Fresh out of the oven, Focus Home Interactive has sent over six new screenshots from their upcoming Adventure title, Runaway: A Twist of Fate. These latest shots feature drugs, getaways and a tour of the hospital. Check 'em out:
Runaway: A Twist of Fate is scheduled for release in Q1 2010.
Catching out eye tonight, Valve has announced that CD Projekt RED's hit Fantasy-RPG, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition. is currently on sale through Steam for just $19.99 US (a 50% savings). The deal runs from now until Thursday, October 29th. So if you like your RPG's morally gray, you should definitely consider checking this one out. ;)
For those fortunate enough to have or be able to afford a touch display and a copy of Windows 7, Ubisoft RTS R.U.S.E. will bring new meaning to the term "armchair general" thanks to a pretty special feature: multitouch. Hopefully the capabilities perform better than on the recent Japanese TV showcase.
“Making images interactive is at the core of the video game industry, and over the last few years we have been striving to make this interactivity as intuitive and direct as possible," said John Parkes, EMEA marketing director. "Today, thanks to Windows 7 and its full multitouch support, the barrier between the player and the image has been removed: they become one."
With that in mind, check out the new trailer below showing off the new capabilities, featuring a couple of rather well-proportioned creatures for the lady/male-fancying gamers out there -- a good representation of the average RTS player, to be sure.
R.U.S.E. is set to launch Q1 2010.
Source:Press release
Sections:PC Games, Technology, Displays
Related news storiesDJ Hero launches today with Eminem BTS videoOctober 27, '09Left 4 Dead 2 cinematic trailer releasedOctober 26, '09Dragon Age: Origins trailers highlight dwarf warrior and PC toolkitOctober 23, '09No More Heroes 2 spotlight shines on Travis' twin brotherOctober 22, '09Assassin's Creed II dev diary discusses armor and progressionOctober 22, '09DiRT 2 PC trailer shows off DirectX11 featuresOctober 22, '09
![Third-person perspective confirmed for Modern Warfare 2 [Updated]](http://i.neoseeker.com/n/0/codmw2_thumb.jpg)
Update: Developer Infinity Ward has confirmed the feature.
It shouldn't be a surprise that copies of Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 have already slipped through the net, giving a handful of gamers the opportunity of becoming the announcers on new in-game features, instead of the actual developers themselves. One PlayStation 3 owner managed to grab a pirated copy; instead of leaping straight into the gaming forums telling everyone how awesome the game is, they managed to dig up a new perspective on the title, in the form of a third person view.
The video below is supposed footage of the third person perspective in play. However, with such poor video quality, there are no signs of aiming sights which made many think that the person could simply be viewing the game via spectator mode. This mode allows you to zip around the battle and simply watch the game instead of taking part, but as a spectator it is unlikely you would be able to view a player's ammunition, rank statistics, and their mini map.
Though many may not be convinced, another slice of evidence was fished out, as a screenshot (top) from the game's multiplayer mode list was posted and translated courtesy of the guys over at the Infinity Ward forums. The list reads:
team deathmatchAgain, this could easily be a slip up, but as veterans of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will know, adding a third person perspective, especially to Cage matches, could be revolutionary to the series, and could easily convert third person addicts such as myself into a COD fanatic.
Source:Kombo.com
Alternate Source:YourEMGN
Sections:Microsoft Consoles, Console Games, PC Games, Sony Consoles
Related news storiesCombat Arms "Grave Digger" mode revealed in new trailerOctober 28, '09God of War Collection release date, trophies announcedOctober 27, '09Netflix heading to PlayStation 3 next monthOctober 26, '09Modern Warfare 2 shipping with SteamworksOctober 23, '09Bizarro artwork from DC Universe Online revealedOctober 23, '09New FPS Metro 2033 revealed in debut trailerOctober 23, '09New trailers showcase Ratchet & Clank Future weaponsOctober 22, '09Microsoft: Xbox 360 Blu-ray player is a possibilityOctober 22, '09First Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time demo coming Oct. 22October 21, '09
Saving us some cash this weekend, Valve has announced that Bohemia Interactive's hit tactical shooter, ArmA II, is currently on sale through Steam for just $24.99 US (a 50% savings). The deal runs from now until Monday morning. So if you like your shooters realistic and super hardcore, you may want to check this one out. ;)
Wondering if you PC can run the game? Then be sure to give our "new and improved" Game-O-Meter a spin!
The latest word today from Futuremark Games Studio is that Shattered Horizon is now available for pre-order and will launch on Wednesday, November 4th . You can pre-order the game now through the Shattered Horizon website. Suggested retail price is $19.95 / €19.95 / £14.95 and pre-orders get a 10% discount off that.
Those of you who have bought Futuremark's benchmarks (3DMark 06, 3DMark Vantage or PCMark Vantage), there is a special deal available exclusively through the Futuremark web store - a whopping 25% pre-order discount. On a related note, Shattered Horizon uses Steamworks so all copies - even those purchased from Futuremark's own web store - will install through Steam and work the same.
But that is not all... the related press release also includes some additional interesting bits. Read on for the details.
Pre-order Offer
Gamers who pre-order Shattered Horizon not only get a 10 percent discount but will also be able to play and test new level pac2375ks before they become available to everyone else.
Antti Summala, lead designer at Futuremark Games Studio expanded, “During our beta many game features, and even one whole level, were added as a direct result of beta tester feedback. The process worked so well that we have decided to continue it after launch. Gamers who pre-order Shattered Horizon will join an elite group who will get early access to help test and refine new levels to be released in future content updates.”
Post launch support
Futuremark Games Studio has confirmed that Shattered Horizon will be supported after launch with new levels and features being added to the game through downloadable content packs. These expansions will be free to all players.
So if the discount wasn't enough, there will be additional free content coming up and those who pre-order get the chance to beta test the new shiny before it is made available to everyone.
The press release also included a not-so-subtle jab at Infinity Ward and their hare-brained peer-to-peer system included in the upcoming Modern Warfare 2. For Shattered Horizon, it is dedicated servers all the way, with FGS-hosted ones available for everyone at launch.
Dedicated Servers
Shattered Horizon allows PC gamers to choose who and how they want to play through dedicated servers run by the community. Futuremark Games Studios will host dedicated servers for North America, Europe and Australia and New Zealand at launch with the server code being made available to everyone shortly afterwards.
FGS is also offering early access to the dedicated server code for server hosting companies, clan, e-sport, tournament and LAN-party use. I queried on the reason for not rolling out the server code to everyone immediately and the main reason given to me is that the FGS guys want to polish the server administration side a bit before pushing it out to everyone - rough edges, arcane command line options and things like that need some work. In any case, there will be plenty of FGS-hosted servers at launch and if you really need it yourself, you can ask if you could get early access.
Update: Oh, and there is one more special deal - if you were in the beta test and pre-order through Steam, you get 25% off instead of 10% off. Classy way to say "thanks" to those who helped with the beta. And no, this offer can't be "stacked" with the 25% off for those who have purchased FM benchmarks in the past - if you qualify for both, you get to pick one.
For many of us, the first person shooter (FPS) genre is largely stagnated. How many times can you run around a strife-ridden world shooting bad guys (or good guys if the developer is feeling "innovative") and still have fun? So it's always welcome when we hear about a new shooter that's at least a bit different.
That appears to be the case with Metro 2033, an upcoming PC and Xbox 360 title from 4A Games, a new studio in the industry with their own gameplay engine and ideas (well, some of their own ideas). Metro is a post-apocalyptic title (groan) based on the first work of another creator, novelist and journalist Dmitry Glukhovsky's best-selling novel of the same name (ooh).
The plot appears to rip off Fallout pretty much completely -- mankind has been devastated by apocalyptic events; living underground with a handful of survivors, it's up to you to stop the mutants and save mankind yadda yadda yadda. But the atmosphere is great:
Metro 2033 will launch early next year; pre-orders are available via the official website.
Source:Press release
Sections:Microsoft Consoles, Console Games, PC Games
Related news storiesThird-person perspective confirmed for Modern Warfare 2 [Updated]October 26, '09Sony art director wanted God of War shooterOctober 02, '09Crysis: LIVE! takes it to the real-life jungleSeptember 29, '09PS3 Fallout 3 DLC in coming weeks, GotY edition dueSeptember 17, '09Dragon Age: Origins prequel novel coming in OctoberSeptember 16, '09King of Fighters vertical shooter on the waySeptember 10, '09
Funcom's MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures sees its 5.6 patch debut today; titled "Nights of Lost Souls", this one brings with it fresh in-game seasonal content, quests, rewards, a high-level dungeon, and something many players have been looking forward to: the Veteran Points system. And perhaps due to its recent financial straits, the company is also offering major discounts on long-term subscriptions.
"It being that time of year, we employed a few tricks to provide our players with some special treats," says Craig Morrison, Game Director and Executive Producer on `Age of Conan' . "In this update we have added new seasonal in-game content where players will have to progress through three brand new quest lines and get to challenge the dark and mysterious ghosts of Hyboria's fallen warriors in order to collect the seasonal rewards. We are also very excited about introducing the Veteran Points system, which allows us to reward those players who have been sticking with the game for longer periods of time."
Funcom are showing their sense of humour with this one, making available Halloween-themed weapons like the Unholy Backscratcher, not to mention pet demons. Two new locations are in store, too: a villa where "dark and gruesome" events are going on, and the Iron Tower, a massive structure in Tarantia's slums intended for veteran players. Both areas will offer new loot and encounters, as one would expect, and also bring the story of the district to its final end.
Next is the Veteran Points system, which rewards players who've subscribed for one month or more with mounts, experience potions, teleportation abilities, special equipment, or a host of other bonuses. More, the longer you stay subscribed, the more points you get, which can then be used with in-game vendors. Really going the extra mile here, Funcom notes the points apply to players who've already been subscribed, so if you've been with the game since launch, you'll want to find a whole lot of room for the gobs of loot you're about to uncover.
Lastly we have the new subscription model. For gamers who sign up for three months of playtime, this will give you a 20% discount (~$34 total); six months brings 30% (~$55 total); one year brings 45%.
Source:Press release
Alternate Source:Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures official website
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesGears of War 2 Title Update #5 available nowOctober 26, '09Netflix heading to PlayStation 3 next monthOctober 26, '09Dungeon Fighter Online class videos and Halloween goodiesOctober 23, '09Xbox LIVE update freezes third-party memory units, Datel respondsOctober 21, '09Nexon celebrates Halloween online across all titlesOctober 20, '09Wolfenstein PC 1.1. patch availableOctober 20, '09X3: Terran Conflict 2.5 patch releasedOctober 15, '09300 composer Tyler Bates to score Army of Two: The 40th DayOctober 09, '09Next Xbox 360 dashboard update welcomes social networkingOctober 06, '09
Hot off the presses, BioWare has announced that their highly anticipated Fantasy-RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, has officially gone gold and will begin shipping to stores in North America on November 3rd and Europe on November 6th. To celebrate the miletone, the developers have released a new teaser trailer. Enjoy:
Thanks to20a3 GameTrailers for the above stream. Mirrors are also available at the ActionTrip and WorthPlaying.com.
Giving us a peek behind the scenes tonight, Ubisoft Montreal has released a new video developer diary for their upcoming Action-Adventure title, Assassin's Creed 2. Clocking in at just over four minutes long, the video focuses on the setting and how Ezio progresses throughout the game. Check it out after the jump:
Thanks to GameTrailers for the above stream. Hit-up any of the following websites for a mirror:
GamersHellFileShackActionTripWorthPlayingThe PC edition of Assassin's Creed 2 is scheduled for release in Q1 2010.
Ah yes, it's almost Halloween, and that means your favorite online games are decorating for the occasion. Nexon is certainly going all out, especially with Combat Arms. Dungeon Fighter Online, Mabinogi, and MapleStory are all getting some holiday goodies and quests, which are suitable for RPG-esque games.
In DFO, gamers can expect a series of new Halloween quests in the open beta, in which Seria, everyone's favorite NPC, sends you on a journey in search of her missing gifts and candies. Oh, and on Saturday, october 31, players who deplete all their 156 Fatigue Points will be added into a drawing for five DFO figurines.
Mabinogi will be visited by zombies, which players will have to fend off. Aside from this challenge, players can also work toward getting a flying Broom Pet or skeleton costume card. MapleStory, another old favorite, is also joining in the festivities with a special Haunted House II storyline quest. It picks up from the 2007 Halloween questline, so long-time players may be particularly interested. Oh, and costumes, yes lots of costumes from the item shop.
And Combat Arms? I'd say that game got the coolest Halloween special: Quarantine Mode. At the start of a game in the new mode, one or more players will be randomly selected to be an Infected, whose goal is to infect all the human players in the map. Human players must survive against the spreading infection by wiping out all the Infected or just saying alive until time is up.
The physiological stress and fatigue caused by the ongoing war has left soldiers deserting in droves and showing a lack of respect for their superior officers. In a controversial step to boost mercenary morale, high ranking officers authorized development of a stamina drug using a promising new organic sample. When the final product was being prepared for mass production, the first and only surviving test subject had an abnormal and untested dosage enter their bloodstream. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, but shortly thereafter, the local security response team sent transmissions warning of a severe physical threat and potential outbreak situation. Before the transmissions were abruptly terminated, they alluded to the remainder of the drug sample left intact in the research center. The research center has been shut down by the Automatic Quarantine System, and an infiltration mission by Special Forces has been called upon in order to retrieve the drug sample.
Nexon released a cinematic trailer introducing the new mode, which you can watch below. Aside from the new mode, Combat Arms will also be getting a coffin backpack, sickle melee weapons, pumpkin head and Infected masks, all available via the Black market.
Source:Press release
Section:PC Games
Related Neoseeker articlesBeta spotlight: Gratuitous Space Battles September 1st, 09Related news storiesBizarro artwork from DC Universe Online revealedOctober 23, '09
Been having trouble enjoying Wolfenstein on PC lately? Indeed, the game's given some users issues, but a new patch is here today which offers up several critical fixes.
Version 1.1 should resolve a couple of major crashes, a save issue, and will let users launch the game if they've been having trouble. Bit late if you've been sitting this one out since launch, but hey, it's here now.
Release notes are below; grab the patch via the source.
Fixed issue resulting in user receiving gamex86.dll errorFixed issue that caused crashes when users broke numerous breakable objects during a Single Player CampaignFixed issue that corrupted a save file after restarting a missionUpdated the Wolf2.exe with a SecuROM fix that prevented users from launching the executable properlySource:Wolfenstein | News
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesX3: Terran Conflict 2.5 patch releasedOctober 15, '09Wolfenstein PC demo releasedOctober 14, '09Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II restoration mod releasedSeptember 30, '09Left 4 Dead "Crash Course" DLC and patches now availableSeptember 29, '09SOE begins work on PlanetSide sequelSeptember 28, '09Heroes Over Europe PC 1.1 patch availableSeptember 24, '09
Firaxis has announced the existence of Sid Meier's Civilization Network which looks to be a "Facebook version" of Civilization. The game is currently in development and the official Facebook page indicates that they will be seeking for beta testers soon.
We’re calling this project Civilization Network and the full game will be available next year on Facebook. Civilization Network will allow you to join together with your friends to create the world’s most powerful, richest, smartest, or just plain coolest civilization. You can coordinate your strategy to win great battles, share your technology to jump ahead of your rivals, lobby your family and friends to form your own government and win vital elections, manage and grow your cities to maximize production and happiness, spy on your enemies, and work with your friends to create the great Wonders of the World. The game will offer everything you enjoy in Civ in a fully persistent environment - you can play as much as you like, whenever you like, and it’ll be free to play.
"Civ in a fully presistent environment" at least sounds real2136ly interesting. While the classic Civilization gameplay isn't very MMO-like, I could see many ways to make a Civ game persistent and Firaxis is a company who just might be able to come up with something genuinely innovative.
No word yet how they are going to be making money out of it. I guess in theory it could rely on ads or just be a huge promotional tool for the real deal - Civilization, after all, is a game that keeps selling year after year. Still, until we're told otherwise, those unholy words "free to play" do trigger the "possible stupid milking through microtransactions detected" alert I my systems, so at this point I have some reservations... Could be interesting, could be yet another failed attempt to cash in on the Facebook craze.
Breaking out the eyecandy tonight, Codemasters has released a new teaser trailer for their upcoming off-road racing title, Colin McRae: DiRT 2. Running just under a minute and a half long, the video gives us a sneak peek at some of the DirectX 11 enhancements they're adding to the PC edition of the game. Pretty hot stuff! Check it out:
Thanks to GameTrailers for the above stream. Mirrors are also available at the following websites:
GamersHellFileShackWorthPlayingActionTripDiRT 2 is scheduled for release in North America on December 1st, EPAC territories on December 3rd and the UK on December 4th.
What were you doing in 1994? Yeah, most of us can't (or don't want to) remember, but EA was just starting the Need for Speed series. Now 15 years later in 2009, the franchise has reached a milestone by selling over 100 million units, thanks to the success of Need for Speed SHIFT.
Oh, EA is pleased with how NFS has grown, and they don't plan to stop any time soon. There's a long history here, with an equally fruitful future ahead. Frank Gibeau, president of EA Games Label, remarked:
"Few videogame franchises ever reach the 100M units mark, so this is a huge honor. We have millions of fans to thank for driving us to this milestone. With the launch of Need for Speed SHIFT and the upcoming release of Need for Speed NITRO , we hope to continue to deliver the most entertaining, action-packed racing experiences."
Here are a few fun facts about Need for Speed. Since its release in 1994, the series has...
Launched 15 blockbuster titles across more than 14 platformsReleased in 22 languages in over 60 countriesPlayers have raced over 279 billion miles of roads & race tracksGenerated over 17 trillion user-generated vehicle customizationsFeatured actors, models & musicians including: Brooke Burke, Christina Milian, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Josie Maran, Maggie Q, Kanye West (I'ma let you finish, but...), Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The ProdigyDebuted exclusive remix from Snoop Dogg of The Door’s classic song "Riders on the Storm"Sold more games than all new passenger cars sales in the U.S since 1994If Need for Speed boxes were laid out end-to-end, it would span 173,609 football fields100M units represents nearly every household in the United States and is 3x the population of CanadaIf you're a huge NFS fan and own a Wii or DS, Need for Speed NITRO will be shipping out this November for Nintendo's little white console and touch-sensitive handheld. Meanwhile, EA is taking a dip in the MMO pool with Need for Speed World Online, which will enter beta stage this winter in Taiwan and launch worldwide in 2010.
Source:Press release
Sections:Console Games, PC Games
Related news storiesAustralia rejects appeal for Left 4 Dead 2 uncutOctober 22, '09The Saboteur is "just getting started" in new trailerOctober 21, '09Dead Space Extraction sells 9,000 during launch windowOctober 21, '09Xbox LIVE update freezes third-party memory units, Datel respondsOctober 21, '09
Developer Tripwire Interactive must be telling the truth about its livelihood on Steam; they're releasing yet another free pack of Killing Floor DLC today through the service titled 'Level Up', not to mention the first company-approved total conversion mod. Topping it all of is a 25% off weekend sale for the original game.
Here's what you get:
• 3 New maps: Bedlam, Wyre and Waterworks.Grab the updates through the Steam client as always. Happy fragging.
Source:Press release
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesModern Warfare 2 shipping with SteamworksOctober 23, '09God of War III director considering DLC challenge roomsOctober 21, '09The Beatles Rock Band gets Abbey Road DLC this weekOctober 19, '09Psylocke officially announced for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2October 16, '09Borderlands: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned DLC announcedOctober 16, '09Behind the features of Katamari ForeverOctober 15, '09BioWare has two-year plan for Dragon Age DLCOctober 14, '09Dreamkiller launch trailer goes inside the mind of AliceOctober 13, '09Tripwire: Steam does not exploit indie developersOctober 12, '09
Nexon is getting in the spirit of Halloween throughout all their games, and they've recently released screenshots showing some of the goodies you can get with Dungeon Fighter Online holiday events.
But first, we have the rest of the class gameplay videos featuring the Fighter, Gunner, Slayer, and Mage. Previously we had exclusive access to the Priest video and paid homage to one of the coolest looking holy men in gaming. For North American players, the Priest comes second only to the Gunner, who has proven to be a closed beta favorite on this side of the Pacific.
Below you will find the Gunner's class gameplay vid; the rest are located right here.
As for those Halloween goodies, Seria, an NPC you meet at the start of the game, is handing out quests to recover her decorations from various dungeons. As more items are found, these decorations will appear in Seria's chamber, where the player starts each time he or she logs in or needs to check mail and storage. In addition to the aesthetics, players will earn more special items with each success.
On Saturday, October 31, players who use up all 156 Fatigue Points (fight yourself to death) will be automatically entered in a sweepstakes to win all five DFO class figurines (top image). The event period will run 24 hours, between 6:00 AM PST on October 31 to the same time on November 1.
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesNew trailers showcase Ratchet & Clank Future weaponsOctober 22, '09The Saboteur is "just getting started" in new trailerOctober 21, '09Nexon celebrates Halloween online across all titlesOctober 20, '09Futuremark readies Shattered Horizon launch with new trailerOctober 20, '09Dungeon Fighter Online exclusive class gameplay videoOctober 16, '09Erratic driving and big guns in C.O.P. The Recruit gameplay trailerOctober 15, '09Nexon rakes in some serious Q3 doughOctober 15, '09
Many gamers are pretty pissed at Infinity Ward and Activision for pulling client-side dedicated server support in Modern Warfare 2, and despite some attempts at damage control by IW, the rage lingers. Oh, but this hasn't fazed the people behind MW2.
Robert Bowling, creative strategist at Infinity Ward, who previously justified this decision as "removing the barrier to entry for players unaware of how to maintain a server on their own," is now announcing Steamworks for Modern Warfare 2 on PC.
Activision notes that Steamworks will provide gamers with "auto updating, anti-cheat technology," along with Steam-based Achievements, and the new Steam Cloud -- saves settings and makes installing on new computers easier, in a nutshell.
Bowling is once again serving as a mouthpiece for Infinity Ward and Activision:
"Steamworks will make it possible for us to have a closer connection to our fans, and enable us to support our community much more than ever before. Steam is the hands down leader in offering a community focused experience on PC and the inclusion of Steamworks has allowed us to deliver the most feature-rich PC version to ever come from Infinity Ward, which at the end of the day will mean the most to our fans."
Establishing that "closer connection" may be easier if they hadn't been repeatedly kicking PC gamers in the face recently. Still, there is little doubt that the game will sell insanely well across all three platforms. For those of you still eagerly awaiting its release, Modern Warfare 2 will be out on November 10 for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3.
Source:Press release
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesBizarro artwork from DC Universe Online revealedOctober 23, '09TRINE releases on PlayStation Network todayOctober 23, '09Killing Floor 'Level Up' DLC and Defense Alliance 2 total conversion releasedOctober 23, '09Infinity Ward addresses outcry over Modern Warfare 2 for PCOctober 20, '09DJs strut their stuff in DJ Hero mash-up trailerOctober 19, '09Modern Warfare 2 loses dedicated servers & mod supportOctober 19, '09Psylocke officially announced for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2October 16, '09Two new DJ Hero television ads spottedOctober 15, '09Left 4 Dead 2 demo hits Xbox LIVE and PC on October 27October 15, '09
A class action lawsuit has been filed in New York against The9, operator of World of Warcraft servers in China for violations of the Securities Exchange Act.
"The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants made numerous positive statements regarding the Company’s financial condition, business and prospects. The complaint further alleges that these statements were inaccurate statements of material fact when made because defendants failed to disclose that: (i) it was becoming increasingly less likely that the Company would be renewing the WoW contract with Blizzard; (ii) The9 had not even begun formal negotiations with Blizzard regarding the contract renewal; (iii) The9 and Blizzard had been at odds regarding The9’s operation of WoW in China; and (iv) the equity investment by EA in The9 had made it less likely that Blizzard would renew the WoW contract because Blizzard would essentially be doing business with one of its greatest competitors. "
It looks like the Blizzard/The9 relation went sour already sometime in early 2006, well before the launch of 21b1Burning Crusade in China and everything points towards the fact that the only reason Blizzard didn't drop The9 back then was the four-year exclusive licensing agreement signed in 2005, which probably had severe sanctions for early termination. With World of Warcraft being more than 90% of The9's revenue, any information that would indicate that the agreement would not be renewed in 2009 would have been very important to investors already in 2006. Instead The9 pretended all the way until early 2009 that everything was fine and that they were preparing for the launch of Wrath of the Lich King, implying they would keep running WoW in China for the foreseeable future. Blizzard announced a deal with another Chinese operator, NetEase, in April 2009.
The complaint also includes records of stock sales by The9 insiders, indicating that they dumped company stock starting as early as late 2006 and kept doing so throughout 2007 - for a grand total of over $125 million - all while pretending that all was well with Blizzard. If all that holds up in court, I can only say "good luck" to The9 - they are going to need it...
The minimum system requirements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have appeared online. Only minimum requirements this time, and they are so low that it will be interesting to see what you really need for all those nifty visuals...
OS: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 (Windows 95/98/ME/2000 are unsupported)Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 3200+ processor or better supportedMemory: 1 GB RAMGraphics: 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT or better or ATI Radeon 1600XT or betterDirectX: Microsoft DirectX(R) 9.0cHard Drive: 12GB of free hard drive spaceSound: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound cardInternet: Broadband connection required for Multiplayer Connectivity. Internet Connection req20cfuired for activationCo-op/Multiplayer Hosting: To host Co-op or MP matches, a 2Ghz dual-core or better processor is recommended.As usual, you can easily compare your system against these requirements using our Game-o-Meter.
On a related note, Steam Preorders for Modern Warfare 2 are now available at the shocking $59.99 / €59.99 price tag. No dedicated servers, no mod support and then horribly overpriced on top of all that - it remains to be seen if the actual game is good enough to offset all these negative bits...
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is scheduled to be available on the PC on 10th of November, with the Steam version currently showing 12th of November as the unlock date.
Left 4 Dead developer Valve has been pressing to appeal a decision made by Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) ratings board to refuse classification for L4D2 in its unedited glory, essentially barring the original game's release in the region. The OFLC would eventually relent only after Valve and publisher Electronic Arts altered more graphic elements of the sequel, allowing L4D2 to earn an "MA 15+" rating.
Valve and EA intended to put up the good fight for as long as possible even after undertaking its cuts to ensure L4D2's Australian release in some form. Unfortunately, their appeal (filed September 23rd) of the OFLC's original ratings refusal has been rejected today. As it stands, the title as Valve intended it will remain barred from Australia. Gamersin the countrywill just have to put up with the MA 15+ rated version until the government body ever agrees to change its mind for Valve.
In the Review Board’s opinion, Left 4 Dead 2 could not be accommodated within the MA 15+ classification. The computer game contains a level of violence which is high in impact, prolonged, repeated frequently and realistic within the context of the game.In addition, it was the Review Board’s opinion that there was insufficient delineation between the depiction of general zombie figures and the human figures, as opposed to the clearly fictional ‘infected’ characters. This was a major consideration of the Review Board in determining the impact of this game on minors.
Much of the heartache surrounding L4D2's Australian release stems from the country's lack of an applicable rating forgamesaimed atconsumers aged 17 and up. It's asituation that doesn't look to change anytime soon, if Australia's attorney general Michael Atkinson will have any say on the matter.Games which would be rated for such an age group in other regions typically see less chance of being released in Australia as a result.
It's a real shame especially in the case of L4D2, since gamers themselves in Australiaare no less apt in demonstrating theirenthusiasm for the Valve franchise.
Source:Australia Classification Review Board Press Release (PDF)
Alternate Source:Australia Classification Review Board
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesThe Saboteur is "just getting started" in new trailerOctober 21, '09Dead Space Extraction sells 9,000 during launch windowOctober 21, '09Need for Speed exceeds 100 million copies soldOctober 21, '09FIFA Soccer 10 now available in North AmericaOctober 20, '09
It's becoming trendy these days to delay the PC version of major upcoming multiplatform titles, but Infinity Ward pleansantly bucks this by confirming that Modern Warfare 2 will suffer nothing of the sort. That said, the developer still had some surprises in store for PC gamers, and not all of them look to be readily accepted.
Infinity Ward's community manager Robert Bowling confirmed rumors that the developer would be spurning the dedicated server clients traditionally seen for PC multiplayer in favor of a new, proprietary matchmaking service hosted on IW's own servers dubbed "IWNet". IWNet's matchmaking will automatically pit players of similar ranking against each other in games, though concerns have no doubt been raised over players not being able to choose their own servers.
Players themselves essentially become servers under the automatic matchmaking, andrisk incurring higherlag during matches. These higher latencies and performance issues could potentially reduce the size and scope of online multiplayer matches. Therequirement of the Steam digital content delivery platform also precludes support for PunkBuster in favor of Valve's Anti-Cheat (VAC) system for anti-cheating.
Ina BASHandSlash podcast, Bowling explained IWNet is intended to deliver an online PC multiplayer experience in the vein of Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. This desire to emulate console multiplayer on PC has raised the ire of PC gamers, assuming they aren't already in disbelief over the the lack of online co-op, initial lack of support formodding tools, as well as the possibility of paid DLC.
As you will have guessed, an online petition is already loose following the forum furor, andat timeof writingit's garnered over 72,000 signatures. Will their pleas fall on deaf ears? Will they end up trying to get the super ultra limited edition night vision goggle bundle instead, once again exclusive to consoles? Or perhaps they could jump ship to Battlefield instead, with DICEcoincidentally declaring their support foronline multiplayerin a Twitter post:
Dedicated servers FTW. What ever secures a better online experience is a given for us.It's all about timing!
Source:DotDosh
Alternate Source:GameGrep
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesInfinity Ward addresses outcry over Modern Warfare 2 for PCOctober 20, '09DJs strut their stuff in DJ Hero mash-up trailerOctober 19, '09Miyamoto talks in-game help vids for New Super Mario Bros. WiiOctober 16, '09Psylocke officially announced for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2October 16, '09Two new DJ Hero television ads spottedOctober 15, '09Left 4 Dead 2 demo hits Xbox LIVE and PC on October 27October 15, '09YouTube removes Guitar Hero 5 video with Kurt CobainOctober 14, '09Wolfenstein PC demo releasedOctober 14, '09
Remember when cartoons used to be good? We do too, but this isn't about cartoons. Looks like Nickelodeon -- best known for SpongeBob Squarepants these days -- will be coming out with some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stuff in the future. The cable TV network bought the entire franchise just recently, giving them the rights to TMNT television material, film, and video games.
In the last two decades, there have been over 20 games based on the series, most of which were published by Konami. Recently, the TMNT license was held by Ubisoft, who produced games based on the 2007 film, a downloadable remake of Konami's Turtles in Time, and Wii brawler Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shares a comedic sensibility with the Nickelodeon DNA, with added layers of action and fantasy that have kept this property an evergreen favorite with multiple generations of audiences," said Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami. "We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to be able to focus on this property and creatively re-introduce it to a new generation of kids."
Looks like TMNT will now be standing alongside Rock Band under the Viacom name; they own MTV and Nickelodeon (and others), if you didn't know. Following MTV's success in the video game industry, the Nickelodeon Group has been taking a greater interest in video games and currently holds a licensing agreement with publishing firm THQ.
So who remembers when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles used to be awesome? Yeah, those were the days.
Source:Gamasutra
Sections:Console Games, PC Games, Handheld Games
Assassin's Creed fans have today been treated by Ubisoft with a trailer for their live-action prequel to Assassin's Creed II. Though at first there was speculation that Ubisoft would take the title to Hollywood, they have instead come up with a YouTube series that will lead up to the release of their blood-soaked sequel, launching on the 17th of November.
The three-part series will follow protagonist Ezio's tale and include some backstory on his father Giovanni Auditore da Firenze. It's hoped we'll see light shed on why Ezio takes the role upon Firenze's death.
The first of three instalments will be available to watch via Ubisoft's YouTube channel on the 27th of October, so keep your eyes peeled.
Source:Press release
Sections:Microsoft Consoles, Console Games, PC Games, Sony Consoles
Related news storiesThe Saboteur is "just getting started" in new trailerOctober 21, '09Xbox LIVE update freezes third-party memory units, Datel respondsOctober 21, '09First Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time demo coming Oct. 22October 21, '09Futuremark readies Shattered Horizon launch with new trailerOctober 20, '09Halo 3: ODST and PlayStation 3 steal September salesOctober 19, '09DJs strut their stuff in DJ Hero mash-up trailerOctober 19, '09The Beatles Rock Band gets Abbey Road DLC this weekOctober 19, '09Dungeon Fighter Online exclusive class gameplay videoOctober 16, '09
Catching our eye this afternoon, Valve has announced that Ubisoft Montreal's hit Action-Adventure title, Assassin's Creed: Director's Cut Edition, is currently on sale through Steam for just $5.00 US (a 75% savings). The deal runs from now until Thursday morning. So if for some reason you haven't checked the game out yet, here's your change to grab it for practically nothing!
Note: The deal is only available in North, Central, and South America.
Hitting the web today is a new singleplayer demo for Electronic Arts' upcoming sports management sim, FIFA Manager 10. Weighing in at 897MB, the demo allows you to play through half a season in one of the top leagues from England, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Spain. You can grab this bad boy from any of the following websites:
YouGamers (courtesy of GamersHell)FileFrontFileShackDig the demo? Then keep an eye out for the full game when it hits stores on October 30th!
Modern Warfare 2 found itself mired in a sea of negativity following confirmation that the PC version of the upcoming multiplatform shooter would drop support for dedicated client-side servers and mods. To be sure, Infinity Ward's community manager Robert Bowling acknowledged the outcry surrounding the announcements and at the very least promised thatthe MW2 teamwould be made aware of feedback and response, especially from a growing online petition now topping 100,000 signatures. Bowling further defended the introduction of IWNet in anew blog posting:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is actually the biggest investment Infinity Ward has ever made into the PC version of our games. It’s also the most feature-rich PC version we’ve ever made. IWNET takes the benefits of dedicated servers and allows them to be utilized and accessed by every player, out of the box, while removing the barrier to entry for players unaware of how to maintain a server on their own.Now Infinity Ward CEO Vince Zampellaand CCO Jason West themselves have seen fit to give their two cents on the game-changing developments. West explains that in shifting control of MW2's servers from players to Infinity Ward, the developer intends on "prioritizing the player experience above the modders and the tuners".
The developermaintains they are addressing issues of a fractured and "insular" Modern Warfare community which arose as a result of the proliferation of client-side servers, which weren't always accomodating. IWNet was designed to create a more level and accessible playing field for as many MW2 players as possible. West further downplays the negative response by claiming much of the outrage may well have been manufactured by pragmatic players with business stakes on dedicated servers.
Both West and Zampella stress that IWNet will not be as destabilizing to the "hardcore" MW2 audience as initially feared. Though they are certainly making big strides to invite casual/moderate players in adopting an online matchmaking model made popular through consoles, Infinity Ward doesn't expect the more entrenched community to lose out on much. PC players will still be able to set up private matches complete with more specialized rules, though further customization through avenues like modding are now largely out of the question.
Source:GameInformer
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesDJs strut their stuff in DJ Hero mash-up trailerOctober 19, '09Modern Warfare 2 loses dedicated servers & mod supportOctober 19, '09Miyamoto talks in-game help vids for New Super Mario Bros. WiiOctober 16, '09Psylocke officially announced for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2October 16, '09Two new DJ Hero television ads spottedOctober 15, '09Left 4 Dead 2 demo hits Xbox LIVE and PC on October 27October 15, '09YouTube removes Guitar Hero 5 video with Kurt CobainOctober 14, '09Wolfenstein PC demo releasedOctober 14, '09
Though the third major PC patch for Codemasters' 2008 racer GRID is kind of late (they sincerely apologize), it's a good one, and players are celebrating at the release.
Included with version 1.3 is support for Motion Platform D-Box (this thing), an increase in view distance, and a bunch of fixes. One surprise though is the "announcement" for some upcoming DLC -- no details yet, though.
If you bought the retail version, you can grab that via the source; if you went digital, your patch should be going live in a few days. 1.3 is compatible with previous patches; release notes are below.
GRID Patch 1.3
Added support for additional content packs. Added support for Motion Platform D-Box. Increasing the maximum view distance by 1 km so it is possible to see the entire length of the hill roads on San Francisco Fix for personal best lap time not replacing world record lap time when playing without internet connection. Fix for race day personal best lap times only being valid for first race in a grid world event.Fix for being able to select too many different types of cars in multiplayer events Long Beach Battle and Drift Inter GP. Fix for being able to select the Pontiac GTO in multiplayer Touring cars events. Fix for vehicles bought on eBay applying performance modifiers when playing multiplayer events. Fix for being awarded 1 lap in online stats for freestyle drift events. Prevented the editing ebay.xml cheatSource:Codemasters Forum
Section:PC Games
Related news storiesNew gameplay video shows APB in action September 16, '09Colin McRae: DiRT 2 out with new dirty rally videoSeptember 08, '09Colin McRae: DiRT 2 PC delayed for DX11July 06, '09Overlord three-game launch extravaganzaJune 25, '09
Speaking with BashAndSlash.com earlier today, Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling revealed that the upcoming PC edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will not feature dedicated server support and will instead use a proprietary matchmaking system they're calling "IWNet". This new system will offer a console-like experience, automatically pairing you up with other players of similar rank through IW's servers or allowing you to host private matches with customizable gameplay settings. Gone are the server lists we've all become accustomed to. This change is sure to raise concerns about mods225a and community-made maps, but unfortunately Bowling didn't have any answers on how they plan to handle custom-made content or if it'll be supported at all. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Thanks for the tip Veli-Pekka!
Keeping things rollin' tonight, Streum On Studios have announced that their upcoming FPS-RPG, E.Y.E., has been delayed in order to add new chapters, enemies, researches and secondary mission to the game. A new release date isn't offered, but they do state that they're hoping to launch the game before the end of the year. We'll keep you posted!
To help ease the blow, the developers have released some new screenshots and artwork. Enjoy:
