why it took so long to design, code and test.
In practice what this means is that you MUST have the latest version of the base
game for the DLC to work correctly, it simply wont function otherwise. Thats
easy on steam, but if you bought through humble or GoG or from us, you may need
to re-download and reinstall the base game to ensure you are up-to-date. I
really need to have more robust auto-updating in future games (I’ve done it
before, but not quite to my liking, I want a system more like steams). Also I
should point out that no, its not automatically included in the collectors
edition that comes with the original 3 DLC, this is a totally new thing, and its
worth the price of a large coffee :D
Continue here to read the full story.
Publisher tinyBuild announces the release of BOID out of early access
on Steam, offering an RTS
game with no resource management or base building. An interesting twist this the
base multiplayer game is free for all, while the single-player campaign is
premium DLC (all those who bought the game during early access automatically get
the DLC).
This post explains the details: BOID is out now on Steam! After 18
months in Early Access, the game is finally done! Here's how it works
Multiplayer is completely free
We've decided to make the multiplayer part of BOID completely free. This
includes the level editor, competitive match making, ranking, playing with bots
on all maps, etc - no catches here.
The only things you can buy within the multiplayer are cosmetic skins to showoff
on the battlefield.
Single Player is DLC
The single player campaign (which will take you about 10 hours) is a standalone
DLC package. It is created AAA-RTS style with cutscenes, a full story, and is
based around teaching players how the multiplayer works. It can be overwhelming
to be dropped right in there, and we found that placing bot matches isn't always
enough to teach people the game. So if you want to get a quick tour and 10 hours
of entertainment, we appreciate everyone buying this DLC.
However it's completely not required if you don't like single player experiences
and are good at RTS games.
Everyone in Early Access gets the DLC for free
If you bought BOID during Early Access, you should now have the DLC with the
single player campaign in your library.
Patch #7 is now available for
Rise of the Tomb Raider, updating the Windows action/adventure to version
1.0.668.0. Among the other changes and fixes, the new version implements DirectX
12 multi-GPU support, and they offer specific video driver recommendations to go
along with this. Here's an outline of the changes:
- Adds DirectX12 Multi-GPU support. Many of you have
requested this, so DirectX 12 now supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX
configurations.
- The benefits of DirectX 12 are still the same, but
now you are less likely to be GPU bottlenecked and can reach higher
framerates due to the improved CPU utilization DirectX 12 offers.
- Adds utilization of DirectX 12 Asynchronous
Compute, on AMD GCN 1.1 GPUs and NVIDIA Pascal-based GPUs, for improved GPU
performance.
- On the latest Windows 10 version, V-sync can now
be disabled (Windows Store version), and behavior of disabled V-sync has
been improved (Steam version).
- Improvements to stereoscopic 3D rendering,
including fixes for NIVIDA Surround and AMD Eyefinity in combination with
stereoscopic 3D.
- Improved default settings for certain integrated
GPUs.
- Removes the Voidhammer Shotgun for users that do
not have Cold Darkness Awakens DLC or have not yet unlocked it by rescuing
prisoners in Cold Darkness Awakens.
- A fix for a save issue where some game state could
get lost in very rare circumstances.
- This patch force-disables the Steam Overlay when
using DirectX 12. This is due to stability issues with the Steam Overlay in
combination with DirectX 12.
- A fix for crashes with VXAO enabled on NVIDIA
GTX1080 cards.
- A variety of other smaller optimizations,
bug-fixes, and tweaks.
The Starbound
blog announces that Starbound will leave early access on July 22nd, wrapping
up Chucklefish's five year mission to create their space game. Here's word: In
case you missed it, Starbound is coming out of Early Access on 22 July, 2016.
After ~5 years, the game we set out to make finally exists, and to say that it
all feels a bit surreal would be a massive understatement!
While Starbound will be finished in two weeks, this isn’t the end. We will
continue to update and support Starbound for as long as we can. We’ve got loads
of cool ideas we couldn’t fit into 1.0 but hope to put into future updates.
Thanks again for all your support over the years! You’ve stuck with us, and it
means so much.
Look out for more info over the next couple of weeks!
Digital Extremes offers a new Specters of the Rail update for Warframe,
bringing significant changes to their free-to-play, third-person shooter just in
time for tomorrow's TennoCon 2016
convention. The new version brings many changes, but people will probably stop
reading once they get to the part about space cat companions. Here's word:
Today marks the launch of the Specters of the Rail PC update for
Warframe®, the Free-to-Play hit from independent developer and publisher Digital
Extremes. Specters of the Rail brings a significant overhaul to the Star Chart
system, new Archwing space combat modes, the introduction of space cat
companions, and more! Specters of the Rail is the second of a major three-part
update cycle occurring this summer for Warframe and stands as a testament to
Digital Extremes' commitment to continue improving the Warframe experience for
its growing community of over 26 million players worldwide.
Battle.net announces
Season 6 for Diablo III will end on July 22nd, and that Season 7 for the
action/RPG sequel will commence on August 5th. They outline the process and try
to make sure everybody is prepared for the end of season rollover. In a
semi-related note, Battle.net
also announces all heroes will receive a 100% bonus in blood shards all
weekend. Word is: "This buff affects all events which grant Blood Shards,
including Bounties, Rifts and Greater Rifts."
Finally admitting they don't know what PC gamers want, Microsoft has launched a
Windows
Insider Program PC Gamers Survey to help get them back on track (thanks
GameSpot). Here's what they hope to
accomplish: Thank you for participating in this survey! In a previous
Windows Insider survey you told us that you are a PC Gamer. We aim to build the
best Windows yet for gaming, so we’re reaching out to understand what’s
important to you in PC gaming. Your opinions are very important to us, and we
appreciate your help.
Please know we take your privacy extremely seriously. Your responses are not
associated with you individually unless you choose to provide your Microsoft
account email.
- Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair on
Steam. Save 20%.
R.I.P.: Jim Downs.
Sad news. Jim was an integral part of Pseudo back in the QuakeCast/Shooters days.
Frontier Developments announces that Elite Dangerous: Arena is available for
free this weekend, and everyone who downloads a copy from the
Frontier
Store or Steam
between now and 1:00 pm EDT Monday will get to keep it forever. Arena mode is a
dogfighting mode shown off
in this trailer, and here are more details: Frontier Developments plc
(AIM: FDEV) has made the PC version of Elite Dangerous: Arena free on Steam and
FrontierStore.net until 10am PST on Monday July 11.
Elite Dangerous: Arena thrusts players into first-person dogfights against the
galaxy’s greatest pilots in the ultimate 34th century gladiatorial contest,
featuring:
- Four agile, combat-honed space ships. Choose from
the fast and aggressive Federal and Imperial Fighters, the damage-dealing
Eagle or the heavyweight Sidewinder.
- Multiple tactical options with custom loadouts
unlocked by ranking up.
- Four Arenas: Elevate’s towering view, Cluster
Compound’s mining facility, Asteria Point’s cavernous space station and Ice
Field’s frozen asteroid belt.
- Eight-player Free for All, Team Deathmatch and
Capture the Flag game modes.
- Realistic, agile starship handling powered by
Elite Dangerous’ advanced simulation technology.
Elite Dangerous: Arena will be completely free on Steam and the Frontier
Store this weekend.
Players who download Elite Dangerous: Arena between now and 10am PST on Monday
July 11 will receive the game for free, and will retain access to the game
permanently. This 100 percent discount will bring a host of Commanders to the
CQC Arena. Recruit some new wingmates and launch into CQC combat now!
Trion Worlds announces a free week is underway for Atlas Reactor, offering
everyone the chance to check out this turn-based battle arena that's currently
in closed beta testing. The game is playable by all between now and July 17th,
and they offer a video to
raise interest (to the extent that 15 seconds of CG footage can) along with
a
user guide to help get new players started. They also mark the event with
the release of Celeste, a new freelancer, and say another new mechanized hero
will be added to the game on Tuesday. The game is available
on Steam, and is
currently on sale for those who enjoy their sample. Continue here to read the full story.
Neil Young taught us that rust never sleeps, and true to that, Facepunch Studios
announces a major change to Rust adding an experience and leveling system to the
survival game (first TF2
adds matchmaking and now this!).
This developer blog
outlines the changes, and offers
this trailer
explaining their new merged XP system. Here's word: If you don't have
time to watch the video, here's what's up. Certain actions in Rust are now
rewarded with increases in both your player level and XP. With each level you
gain, you’ll have access to more items to spend your XP on. This allows you to
select a path through the game's upgrades. You'll still have to gather the
resources to craft them, but it should also make the game less of a loot crap
shoot and more enjoyable.
Anything you craft--or have gathered the resources for--will continue to provide
XP for you. If someone else uses it, you'll receive a small share of the
generated XP. This hopefully gives players a reason to not immediately kill new
spawns and cannibalise them. Taking pity on them and giving them a tool will
benefit you both.
We're cleverly calling this an 'XP System'. When other games catch on to what
we've done, we expect it to become the norm.
Continue here to read the full story.
Kotaku reports a "significant" number of layoffs have hit Turbine Studios,
the WBIE-owned studio behind Lord of the Rings Online. They have a
statement explaining that this is part of the company's transition to the
dreaded "free-to-play, mobile development studio." Here's word: “Turbine
is transitioning into a free-to-play, mobile development studio, and as a result
we are eliminating some positions,” said parent company Warner Bros. in a
statement. “The Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons online games
will continue to operate as they do now. Re-focusing and reducing the studio
size was a difficult decision for the company, and we are grateful to all of the
Turbine staff for their considerable contributions.”
Happy video games day, as today is one of two days that carry that distinction.
I think today's celebration is the European one, with most of the references to
the occasion seeming to be
from Germany. The U.S. version of video games day is apparently September
12th, so we also have that to look forward to. But to be honest, this is all
kind of pointless here, as this is one of those places where every day is video
games day.
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