Keeping things interesting today, the fine folks over at Capcom have released 35 (!) new screenshots from their upcoming fighting game, Street Fighter IV. These latest screenies give us a sneak peek at a handful of different levels, characters and the new art style. Enjoy:
Street Fighter IV is scheduled for release on PC in 2009.
Wrapping up this long-weekend, the guys over at Frogster Interactive have released six new screenshots from their upcoming free-to-play massively multiplayer online RPG, Runes of Magic. These latest shots give us a sneak peek at the game's crafting system in action. Check 'em out:
The Rune of Magic Open Beta is scheduled to launch in early December.
Keeping us droolin' today, the guys over at BioWare have released seven new screenshots from their highly anticipated MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic. These latest shots feature some force powers, lightsaber battles and a handful of different enemies. Enjoy:
Pretty hot stuff! Can't wait to see more. :D
Delivering the goods tonight, Ascaron Entertainment has released a new content patch (v2.31) for their latest Action-RPG, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. Weighing in at 620MB, this update feature a huge list of bug fixes and gameplay tweaks, a new in-game options menu, ten new bosses, eight new portals for quicker travel, performance improvements and a whole lot more! You can check out the full changelog right here or just hit any of the following mirrors to start downloading:
GamersHell - US / UK / German / French / ItalianFileShackWorthPlayingSounds like a must-have update. So don't miss it! :D
IGN UK has posted a Q&A with Rockstar on the subject of Grand Theft Auto IV and DRM on the PC. The title will employ SecuROM with online activation, but without installation limits. On the other hand, you do need to keep the disc in the drive with the retail version.
GTA IV PC uses SecuROM for protecting our EXE until street date has passed, to ensure the retail disk is in the computer drive, and is used for Product Activation of the title. Product Activation is a one time only online authentication when installing the game. GTA IV has no install limits for the retail disc version of the game, and that version can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs by the retail disk owner.
Online play will also require *two* accounts and you also need a bunch of additional components installed. Thankfully Games for Windows LIVE accounts became free a while back.
In order to upload videos to our internet site and play online multi-player modes, you will also need an active internet connection and accounts with both Rockstar Games Social Club and Games for Window-LIVE. 21d0
GTA IV PC also requires a number of software installations, including Games For Windows, Adobe Flash, Internet Explorer, SecuROM and our Rockstar Games Social Club application.
In other words, for minimum hassle, buy the game from Steam. It won't require a disc for obvious reasons and since there are no installation limitations, the only inconvenience is the requirement to activate the game online after installation. Main reason for the activation in this case is to ensure that even if someone could get a leaked copy before release, it won't do any good because the executable is encrypted and the activation decrypts it.
Giving us something to play this long-weekend, the guys over at Eipix Entertainment have released a new singleplayer demo for their latest sci-fi racing title, Pyroblazer. Weighing in at 790MB, the demo allows you to play through a small portion of the full game. You can grab this bad boy from any of the following mirrors:
YouGamers (courtesy of GamersHell)FileShackStrategyInformerWorthPlayingHappy Thanksgiving to our US readers! :D
If you are planning to spend a few years and many thousands of dollars making a MMORPG, you have the odds stacked up against you. Most MMORPG's lose money. It is only the few that manage to retain a large player-base, many months after the initial launch. But if your game is a hit, the pay off can be huge.
One new MMORPG that is coming up is called Fallen Earth. It seems to have a few things going for it: instead of the tired fantasy world YAMFRIES design (Yet Another MMORPG Featuring Rogues, Imps, Elves or Sorcerers), Fallen Earth takes place in a 22nd century post-nuclear world inhabited by the remnants of new societies, in a region around the Hoover Dam. The game is a FPS-MMORPG cross, but the combat has more 'twitch' elements than, say, Tabula Rasa did -- but it isn't a full-fledged MMO FPS like Huxley is, Fallen Earth is defintely a MMORPG.
The game is currently in alpha testing, with no firm release date set. Recently a guy named 'Baka' has been posting about his experiences with the game, on a forum. Overall, he reports a positive experience with the game, and is looking forward to its release. Here is a couple of key highlights:
1- There are no classes in the game. You don't pick skills or powers at the start of the game. Basically every character begins the same (beside appearance), and you develop the character by choosing allegiances and working on your skills. You enhance your stats (dexterity, strength etc.) by gaining levels, and dispersing your stat points.
2- Crafting plays a big role in the game, through 11 different trade skills, including Cooking and Medicine.
3- There is an incredible 22 different armor slots for your characters. That's a lot of armor ! The slots include such areas as gloves and earrings and belts.
4- You can sneak and crawl in the game.
Judging from what Baka was saying, the game does have a strong FPS feel to it: "FINALLY, I enter FPS mode. Oh My God!! It feels like a true FPS game, everything is so natural at this point, both as far as animations and controls go. As you can see, your weapons actually move/hover, instead of being stiff and frozen, it gives it that very natural feeling."
Here are two videos from the game: the first one shows the character creation options, the second shows some standard gameplay.
Hot off the presses, MICROÏDS and Kheops Studios have officially announced the development of Return to Mysterious Island 2, a sequel to 2005's popular Point & Click Adventure title. Due out on the PC and iPhone in March 2009, the game will feature data-sharing online community tools, iPhone-to-PC synchronization tech and a whole new storyline based around an unknown disease that's destroying all forms of life on the island. Here's a little snippet from the PR:
Return to Mysterious Island 2 begins with the crash of the helicopter that came to rescue Mina. She survived but is once again trapped on the island. All of a sudden, under her very eyes, an unknown disease afflicts the plants first, then the animal life. Mina explores the island to locate the infection source. She searches Captain Nemo's base in vain, then the ruins of an unknown civilization, and finally understands that it is outside pollution that threatens the island. The only w 2158 ay to save this natural wonder is to turn the shield back on. But if Mina makes this decision, she gives up -as Captain Nemo did before her- the idea of returning to civilization…
Head over to the official website for more details and some screenshots!
Moving right along, Spellborn International has released a launch trailer for their latest MMORPG, The Chronicles of Spellborn. Running just under two minutes long, the video features a mix of press quotes and in-game footage. Check it out:
Thanks to GameTrailers for the above stream. Mirrors are also available at the following websites:
GamersHellFileFrontStrategyInformerWorthPlayingTo learn more about the game, head over to the official website!
A new PC MMORPG was launched today, in some parts of the world. It is called The Chronicles of Spellborn, made by Dutch developer Spellborn International.
The game is set in a fairly regular fantasy world, and in many ways, the game seems like your typical YAMFRIES (Yet Another MMORPG Featuring Rogues, Imps, Elves or Sorcerers.)
There are 9 classes to choose from, and two races -- though your choice of race only determines your looks.
Combat is much more 'twitch' based instead of the usual WoW-way -- so you actually have to run up to people and control your swings, or dodge manually. There is also a sort of spinning UI feature that allows you to develop more powerful attacks. The game also features PvP.
Spellborn aims to be more about tactics and thinking, over stats and skills.
To encourage people to try out Spellborn, the first portion of the game is free to play. The free content is roughly 20 hours' worth of stuff, and you'll have access to three zones. After the free content is done with, subscription rates seem to be $15 a month.
The launch dates are spread all over the place for this game. Today the game went live in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. On December 5th the game comes to France and Scandinavia; in January, the game will be available to North Americans. As for the rest of Europe, including the UK, I hunted around the Internets and that information was surprisingly difficult to find.
Will this game have what it takes to make a profit? It's a pretty crowded market for YAMFRIES. Only time will tell, but the odds look stacked against Spellborn.
