New Demos and Patches

EA has released a new patch for "Spore," bringing the unique simulation game by Maxis to version 1.03.

Patch Fixes

• Fix for esc key not bringing up Options in Galaxy Game Entry
• Fix for creator backgrounds appearing on small sporepedia cards
• Update to help keep achievements on the server in sync with achievements in the game
• Freebies: 24 Exoskeleton limbs

This patch is available for both PC and Mac.

The 107MB patch can be downloaded from The Official Site, FileShack, or Worthplaying.

A demo of "A Vampyre Story" has been released, giving players a chance to try out the upcoming adventure game by Autumn Moon Entertainment and Crimson Cow.

"The point-and-click adventure game A Vampyre Story tells the tale of the beautiful, gifted opera singer Mona De Lafitte, whose life is brought to an abrupt end by a vampire baron named Shrowdy Von Kiefer. Henceforth, Mona is doomed to a miserable existence as a creature of the night in Von Kiefer’s gloomy castle in Draxsylvania. Confronted with her seemingly hopeless fate, she decides to run away and try to fulfil her dream of singing at the Paris Opera. Accompanied by her mischievous bat Froderick, Mona must face a number of challenges in her odyssey and learn not only to accept her vampire nature, but also to use the abilities she has acquired to her advantage."

The 445MB demo can be downloaded from AtomicGamer, FileFront, FileShack, Gamer’s Hell, or Worthplaying.

Bethesda Softworks has released a new patch for "Fallout 3," bringing the recently released post apocalyptic role-playing game to version 1.0.0.15.

The 6.6MB patch (US version linked) is available to download at The Official Site, Atomic Gamer, FileFront, FileShack, Gamer’s Hell, or Worthplaying.

Update Notes:

• Fixed occasional crashes when exiting the game or using Alt F4 to exit.
• Fixed crashes when using Alt-Tab while binks or credits were playing.
• The game now restarts properly after title updates finish installing.

Full Changelist and release notes

Valve has announced that the previously announced "Left 4 Dead" demo is scheduled to be released at 7AM PST (Nov. 6th) for those who pre-ordered the game.

"This promotion is being offered in addition to the 10% savings for those who pre-order and applies to all Steam PC pre-orders and all PC and Xbox 360 pre-orders from GameStop and EB Games in North America.

On November 11 the demo will be made available to all PC and Xbox 360 gamers worldwide, with no obligation to purchase. The demo concludes on November 18, when Left 4 Dead will be made available at retail outlets across North America and worldwide via Steam.  "

The first patch for "Far Cry 2" has been released bringing the recently released first-person shooter/role-playing game to version 1.01.

The 42.3MB patch can be downloaded from AtomicGamer, FIleFront, FileShack, Gamer’s Hell, GameUpdates (torrent), Strategy Informer, or Worthplaying.

Changelist:

Multiplayer

• Server’s IP address now displays in lobby, beside the match’s name (for direct IP join to work)
• Dedicated Server can now be launched in command line.
• Improved match start conditions. Ranked games can now also start if the player max is attained and everybody but the host is ready.
• Fixed a bug causing random crashes when joining a game.
• Ranked matches in progress will no longer display in the match list.
• Fixed players with same name by using identifiers instead of names.
• Fixed crash when creating a LAN game without a network cable.
• The diamond pool is now always validated after class upgrades, reset or rank up to avoid getting more diamonds than you are supposed to for your rank.
• When creating a dedicated server with PunkBuster enabled, then close it to create another but this time with PunkBuster disabled, PunkBuster will still be considered ON, on this new server.
• Fixed a problem where a player could get stuck (and couldn’t get killed) after pressing the interaction key while wounded and getting rescued by a teammate at the same time.
• Fixed players getting disconnected if they have too many user maps and try to enter the map rotation menu in a Player or Ranked match.
• Vehicles will now always respawn even if they are never used.
• Fixed users not being able to see a match if the host switched match mode after a rank.
• Fixed a glitch that could make a player invisible to another.
• Fixed incorrect check for negative values when adjusting diamond count.
• Fixed a problem where a player would render through objects if healing a wounded playing while being wounded at the same time.
• Fixed reload not being interrupted on the host when a client picks a weapon while reloading.
• Fixed Field Manuals not unlocking after game mode change.

Singleplayer

• Fixed health not changing with the difficulty level.
• Keyboard controls remapping in single mode now carry into multiplayer mode.
• A buddy will no longer get stuck when healing him while player is receiving damage.
• Stats of favourite weapon are now properly reset between loaded save games.
• The mortar will no longer move the player through wall.
• Mission objectives markers are now show properly after loading a save game.

General

• Fixed glider key remapping.
• Game will now minimize in order to show the website when clicking on ubi.com.
• Dolby 5.1 is now supported for most sound cards.
• Fixed a random crash that could happen when pressing ESC to cancel a Benchmark run.
• Added CPU Intensive benchmark test run.
• Fixed Jackal Tapes and Partner Tapes pages.

Map editor

• Fixed crash in editor when deleting many objects in very rapid succession.
• Fixed crash in editor during parsing of the map headers.

A new patch for "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky" has been released, bringing the FPS prequel by GSC Game World to version 1.5.07.

The 55MB patch can be downloaded from The Official Site, Atomic Gamer, FileFront, FileShack, Gamer’s Hell, Strategy Informer, or Worthplaying.

Note: There are separate patches for the retail and download versions of the game.

Changelist:

Saved games
1.5.04 and 1.5.05 saved games will be compatible with patch 1.5.07.

Game changes

• Fixed an error when the wounded guide didn’t want to lead the player anywhere.
• Increased the number of items for sell for the trader at the flea market.
• Added the possibility to upgrade SVDm 2 at Freedom’s mechanic.
• Fixed game crash upon the attempt to speak with the wounded character.
• Fixed an error, which led to the blocking of the storyline quest completion at Yantar (the door to Sakharov’s bunker couldn’t be opened).
• Increased the amount of money of the bandits’ trader.
• Fixed the displacement of the military warehouses on the PDA map.
• Added the possibility to load the last saved game by pressing space bar after the player’s death.

Render improvements

• Added DX10.1 support.
• Added MSAA for alpha-tested objects ("alpha-to-coverage" for DX10.0, custom "alpha-to-coverage" for DX10.1 for better performance, native DX10.1 implementation for better quality).
• Added new quality level for sun-shadows (ultra) for better picture quality.
• Added new min/max shadowmap technique (which takes advantage of DX10.1 when available) allows to speed up high quality sunshafts rendering for top video boards and high resolutions.
• Added high quality sunshafts acceleration for DX9 renderer.

Multiplayer:

• Fixed various game crashes of server and client sections.
• Added the detailed server’s statistics.
• Changed the saving of the server online-dump (dump is saved to online_dump.ltx).
• Added the changing of keyboard layout by pressing LCtrl +LShift.

Valve has announced that customers who pre-order "Left 4 Dead" will get access to a demo next Thursday, November 6th. This will be a week earlier than the public demo, which will be released on November 11th.

"Left 4 Dead is the new survival action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games.

Early access to the demo begins Thursday, November 6 on both the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC. This pre-order promotion applies to all Steam PC pre-orders and all Xbox 360 and Windows-based PC pre-orders from participating retailers in North America. The demo will feature single player and co-operative modes, supporting 1 to 4 player games.

On November 11 the demo will be made available to all Xbox 360 and PC and gamers, with no obligation to purchase. The demo concludes on November 18, when Left 4 Dead will be made available at retail outlets across North America and worldwide via Steam.

This pre-order promotion is scheduled in concert with the previously announced $10 million consumer launch campaign that spans television, outdoor, print, and online advertising.
“Every time someone plays Left 4 Dead, we witness the most overwhelmingly positive reaction that we’ve seen from any of our games,” said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. “This gives us tremendous confidence in the product and why we’ve taken the game on the road, produced this pre-launch demo, and invested more advertising dollars on the title than any prior release from Valve.”

Playable in single player, co-operative, and multiplayer modes, Left 4 Dead is one of the most anticipated releases of 2008 and winner of numerous pre-launch awards, including Best of E3 from multiple outlets.

For more information, please visit L4D.com or www.steamgames.com"

Introversion has released a "Multiwinia" multiplayer demo, giving players a chance to try out the recent strategy sequel.

"Last month we released our fourth fantastic stand-alone PC title Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest. A retro-arcade multiplayer extravaganza, set in the gorgeously pixellated Darwinia universe with hours of guaranteed gameplay, 49 beautifully unique maps and fantastic reviews from the crème-de-la-crème of gaming press, Multiwinia seemed a sure-fire success.

One big problem. The demo did not contain multiplayer.

Whilst it may be great to crush the AI bots in one fell swoop, nothing beats the guaranteed fun of Multiwinia multiplayer which is why we have been working round the clock to create a Multiwinia demo that gives players more, much more.

The new demo provides a fantastic online multiplayer experience with the available demo maps and also allows demo players to join full games when hosted by a fully paid up player over a LAN.  That’s not all – the demo also now contains an extra mode from the full game called Rocket Riot!

Players can now bask in the glory as their 1000-sprite army marches towards an opponent’s vulnerably defended statue, or look on in horror as their enemy retaliates with a 10-tonne killer airstrike on their one remaining spawn point.

To celebrate this great new demo release, Multiwinia is now available on Steam for a special price of $9.99 and for this weekend only Darwinia comes free with any Multiwinia purchase!

For more information about Multiwinia, and for links to the new demo, please head to www.multiwinia.com."