|
 |
Thursday , January 04, 2007 |
 |
|
 |
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Shivering Isles Revealed 07:07 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Role-Playing
(3 comments)
The newest issue of PC Zone UK is carrying details of the first true Oblivion expansion pack, Shivering Isles:
The expansion will offer 30-plus hours of new adventuring, features new quests, monsters, expanded freeform gameplay - quest lines that branch more than before, for example - and a new land "that you can watch change according to your vital life-or-death decisions".
Setting the scene, it's explained that an ominous-looking gate has opened in Nibben Bay, the portal leading to a torn realm - the Shivering Isles - ruled by Sheogorath, the god of madness and dementia. Apparently, adventurers will meet the god and "plough through his trials", but it's additionally hinted that ultimately we may well be usurping the deity. A ETA of Q2 2007 has been given.
Pick up a copy at your nearest newsie for screenshots and further info, or save yourself six quid and wait for it all to be released online in the not too distant future.
In-Game 2142 Ads Hint At Upcoming Content 06:04 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(7 comments)
Despite the bitching, the in-game ads in Battlefield 2142 haven't been all that bad, and in many cases actually work well in the setting. Now, EA is advertising upcoming content for the game that may or may not be free, according to the sassy ladies over at Planet Battlefield.
Click here to check things out.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 01:56 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 01:30 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(0 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 01:04 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
K2 Network Multi-Peek #2
How did War Rock, Knight Online and Global MU Online celebrate the holiday season for their respective players? - Includes nine exclusive screenshots
Heavy Duty Media #5
We take a virtual tour of the player's base of operations in developer Primal Software's upcoming futuristic title - Five exclusive screenshots
Jonric's Blog
Will 2007 be a tasty year for the online world category?
In Other News... 12:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(16 comments)
If you're curious about that new Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (formerly Computer Gaming World), Ziff is giving away free subscriptions to it until Jan. 8th. It's a promotion with Sony Online Entertainment (the guys who run EverQuest, SWG, etc) but I don't think you have to actually be a paying member to get the magazine. Thanks, Jason.
Today's question:
Do you read any gaming related print magazines, or do you prefer online media?
|
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 03, 2007 |
|
|
|
Hellgate London Screenshots 05:00 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action / Roleplaying
(18 comments)
Here are three brand new screenshots of Hellgate London, the lovely upcoming action/RPG from Flagship Studios (we have some more new shots, which we'll post in our 2007 games preview later).
Mankind is a race of survivors. A rebellious few survive in the shadows of their former dominance, combining the holy, ancient, and arcane rites with the fringe sciences of the modern era. Using weapons and spells forged in the traditions of their forebears, these survivors have banded together, yearning to strike back at their conquerors and destroy the Hellgate.
(Click to Enlarge!)
  
3D Realms Beefs up Duke Team 04:03 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(17 comments)
Duke4.net notes that 3D Realms has beefed up its in-house Duke Nukem Forever team with the additions of several new members. There's also a few teasers:
3D Realms employee Joe Wampole recently made alterations to his personal website and his resume in particular. The original page available here has been transformed to this. An interesting change includes the reference of "building with million+ polygonal counts" while working on DNF. Such description may indicate the presence of incredibly intricate character models in the game.
Human Head Decapitates CEO 02:52 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(1 comment)
Firing Squad has learned that long time CEO of Human Head Studios, Timothy Gerritsen is no longer with the company. Human Head is of course best known for Rune and Prey. Gerritsen said his decision to leave the company and sell his portion of Human Head's ownership was made in part because the other owners wanted to take Human Head in a different direction than Gerritsen wanted the company to go. Gerritsen told FiringSquad that Human Head co-founder and president Paul MacArthur is now the company's interim CEO. Since the release of Prey, Human Head has not announced what projects they will be developing next. Gerritsen told us that he still plans to stay in the game development industry but would not reveal his specific future plans.
EA Apologizes to boy for Madden Porn 01:45 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Sports
(22 comments)
After a kid found porn in his Madden 07, EA was quick to offer an apology (thanks Agent_x6): We regret any embarrassment and inconvenience to the family," said Tammy Schachter, a spokeswoman for Electronic Arts Inc. in Redwood City, Calif.
"This game was released in August 2006 and has sold over 5 million units. We've never had any type of complaint," she said Tuesday.
Kolton Mahoney of Layton received the game from an uncle who had purchased it at a Circuit City store in Modesto, Calif.
The game was in a factory-sealed case. An explicit image appeared when played as well as titles of several adult films produced by a studio in Northridge, Calif.
Episodic Games: Why Bother? 01:37 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(6 comments)
Gamasutra whipped up an editorial by GameTap's Rick "Dirty" Sanchez (they publish the Sam & Max Episodes) who explains his stance on episodic gaming and tries to point out the genre is, and isn't:
I talk a lot about episodic games, and every time I do I encounter a wide range of opinions on what "episodic" actually means. I recently wrote an opinion piece that promulgated GameTap's perspective on what it takes to call a game episodic and it boils down to this:
1. Each episode stands alone but is part of a larger whole.
2. Each episode has a relatively short duration of play.
3. Episodes are delivered on a regular schedule over a defined, and relatively brief, period of time that makes up a season.
This is in contrast to the approach taken by Ritual and Valve with their titles, which I would describe as more like installments in a single game rather than episodes in a series.
If you can buy into these three tenants as defining rules for an episodic game series, it begs the question: why bother making episodic games at all?
Best Selling Games Of XMas 01:06 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: General News
(9 comments)
Flight Sim X was the best selling game at Christmas? You what!
1) Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe - Microsoft
2) The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts
3) Medieval II: Total War - Sega of America
4) The Sims 2 - Electronic Arts
5) World Of Warcraft - Vivendi
6) Battlefield 2142 - Electronic Arts
7) Microsoft Flight Simulator X - Microsoft
8) Age Of Empires III - Microsoft
9) Deal or No Deal - Global Star Software
10) Company Of Heroes - THQ
11) Civilization IV - 2K Games
12) The Sims 2 Open For Business Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts
13) Neverwinter Nights 2 - Atari
14) The Sims 2 Holiday Edition - Electronic Arts
15) The Sims Complete Collection - Electronic Arts
16) Age Of Empires III: WarChiefs Expansion Pack - Microsoft
17) Guild Wars Nightfall - NCsoft
18) Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - 2K Games
19) Call Of Duty 2 - Activision
20) Warcraft III Battle Chest - Vivendi
Backdoor Beta Halo 3 Action 12:29 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(8 comments)
Microsoft fired over some handy tips on how to get into the upcoming beta for Halo 3:
Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios are ringing in the year with a proverbial bang, as they announced today two new ways for gamers to receive an invitation to participate in the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta program coming this spring through Xbox Live Marketplace.
Specifically, gamers will be able to receive an invitation by doing one of the following:
- Qualifying over Xbox Live and then being one of the first 13,333 "Halo 2" gamers to register for the "Rule of Three" program at http://www.halo3.com in early February
- Purchasing the upcoming game "Crackdown™," which hits store shelves in the U.S. on Feb. 20
The "Halo 3" multiplayer beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of "Halo 3," is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360™. The beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the testing and refinement of the multiplayer gameplay of "Halo 3," the most anticipated game of 2007. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further hone the end result of "Halo 3."
Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. EST, all gamers need to do is participate in at least three hours of "Halo 2" multiplayer sessions, via Xbox Live, before Feb. 3, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. EST and then be among the first 13,333 to register at http://www.halo3.com. The "Rule of Three" program is currently planned for gamers in the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) age 17 years and older who have access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive, a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription and the "Halo 2" game. Gamers around the world are encouraged to visit http://www.halo3.com in the coming weeks for more information on the "Rule of Three" program in their region.
As well, when "Crackdown" hits store shelves, gamers eager to take home a copy of the highly anticipated exclusive action title for Xbox 360 will find marked boxes of "Crackdown" that include an invite to participate in the coveted "Halo 3" multiplayer beta program when it becomes available. When the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta surfaces in spring 2007, owners of "Crackdown" with access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription simply need to load their copy of "Crackdown" into Xbox 360 and use the disc as a key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace and join the battle in "Halo 3" multiplayer. "Crackdown" will be available in the U.S. on Feb. 20, Asian territories on Feb. 22 and European markets on Feb. 23.
In December, Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios completed the first of three ways for North American gamers to participate in the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta, by registering at http://www.halo3.com. Gamers who were selected from this initial opportunity will be contacted in January.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 01:07 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 12:54 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(3 comments)
In Other News... 12:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(38 comments)
I give myself about a month before I break down and get a new PC... Maybe two. The nice thing about being an early technology adopter for the PC is that you don't have to camp out for a new system. Just load up your favorite online geek shop, and order what ya want. Of course, prices dip and you need to time your purchases to have the biggest impact, but that's all part of the fun.
Today's question:
Besides the obvious choices like Crysis, what upcoming game most inspires you to upgrade your PC?
|
|
|
|
|
