PC Game News

A new trailer for "Alien Arena" has been released, giving viewers a look at an upcoming large update to the free first-person shooter.

"This is an updated version of the official Alien Arena trailer, for 2010. There are a host of improvements and new content for the 2010 version of this game. Alien Arena is a free deathmatch game similar to Unreal Tournament and Quake 3 in some ways, but with a retro sci-fi atmosphere all of it's own. Visit https://red.planetarena.org for more info and to download this game!"

Funcom today announced the launch of a pre-order campaign for "Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer", the first expansion to the MMORPG that's scheduled to be released on May 11.

"The expansion, set in the eastern empire of Khitai, builds on an already extensive Conan universe and will let players travel to a unique part of Conan’s world where an ancient traditional culture clashes with dark forces. ‘Rise of the Godslayer’ expands on an already massive game world, and will also introduce entirely new and exciting gameplay mechanics.

The expansion will launch on May 11th and will be available both through retail and as a digital download. In retail the expansion will come in an all-new packaging that includes both the expansion and the original game, allowing new players to quickly get up to speed with all the new content and gameplay. The retail product comes bundled with a new social pet as well as a package of virtual items to welcome new players to Hyboria.

Funcom is proud to be working with two new distribution partners, Deep Silver for the European territories and CompuExpert for the North American markets. Both Deep Silver and CompuExpert are heralded industry-leading distributors with over 35 years of combined experience.

“We are now ready to publish the expansion and it feels great to sound the horn and let players into this great new world that we have created,” says Morten Larssen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Funcom. “It is also very exciting to be re-engaging with retail together with our great distribution partners with an updated product that contains both the expansion and the original game, making this release relevant to both new players, previous players and our current playerbase.”

As a pre-order reward a new form of in-game pet that aids players in battle is premiered. This pet will immediately be given to all existing customers that pre-order before the launch date, as well as to all retail customers that register up until the 25th of May. Combined with this launch, Funcom is also introducing a digital Collector’s Edition optional upgrade, which among other things gives immediate access to a flying fighting pet. The upgrade to the digital Collector’s Edition is now available through the customer account page.

The soundtrack of the expansion content is simultaneously being made available in all major territories through Grappa records, including a bonus DVD with full 5.1 surround recording. The soundtrack will also include a key that will unlock a unique in-game bone flute.

Launching in May 2008 ‘Age of Conan’ quickly became a smash hit in retail, shipping over 1.2 million copies around the world. In North America, the most prominent online gaming market in the west, ‘Age of Conan’ became the third best-selling PC title of the year in 2008. In the weeks after launch ‘Age of Conan’ simultaneously topped the charts in 17 countries, and the game received critical acclaim from gaming press across the globe. ‘Age of Conan’ is now available in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Polish localized versions, and is being prepared for launch in Korea as well.

Go to www.ageofconan.com for more information such as a complete list of features."

Bohemia Interactive today announced that "ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead", a stand-alone expansion, is scheduled to be released worldwide on June 29th.

"Developed as a massive standalone expansion pack enlarging Arma 2 to a completely new level, Operation Arrowhead promises to deliver yet more of the highly authentic military simulation gameplay the series is famed for, while shifting the action to an all-new environment and adding key new features to Arma 2’s already vast palette.

Set in the fictional region of Takistan and taking place three years after the Arma 2’s campaign, Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead features three new world maps with radical new terrain; sandy deserts, a dense city with surrounding countryside and a rocky mountainous region. Also included in the standalone expansion pack is support for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to observe, strike and rescue from afar, along with a fully-modelled FLIR thermal imaging simulation with unprecedented realism to give the player advantages while working at night, going as far as to model vehicle engine heat, tyre friction and even glowing weapon barrels after being fired. A new campaign is included, with Bohemia Interactive taking the experience gained from its previous games, combined with real world events and political intrigue, to create a storyline that serves as a chilling reminder to the geo-political situation the world finds itself in on a constant basis. Other new features include a detachable backpack system for carrying more weapons and ammunition, and an overhauled optics system allowing keen marksmen to ‘zero in’ their scopes to account for ballistic fall-off.

ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead employs a third-generation engine benefitting from more than a decade of continual development and unique experience in implementing new technologies and procedures. Named the Real Virtuality engine, it is widely recognised as the premier platform for modern military simulations where realism and technical accuracy are crucial. Bohemia Interactive Studio’s Real Virtuality engine is used as a base for real-world training simulators implemented by numerous governments and militaries around the world including the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom Minstry of Defence and the Australian Defence Force.

ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead features in full:

• New Playable Content: New story campaign for both single and multi-player gameplay. Wide range of new tutorials, single scenarios and multiplayer modes.
• Massive Game World: Three brand new Central Asia-style large maps including expansive urban, desert and mountainous terrain, featuring a fully destructible and interactive environment.
• Extra Units and Vehicles: Multiple factions for all sides including US Army, United Nations, Takistani Army and Guerrillas making a collection of 300+ new units, weapons and vehicles.
• Ultimate War Simulation Experience: Fully integrates with the original ARMA 2 for unmatched warfare simulation.
• Unique Gameplay Elements: Detachable backpacks with equipment, advanced weapon optics, material penetration modeling, remote real-time simulation of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAV), freedom of decision and repercussive actions.

Arma 2: Operation Arrohwead will be released on 29th June exclusively for PC. For all the latest information please visit www.arma2.com"

Valve sent along a new teaser trailer and promo poster for "Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing", which is scheduled to be released sometime later today.

"The first game add-on for Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) brings the original Left 4 Dead (L4D1) Survivors down south for a meeting with the L4D2 cast, while delivering new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay for  the PC and Xbox 360.

The Passing also introduces a series of weekly game mode events dubbed "Mutations." These week-long runs of new gameplay modes range from "Realism Versus" mode to "Chainsaw Massacre," which gives all players chainsaws with an unlimited supply of gasoline. There are over 20 Mutations planned, each playable on all L4D2 Campaigns. Mutations are exclusively available to owners of "The Passing" DLC."

Paradox Interactive today announced a map making contest for "Majesty 2: Kingmaker", giving participants a chance to win a bundle of Paradox games and 100,000 currency points on GamersGate. A few map editor tutorials were also posted on Paradox's Youtube channel to get you started.

"Using the Majesty 2 map editor included in the latest patch, players are being invited to send in their best and most inventive creations up until the closing date of May 17th. All entries received will then be judged by Paradox Interactive, with the winner not only receiving eternal bragging rights, but also a bundle of Paradox Interactive games and 100,000 Blue Coins, the virtual currency of digital download store GamersGate. The winning map will then be made available in the Majesty 2 item store for other fans to download and play.

To enter the Majesty 2: Kingmaker map making competition just follow these simple steps;

1: Use the map editor to create a single player scenario

2: Visit the official contest forum page for submission details:https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472395

For a glimpse of the potential of the map editor visit: www.youtube.com/paradoxplaza#p/c/649EA7318F0BCE48

For more info, visit the Majesty 2 fan page on Facebook and www.paradoxplaza.com "

Wastelands Interactive announced the launch of an open beta for "Air Aces: Pacific".

"Test your skills over the Pacific Islands. Shoot down enemy planes, sunk enemy ships, destroy enemy buildings.

Watch the beautifully crafted Ocean and feel the adrenaline pumping into your veins when dogfighting for your life."

Interested gamers can apply for a key at the following website: https://airacesgame.com/ (down at the moment)

The 170MB beta client can be downloaded from AtomicGamer (more mirrors should be coming soon).

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of April 19th, 2010.

PC Games:

• The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom

Movies Opening This Week:

• Oceans
• The Back-up Plan
• The Losers

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases

• 44 Inch Chest [Blu-Ray]
• Avatar [Blu-Ray]
• Batman [Blu-Ray]
• Batman Forever [Blu-Ray]
• Batman Returns [Blu-Ray]
• Battleship Potempkin [Blu-Ray]
• Battlestar Galactica Seasons 2.0 and 2.5
• Beginning of the End
• Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This!
• Crazy Heart [Blu-Ray]
• Deadly Impact
• Drawn Together Movie: The Movie
• Fist of Legend [Blu-Ray]
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys – Season One
• Inside the Forbidden City – 500 Years of Marvel, History And Power
• Mammoth
• Merlin: The Complete First Season
• Minority Report [Blu-Ray]
• My Fake Fiancé
• Northern Exposure: Complete First & Second Seasons
• Orlock The Vampire
• Peacock
• Perry Mason: Season Five, Vol. 1
• Reefer Madness (75th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Ed.)
• Summer Hours [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• The Basketball Diaries [Blu-Ray]
• The Horse Boy
• The Lovely Bones [Blu-Ray]
• The Young Victoria [Blu-Ray]
• Transformers: Seasons Three & Four
• Vivre sa vie [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Whispering Smith – 25 Episodes
• WWII in the Pacific
• Xena: Warrior Princess – Season One

Valve today announced that "Left 4 Dead 2 The Passing", an add-on to the popular first-person horror survival game.

"The first game add-on for Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) brings the original Left 4 Dead (L4D1) Survivors down south for a meeting with the L4D2 cast, while delivering new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay for  the PC and Xbox 360.

The Passing also introduces a series of weekly game mode events dubbed "Mutations." These week-long runs of new gameplay modes range from "Realism Versus" mode to "Chainsaw Massacre," which gives all players chainsaws with an unlimited supply of gasoline. There are over 20 Mutations planned, each playable on all L4D2 Campaigns. Mutations are exclusively available to owners of "The Passing" DLC.

In addition, "The Passing" offers a new co-operative challenge mode of play, support for infected bot play in Versus, a new "uncommon common" zombie class (the fallen survivor), melee weapon (golf club), and firearm (M-60).

Available for 560 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360 and free on the PC, "The Passing" takes place just after the Dead Center campaign of L4D2. Set in a small town in rural Georgia, players assume the role of the L4D2 Survivors as they meet with the L4D1 characters.

Exclusively available for Xbox 360 and the PC, L4D2 sets a new benchmark for co-operative action games. The title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaws, frying pans, axes, baseball bats, and more.

With the AI Director 2.0, L4D's dynamic gameplay is taken to the next level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects, world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match the players' performance. The result is a unique game session custom fitted to provide a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience each time the game is played.

Finally, with new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original, featuring more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, new Survival maps, and the new competitive game mode, Scavenge.

 For more information, please visit www.l4d.com"

Paradox and Graviteam released a new patch for "Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943", improving the game's realism.

"The update turns up the realism dial from 10 to 11, going so far as to improve the algorithm that determines how grenades interact with tree branches. One should expect nothing less from a team whose developers previously worked on military simulations for the Ukrainian army.

Changes in patch #7E:

• Targets visible to a selected unit or vehicle are now highlighted.
• Grenades' interaction algorithm with tree branches has been modified.
• Detachments' visibility indication algorithm has been modified.
• Default camera position [Num+5] setup logic has been modified. Now the camera rotates north.
• Aircrafts' actions algorithm has been corrected.
• Wehrmacht operations have been modified.
• Some minor improvements and fixes have been implemented.
• Czech soldiers names updated for more historical accuracy."

More details and digital distribution patch instructions can be found in the Paradox forums.The 42MB patch is mirrored on AtomicGamer, FileFront, and Gamer's Hell. A trailer was released along with the patch:

Steam news has word of a new Trine update, which includes a new level titled "Path to New Dawn" among other updates.

"The major changes include:

• Added free DLC level – "Path to New Dawn" (available upon completion of the game)
  • Thanks for playing and supporting Trine!
• Added information about experience and secrets to the Inventory menu
• Added version numbr information to the main menu
• Fixed a respawn bug in Iron Forge level (in co-op) near the first gate"

New details and a trailer for "Special Task Force Missions: Khitomer Accord", an upcoming content update for "Star Trek Online", have been released.

"If you're looking for a challenge, look no further than our upcoming “Special Task Force” Missions – Raid Episodes, which combine bold storytelling with our toughest five-man missions yet.

STF: Khitomer Accord

• Finally, the mysteries of the Borg attack on Vega Colony are revealed! Why did the Borg attack there, and how was an unprepared Starfleet able to defeat them?
• Confront the Borg before they can use temporal anomalies to change the past of the Federation.
• Warp back into your own past, in the hours before the attack on Vega Colony.
• Discover a base where thousands of Borg drones are being held in stasis. What are the Borg's plans for this hidden army?
• Starfleet's not ready for the Borg. A defeat here could mean that the entire Alpha Quadrant falls. Balance the scales and fight the Borg for the preservation of the quadrant.
• Learn the fate of a missing Romulan empress."

Focus Home Interactive today released new screenshots from "Pro Cycling Manager 2010", giving viewers a glimpse at the next installment in the sports series by Cyanide Studios.

"These new images spotlight the graphic evolution made to this year’s edition of the popular sports game series. What a perfect occasion to discover Cyanide's game's main improvements. 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, more depth of field enhances the focus of the TV cameras that follow cyclists during each race, while "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!"

Flying lab software today released details on the upcoming "Power & Prestige" expansion, which is scheduled to be released this summer. In addition, players interested in beta testing the expansion can now apply at https://www.burningsea.com/page/ppbeta.

"Power & Prestige™ expands upon the game’s already robust real-time Conquest system, allowing players to not only capture ports on behalf of their parent nations, but to also become a Port Governor with great economic and strategic influence.

Pirates of the Burning Sea: Power & Prestige™ Feature List:

Port Governance

Become the Governor of a port! In Power & Prestige™, players and player societies can spend influence to elect Governors in ports throughout the Burning Sea. Once elected Governor, you can:

• Display your name under the port's name in the Open Sea, or choose to share the glory with their whole society. You can also set a message that greets anyone who enters the port.
• Take important economic and military actions such as setting the tax rate of the port, improving the port's infrastructure, reducing the port's unrest, and boosting the port's defenses.
• Draw a salary from the port's coffers.
• Display a special title while you are governor, and access an exclusive shop to purchase special governor-only items.

Content

• We are adding over 60 new missions to the game, using new techniques to produce content that is even more exciting and challenging.
• We have added new content to ensure that you can reach Celebrated reputation with your favorite player-friendly factions and be rewarded for it!
• We are introducing four new "Pirate Hunter" factions: the Board of Marque, the Men of War, the Salon d'Aventure and the Corsarios del Rey. Each of these new privateering factions has unique storyline missions available to all nations!
• Factions will have shops that offer outfitting, customizable clothing and sails to players who have earned sufficient respect.
• We’re adding new repeatable missions as part of Port Governance: Governor's Requests! Complete the bonus objectives to infuse your favorite port's treasury.

Avatar skill revision

We’ve giving our Avatar Combat skills an overhaul, and we’re separating out Brawling to be its own fighting school.

Ship Combat Tuning

We’re giving every ship in the game a significant revision, and we’re adding new features to help combat troublesome outfitting stacking!

• Career Improvements

Each of our five careers is getting a complete revision, which will include the addition of new skills allowing for more tactical gameplay.

• Character Lighting Improvements

Character lighting in towns and other environments has been overhauled to look more realistic."

A new multiplayer map titled "close combat" for "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat" has been released, adding on to the online play of the sequel by GSC Game World. This is the first of three new maps that will be released over the next few weeks.

"The events of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat unfold shortly after the end of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Having discovered about the open path to the Zone center, the government decides to hold a large-scale military "Fairway" operation aimed to take the CNPP under control."

The 5MB map can be downloaded from the bottom of game page on bitComposer's website.

2K Games today announced "XCOM", a re-imagining of the classic strategy game by Mythos, which is currently in development at 2K Marin.

"XCOM combines the strategic core of the groundbreaking franchise with a suspense-filled narrative and distills it into a tense and unique first-person shooter experience.

“With BioShock 2, the team at 2K Marin proved themselves as masters of first-person, suspenseful storytelling, and with XCOM they will re-imagine and expand the rich lore of this revered franchise,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Players will explore the world of XCOM from an immersive new perspective and experience firsthand the fear and tension of this gripping narrative ride.”

XCOM is the re-imagining of the classic tale of humanity’s struggle against an unknown enemy that puts players directly into the shoes of an FBI agent tasked with identifying and eliminating the growing threat. True to the roots of the franchise, players will be placed in charge of overcoming high-stake odds through risky strategic gambits coupled with heart-stopping combat experiences that pit human ingenuity – and frailty – against a foe beyond comprehension. By setting the game in a first-person perspective, players will be able to feel the tension and fear that comes with combating a faceless enemy that is violently probing and plotting its way into our world.

XCOM is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information on XCOM please visit www.XCOM.com."

An announcement screenshot has also been released: