PC Game News

A new trailer for "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" has been released, giving viewers a look at the arcade mode in the mulaipleyer portion of the upcoming sequel by IO Interactive.

"In Arcade Mode, a single player version of the innovative Fragile Alliance mode, your objective is to help the Alliance escape with as much of the loot as possible.  You are paid if you survive the round, and continue through increasingly challenging levels as long as you survive and escape, but with the cops on your back and an escape vehicle that can’t wait the pressure is on."

New screenshots from "RAGE" have been released, giving viewers a look at the upcoming first-person shooter by id Software.Originally set to be published by EA, it was announced in December that Bethesda will now publish the game, which is currently scheduled to be released some time next year.

SouthPeak Games and Topware Interactive today announced that "Two Worlds II" will be released on September 14 in North and South America and on September 17 in the UK.

"Building upon the storyline from the first installment, Two Worlds II offers the willing adventurer the thrilling experience of a perilous and daring journey throughout a vast magical land. While undoubtedly rich in story, detail and content, the game also offers an array of unique approaches to classic game elements that push the envelope for the fantasy RPG genre.

Featuring the all-new GRACE™ game engine, Two Worlds II seeks to offer an immersive blend of two of the most important role playing elements – strong atmosphere and dazzling visuals. Incorporating cutting-edge technology features such as Real Eye Adaptation, HD Dynamic Motion Capture, and Multi-Source Dynamic Lighting, the world of Antaloor comes alive like never before as a true role-player’s paradise.

Two Worlds II will be available at retailers on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. More information can be found at www.twoworlds2.com or www.southpeakgames.com."

The list of PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of May 3rd, 2010.

PC Games:

Looks like no PC games this week 🙁

Movies Opening This Week

• Babies
• Casino Jack and the United States of Money
• Iron Man 2
• Mother and Child (limited)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• 21 Jumpstreet/Hunter/Renegade – Season One Combo Pack
• Art & Copy
• Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
• Dirt: The Complete Second Season
• Dirty Dancing – Limited Keepsake Ed.
• Doctor Zhivago – Anniversary Ed. [Blu-Ray]
• Escape from L.A. [Blu-Ray]
• Fallen
• Hamlet
• Hamlet [Blu-Ray]
• K-19: The Widowmaker [Blu-Ray]
• Leap Year [Blu-Ray]
• Marcus Welby, M.D.
• Marvel Iron Man: The Complete Animated Series
• Matinee
• Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
• Nine [Blu-Ray]
• No Time for Sergeants
• On the Road With Charles Kuralt: Set 2
• Penn & Teller Bullsh*t: The Seventh Season
• Rock 'N Roll Right School
• Roger Corman the Best of B's 2: Teachers & Naughty
• Saving Grace 2 Pack – Seasons 1 and 2
• Saving Private Ryan [Blu-Ray]
• Seven Swords [Blu-Ray]
• Spirited Killer/Fight! Dragon/Sonny Chiba Combo Pack
• Tetro [Blu-Ray]
• The Facts of Life: Season Four
• The Notebook [Blu-Ray]
• Tooth Fairy [Blu-Ray]

Bethesda today released new screenshots from "Brink", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming first-person shooter in development at Splash Damage.

"Brink is an immersive shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, allowing you to develop your character across all modes of play. You decide the role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind's last refuge for humanity. Brink offers a compelling mix of dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system that will keep you coming back for more."

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that "StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty" will be released on July 27.

"Players will also be able to purchase StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty directly from Blizzard Entertainment shortly after the retail launch.

"We've been looking forward to revisiting the StarCraft universe for many years, and we're excited that the time for that is almost here," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "Thanks to our beta testers, we're making great progress on the final stages of development, and we'll be ready to welcome players all over the world to StarCraft II and the new Battle.net® in just a few months."

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s 1998 hit StarCraft, which has been hailed by players and critics worldwide as one of the top real-time strategy games of all time. Sporting a vibrant 3D-graphics engine, StarCraft II will once again center on the clash between the protoss, terrans, and zerg, with each side deploying legions of veteran, upgraded, and new unit types. Unparalleled online play for StarCraft II will be available through a new version of Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment's world-renowned gaming service. Battle.net has been redesigned from the ground up to be the premier online gaming destination for Blizzard gamers, with several enhancements and new features, such as voice communication, cloud file storage, leagues and ladders, achievements, stat-tracking, and more.

The solo campaign for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty will continue the epic saga where it left off in StarCraft: Brood War®. The story line chronicles the exploits of marshal-turned-rebel-leader Jim Raynor and features both familiar faces and new heroes. Players will be able to tailor the experience, choosing their own mission path and selecting technology and research upgrades to suit their playing style throughout the 29-mission campaign. Several challenge-mode mini-games will also be included, with focused goals designed to ease players into the basics of multiplayer strategies.

For more information on StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, visit the official website at www.starcraft2.com. Further details about the game, including the alternative pricing options previously mentioned for certain regions, will be announced in the coming weeks."

A new trailer for "Dead Space 2" has been released, giving viewers a look at the upcoming sequel.

"Hero Isaac Clarke returns for another heart-pounding adventure, taking the fight to the Necromorphs in this thrilling action-horror experience. New tools to gruesomely slice and dismember the Necromorphs complement Isaac's signature Plasma Cutter, empowering him as he meets new characters, explores epic Zero-G environments, and fights against a relentless necromorph onslaught. Survival isn't the only thing on Isaac's mind in Dead Space 2 – this time, he calls the shots."

New media from the upcoming Rapture Metro Pack DLC for "BioShock 2" has been released, giving viewers a glimpse at add-on. It was originally supposed to be released this week but has been delayed for unknown reasons.

When it's released, the pack will include:

Six all-new maps built, some built from the single-player portion of the game
Three new Achievements/Trophies
Rebirth Feature – Players who reach rank 50 have the option to rank down to Level 1 and receive a special mask

Valve sent word that the Steam Mac client is going to be released on May 12. No other details or information have been provided at this time.

Of course, all of Vavle's games are slated to be released for Mac and customers that have purchased Windows versions of Valve games will have the opportunity to download them for free on the new platform. Whether or not this move will entice other developers to port their games over to Mac remains to be seen but some publishers have shown an interest. Portal 2 will be the first game released simultaneously on both platform.s

ArenaNet today released new details on the combat mechanics and the elementalist profession in the upcoming "Guild Wars 2" sequel.

This latest reveal gives gamers a first look at the visceral and dynamic action they can expect to find in the highly anticipated Guild Wars 2, the upcoming sequel to the acclaimed Guild Wars franchise.

ArenaNet is set to post a two-part feature straight from Lead Designer Eric Flannum that describes the core components of Guild Wars 2 combat mechanics, showcased through an explanation of the game’s principles, examples of combat in action, sample skills, and a brand new look at the Elementalist profession.

The combat highlights include:

• Visual and dynamic combat – Manoeuvre around an opponent to strike for maximum damage or send them flying through the air. Create giant crushing stone hands, turn into a massive tornado, or summon a flock of vicious birds of prey to swarm your enemies.
• Cross-profession combos – Combine attacks from different professions for extra damage, like shooting arrows through a flaming wall to create a barrage of fiery projectiles, or sending pets through a cloud of poison so they spread the toxin among the enemy.
• Environmental weapons – In the hands of a skilled Elementalist, a simple boulder can be turned into a meteor storm. Or save the day by taking control of a siege weapon on the battlefield!
• A skill system that is easy to learn and rewarding to master – In Guild Wars 2, you start with a strong base set of skills, but the game allows for deep player customisation. You get your base skills from the weapons you wield and then customise your skill-set with racial skills, healing skills, profession skills, and even a devastating elite skill. In order to illustrate the combat system in action, ArenaNet also introduces the Elementalist, the first profession reveal of Guild Wars 2. Channelling the forces of nature, the Elementalist represents:
• Versatility – Adapting to any situation, the Elementalist can attune to the elements of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Each element provides a separate set of options and visually-powerful attacks, like the ability to call down precision lightning strikes, trigger volcanic eruptions, or heal allies.
• Distinctive Mechanics – Glyphs, Signets, Conjurations, and Attunements provide a distinctive set of mechanics that foster versatility and garner grand results, ranging from area-of-effect destruction to defensive snares.

An innovative skill system, unique profession mechanics, and extensive customisation combine to make combat in Guild Wars 2 an immersive, exciting experience.

Fans of the franchise are encouraged to follow Guild Wars 2 on Twitter and Facebook for additional information about gameplay, lore, profession mechanics, overall systems, and sneak peeks of exclusive content.

For more information on Guild Wars 2, the design philosophy, and specific combat and Elementalist news, please visit www.guildwars2.com
 

True Games Interactive announced that the "Mytheon" open beta is now live.

"To kick off the open beta test, True Games will host a special three day event where players can win fabulous prizes including an Alienware M17x laptop, iPods, iTunes cards and more! Event details can be found here: www.MytheonGame.com/open-beta-event

Beginning today and continuing through Friday, players can participate in PVP and instance-based events. Anyone who logs into the game during that time is automatically entered into the contest. The event will encourage players to start at Echidna's Swamp, where developers and community leaders will guide them through the game to more difficult locations.  The first-place winner via random drawing will receive an Alienware M17x laptop complete with Mytheon themed skins, wallpapers and icons.  Seven lucky second-place winners will take home an 8GB iPod Touch, and 100 fans will receive $10.00 iTunes gift cards. 

Mytheon is an online, multiplayer Action/RPG with strategic game play where players experience classic mythology come to life and challenge legendary gods to define their own fate.  Players, or "Stonecasters," are powerful humans imbued with the ability to cast spells, summon minions, and erect structures that aid them in battle. An assortment of classes are available that approach combat differently and offer a range of unique, cinematic abilities.

For additional details on Mytheon and to participate in the open beta test visit: https://www.MytheonGame.com"

Focus Home Interactive today released several new screenshots from "Pro Cycling Manager 2010", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming sports simulation sequel.

"Discover now a new series of images of Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France 2010, that testify of the great improvement added to this ever-more popular sports game series.

In order to provide a more realistic and a more intense experience, the game features high resolution textures and a new handling of the flora, which is now more luxuriant and diverse. Many advanced visual effects complete the ultimate rendering of the game: the bloom effect simulates image exposure to light, the depth of field enhances the focus of the TV cameras that follow cyclists during each race, while the motion blur simulates speed.

But all these improvements shouldn’t make you overlook that Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France 2010's evolutions are not limited to the race. Many novelties are also implemented on the manager part of the game: a new Season mode, numerous challenges, performances and official historic records to beat, or even a new stage editor to create your stages in great detail! Without a doubt, 2010 will be a big year for Pro Cycling Manager!"

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-ray releases, and movies opening the week of April 26th, 2010.

PC Games:

• Splinter Cell: Conviction

Movies opening this week:

• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• Furry Vengeance
• Please Give
• The Human Centipede – First Sequence (limited)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• Armageddon [Blu-Ray]
• Buddha
• Disgrace
• District 13: Ultimatum [Blu-Ray]
• District B13/District 13: Ultimatum [Blu-Ray 2 Pack]
• Dune [Blu-Ray]
• Elizabeth [Blu-Ray]
• Elizabeth: THe Golden Age [Blu-Ray]
• End of Poverty?
• Five Minutes of Heaven [Blu-Ray]
• Georgia O'Keeffe
• Ghost Hunters: Season Five, Part Two
• It's Complicated [Blu-Ray]
• Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1982-1983
• Megapiranha
• Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight
• Out of Africa: 25th Anniversary [Blu-Ray]
• Pride and Prejudice
• Ride with the Devil [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Survivors: Complete Original Series 1975-1977
• Survivors: Complete Season One and Two
• The Barbra Sanwyck Collection
• The Descent: Part 2
• The Hills: Season Five, Part Two
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus [Blu-Ray]
• The Jackal [Blu-Ray]
• Tombstone [Blu-Ray]
• Why We Laugh

Valve released the new version of the Steam client yesterday, which has been available to the public as a beta. In addition, Valve now has a blog up.

"The 2010 Steam client is now live! The overhaul changes many things about how information is organized on Steam, and makes it easier to do the most important things on the platform, like play games with friends. We wrote up an overview of what's new, so definitely check that out so that you don't miss anything. As we've mentioned, the beta testing went well – participants suggested valuable changes and reported lots of bugs for us to squash.

We're very interested in your thoughts on the new client, so please stop by the forums to tell us what you think."

Ars Technica toured Blizzard Entertainment and posted several photos of the offices and campus.

"To put it mildly: we weren't disappointed. The Blizzard campus is a magical place, completely covered with the culture of the company and the art of its games. From statues, to murals, to jokes, this is where you dreamed video games are made when you were young. The campus houses offices, a theater, a museum, a library, a gym, and of course, the games are everywhere. Let's take a look at what we saw."

See the tour article: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/04/earning-your-sword-a-picture-tour-of-blizzards-offices.ars/