PC Game News

Valve announced that "Torchlight" has been updated with support for the Steam Cloud and Steam Achievements.

"Runic's critically-acclaimed action RPG, Torchlight, receives a major update tonight adding support for Steam Cloud functionality and Steam Achievements. With Steam Cloud support, Torchlight saved games and characters now follow you to any PC. In addition to adding Cloud support, Torchlight players may now slash their way to over 60 Steam achievements. For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com"

Interwave Studios released a trailer for "Nuclear Dawn," the upcoming FPS built on the Source engine.

"After months of strenuous labours of love, gamers will be allowed a first glimpse in the war-torn world of post-conflict Earth, where two embittered factions of good men are blinded by hatred for their fellow survivors, and battle over the remnants of Earths great cities, for resources, survival, and revenge.

With compelling RTS and FPS gameplay elements, Nuclear Dawn delivers tactical, class-based gameplay that will let players sneak around the ruins of mans greatest accomplishments with Stealth units, or just crush the rubble underfoot with the powerhouse Exo walking tank. Tomorrows generals will take the Commanders seat, and support their fellow players with outposts, defensive structures and fortresses to protect precious resource points.

From nanotech-enhanced blades to portable siege weapons, the arsenal of Nuclear Dawn is no less impressive than its tactical gameplay options, and mastering the use of each weapon will yield true supremacy on the battlefield. The game is powered by Valve's Source engine."

Paradox expands its strategy genre portfolio with the acquisition announcement of AGEOD.

"This acquisition merges two titans of the strategy gaming community and adds a variety of upcoming titles to the expanding Paradox Interactive portfolio.

“We have played and enjoyed AGEOD’s titles for years and greatly respect what they have achieved as a development studio. We see this acquisition as an opportunity to make AGEOD’s titles accessible to a wider audience on the global market,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “AGEOD will continue to operate as a self-run partner studio, with its own line of products based on the AGE-engine and its own development team while Paradox will assist with our publishing resources and networks,” Wester continued.

“This alliance will allow AGEOD to expand our audience and availability via Paradox’s worldwide network as well as obtain skills and expertise that our limited means prevented us from achieving on our own,” Philippe Thibaut, lead game designer and co-founder of AGEOD noted. “We will concentrate on our core expertise of product development and be able to offer our customers brand new strategy games as early as 2010, with the same level of care and dedication that we have for the past 5 years.”

Philippe Malacher, Head of Development and co-founder of AGEOD, added, “We are confident that, ultimately, all strategy game customers will be the primary beneficiaries of this partnership that will allow us to build more extensively on our past successes and on Paradox’s invaluable preponderance on the marketplace.”

The first title to release under this new alliance is Rise of Prussia, scheduled for a Q1, 2010 release. For more information, please visit www.ParadoxPlaza.com, follow on twitter @pdxinteractive and join the commununity on the Paradox Facebook fan page. "

Paradox today announced that an upcoming patch will add a map editor to "Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim."

"Subjects of the royal lands of Ardania can look forward to an expanded adventure with an upcoming patch, and for the first time, a free map editor that enables the loyal subjects of the Majesty 2 community to create their own missions and battles for themselves.

Upcoming Patch
A third patch is in the works which will include fixes and updates, as well as a much requested randomization feature. With the patch, it will be possible to assign randomization to the original campaign maps. Randomization will be added to items in treasure chests, non-quest monster dens, the special zones for trading posts, and temples.

Brand New Map Editor
As a reward to those looking to further control the magic with their own hands, Paradox and 1C: Ino-Co plan to open up the game and provide endless replayability with the release of an official Majesty 2 map editor. This mission creator toolset will enable savvy players to take full advantage of the soon-to-be incorporated additions and create their own custom adventures to truly shape their own destinies.

Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim is available in retail and for digital download on all leading digital distribution platforms. For more information about Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim, please visit https://www.majesty2.com or follow the game on Twitter @majestygame."

Capcom released a new trailer for "Dark Void," giving players a look at dog-fighting in the upcoming action adventure game by Airtight Games.

"Dark Void is a sci-fi action-adventure game that combines an adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and ground-pounding combat. Set in a parallel universe called “The Void,” players take on the role of Will, a pilot dropped into incredible circumstances within the mysterious Void. This unlikely hero soon finds himself swept into a desperate struggle for survival, joining forces with a rebel human group called The Survivors. Trapped in the Void, these resistance fighters are battling to hold off a mysterious alien race that plans to threaten Earth."

The "Post Script" team today announced the release of the first episode of the experimental "Half-LIfe 2" modification.

"In it, players can explore the remains of a town destroyed by its own tragedy, while solving environmental puzzles and uncovering the mystery of how, somewhere along the line, the whole world fell out of existence completely.

Despite being built in a first-person shooter engine, Post Script is a slow-paced adventure with a focus on exploration and discovery. Episodes last between five and 30 minutes, depending on the playing style of each individual.

A further four episodes are planned for the coming months.

Post Script can be downloaded for free from https://postscriptmod.wordpress.com/ or https://www.moddb.com/mods/post-script/downloads. An installed copy of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is required."

A new "Battlefield: Bad Company 2" trailer has been released, this time showing off gameplay from the Panama Canal map.

"In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the 'B' company fight their way through snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages. With a heavy arsenal of deadly weapons and a slew of vehicles to aid them, the crew set off on their mission and they are ready to blow up, shoot down, blast through, wipe out and utterly destroy anything that gets in their way. Total destruction is the name of the game, delivered as only the DICE next generation Frostbite™ engine can. Either online or offline, enemies will soon learn there is nowhere to hide."

A new "Mass Effect 2" trailer has been released, giving players more of a look at the anticipated role-playing sequel in development at BioWare.

"The Mass Effect trilogy is a masterful science-fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life forms and mysterious uncharted planets. In this dark second chapter, Saren's evil army of Geth soldiers has just been defeated, and humans, still struggling to make their mark on the galactic stage, are now faced with an even greater peril…"

Paradox today announced the release of  "Europa Universalis III: Heir to the Throne," a new expansion in the series.

"The historical strategy game features new content and features across the board including:

• Brand new Casus Belli system, where wars have specific goals from start to finish.
• Monarchs now belong to dynasties, with new influence on the diplomatic model.
• Increased Holy Roman Empire and Papacy options for more powerful ruling
• New diplomatic options for Merchant Republics
• Enhanced "Cultural Tradition" and recruitment of specific advisor types

Europa Universalis III – Heir to the Throne requires the original Europa Universalis III game and the previous two expansions in order to play. Europa Universalis III Complete owners are set, as it contains everything you need in order to play the game.

Europa Universalis III Complete is available with a 40% discount throughout December at: https://www.gamersgate.com/DD-EU3COM/europa-universalis-iii-complete

Become a part of the Europa Universalis community by joining the newly created Europa Universalis fan page on Facebook, where 3 copies of the game will be given to the fans. Visit https://www.europauniversalis3.com/ for more information about the game."

Revealed at the Spike Video Game Awards, Activision and United Front Games have now officially announced "True Crime," an upcoming open-world action game.

"Built from the ground up by developer United Front Games to look, feel and play like a true Hong Kong action flick, True Crime follows the story of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong's notorious Triad crime syndicates. The title was revealed exclusively this past Saturday, December 12th during Spike TV's 7th Annual "Video Game Awards 2009" show.

As a newly hired thug within the Triad organization, Wei must do whatever it takes to stay undetected and survive, balancing his moral duty as a cop with the objectives of the assignment. In order to ascend the ranks of the underworld, gamers will engage in visceral, fast-paced martial arts combat and explosive gunfights, along with high-octane driving sequences and acrobatic free-running chases as they go deeper and deeper undercover.

"We've been waiting for the right story and opportunity to bring True Crime to a new generation of gamers in 2010," said Maria Stipp, EVP and GM of Owned Properties, Activision Publishing. "United Front Games has the vision to bring this new undercover game experience to life, where fans will play out their own epic Hong Kong action thriller!"

"We're excited about the opportunity to deliver a complete reboot of the True Crime experience," said Stephen van der Mescht, Executive Producer at United Front Games. "As our Spike TV VGA reveal trailer shows, we are dedicated to creating both an exceptional open-world gameplay experience through our combat, free-running, shooting and driving mechanics, as well as a rich story with memorable recurring characters. We want players to feel like an undercover cop experiencing the moral dilemmas and life and death situations of the HK underworld."

Set in Hong Kong, True Crime takes gamers through diverse neighborhoods, ranging from the high class Central HK to the bustling fish markets of Aberdeen and beyond in a wide variety of story missions and sandbox activities. The game also introduces handfuls of intriguing characters for gamers to interact with as they navigate through a truly unique and dangerous city.

Gamers can go undercover and "become one of them" when True Crime arrives in Fall 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Games for Windows®. The game is currently rated "RP" (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

For more information on True Crime, please visit the official game web site located at www.truecrime.com."

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray Releases, and movies opening the week of December 14th, 2009.

PC Games:

• Europa Universalis III: Heir to the Throne

Movies Opening This Week:

• Avatar
• Crazy Heart (limited)
• Did You Hear About the Morgans?
• Nine (limited)
• The Young Victoria (limited)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• Cake Boss
• Collision
• Dominick Dunne: After the Party
• George Lopez: Tall, Dark & Chicano
• G-Force [Blu-Ray]
• Herb & Dorothy
• Ice Road Truckers: The Complete Season Three
• Inglourious Basterds [Blu-Ray]
• La Boheme: The Film [Blu-Ray]
• Murder by Decree
• Rich in Love
• Robot Chicken: Season Four
• Roller Derby Chronicles
• Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 3
• Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 3 [Blu-Ray]
• Taking Woodstock
• The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
• The Group
• The Hangover [Blu-Ray]
• The Headless Woman
• The Maxx: The Complete Series
• The Mel Brooks Collection
• The Other Man [Blu-Ray]
• The Paper Chase: Season Two
• The Sherlock Holmes Collection
• The Tudors: The Complete Third Season
• Trapeze
• Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie

Electronic Arts announced that the new "Medal of Honor" will part ways with the previous World War II setting and will take place in war torn Afghanistan.

"Medal of Honor, an all-new first-person shooter game, will introduce the Tier 1 Operator: a relatively unknown entity directly under the National Command Authority who takes on missions no one else can handle. The development team has been working closely with Tier 1 Operators from the US Special Operations Community since the earliest stages of development to create the most authentic modern war experience. Inspired by real events, Medal of Honor reveals the mission of today’s most elite soldier – his will, his mindset and his uncompromising professionalism.

Medal of Honor is being built with a best-in-class single-player campaign. The Medal of Honor development team at EALA has been hand-selected by the studio leadership of General Manager Sean Decker, Executive Producer Greg Goodrich and Senior Creative Director Rich Farrelly. To compliment the single-player experience, EALA has enlisted the multiplayer expertise at EA DICE. This team will develop the multiplayer experience of Medal of Honor. These two studios are coming together to deliver a world-class Medal of Honor that is poised to re-set and re-boot the franchise for a new generation.

“When we first set out to reinvent Medal of Honor, we wanted to stay true to its roots of authenticity and respect for the soldier but bring it into today’s war. The Tier 1 Operator is the most disciplined, deliberate and prepared warrior on the battlefield. He is a living, breathing, precision instrument of war.” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer, Medal of Honor. “We are honored to have the rare opportunity to work closely with these men to create a game that shares their experience.”

“EA has always been an advocate for telling the soldiers’ story. The new Medal of Honor follows that tradition. We felt it was important to tell the story of today’s war and today’s elite soldiers via today’s most relevant medium – videogames,” said Sean Decker, VP and General Manager of EALA. “We are so proud to bring together two powerhouse development teams to make this game a reality; EA Los Angeles and EA DICE. Medal of Honor promises to be an unforgettable entry in the modern shooter genre.”

Tune in to Spike TV’s 2009 Video Game Awards on Saturday, December 12 at 8pm PST for a world-premier first-look at Medal of Honor.

Follow us on twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/medalofhonor. Become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/medalofhonor. For additional information and news, visit www.medalofhonor.com"

Valve today announced "Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing," an upcoming add-on to the popular co-op survival horror FPS.

"Targeted for release in early spring, "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.

In addition to the new co-operative campaign and associated narrative, "The Passing" will include new arenas for Survival, Versus and Scavenge mode and introduce a new co-operative challenge mode of play. The Passing will also include a new "uncommon common" zombie class, melee weapon, and firearm.

"The Passing will become the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story, as all the Survivors are being called together in one campaign," said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve. "It will also be a huge offering of new gameplay content, with something new for every game mode plus a new uncommon common and weaponry."

Exclusively available for the Xbox 360 and 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.

Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing is targeted for release in early spring for the PC and Xbox 360. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

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

2K Games and YAGER have announced "Spec Ops: The Line," a new third-person military shooter. No word if this will be based on the old series by Ripcord but there is a trailer on the official site.

"Spec Ops: The Line unfolds within the destroyed opulence of Dubai. Once the playground for the world’s wealthiest elite, Dubai has fallen victim to a series of cataclysmic sandstorms. The city’s ultramodern architecture lies half-buried under millions of tons of sand. The very sand that blankets the city plays a marquee role in altering combat situations and serves as a powerful but unpredictable force that will both help and hinder players throughout the course of the game.

While most people have fled the now-barren wasteland before the sandstorms swept through, U.S. Army Colonel John Konrad and his loyal squad remained behind to protect those incapable of escape. Unable to reach anyone in Dubai after the storm hit, the U.S. Army feared Konrad and his team dead until they picked up a weak distress signal and launched a rescue operation. As U.S. Army Captain Martin Walker, you and your elite Delta Force team are sent to infiltrate the treacherous region to bring Konrad home. Players will experience “The Line”, that razor's edge known only to men who deal in war. It is the line they cross when death and duty become one and the same. It is the end — of self and sanity — when their duty is done and only they remain.

“The production of Spec Ops: The Line has been a tremendous experience for YAGER,” said Timo Ullman, managing director at YAGER. “Our close collaboration with 2K Games over the course of this production has allowed us to achieve our goal of giving players a unique and exciting gaming experience in Spec Ops: The Line. YAGER’s goal is to always push the boundaries of what is possible and exceed players' expectations in every production.”

Spec Ops: The Line underscores 2K’s commitment to deliver original and innovative single and multiplayer experiences to current generation consoles and PCs. Spec Ops: The Line will take that commitment to the next level by providing players with a new and exciting multiplayer experience that offers a unique perspective on the single-player storyline.

Spec Ops: The Line is not yet rated by the ESRB. The title is planned for release during Take-Two’s 2011 fiscal year, which begins on November 1, 2010. For more information, please visit www.specopstheline.com."

BioWare revealed the voice talent for the upcoming "Mass Effect 2" and put out a trailer to complement the announcement.

"The game features Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”, “Apocalypse Now”), 2009 Emmy Award-winner Shohreh Aghdashloo (“House of Saddam”), comedic actor Seth Green (“Austin Powers”), “Chuck” stars Yvonne Strahovski and Adam Baldwin, Keith David (“Crash”) and sci-fi favorites Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”), Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix”).

“Emotionally engaging narrative is a key design pillar for BioWare, and the top-notch voice talent in Mass Effect 2 helps drive this goal,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “Credible, powerful personalities are vital to delivering a compelling story experience in BioWare’s games, and we have assembled an amazing ensemble cast that surpasses the very high bar set in the original Mass Effect!”

Esteemed actor Martin Sheen stars as the mysterious Illusive Man who commands Cerberus, a secretive paramilitary organization dedicated to protecting human interests in the galaxy. Yvonne Strahovski plays deadly Cerberus operative Miranda Lawson, who has been genetically engineered for superior mental and physical traits. Returning to the cast from the original Mass Effect is Seth Green as Joker and Keith David as Admiral David Anderson. And rounding out the vocal roster are Tricia Helfer as EDI, the voice of the new Normandy; Carrie-Anne Moss as Aria T’Loak, the crime lord who rules the planet Omega; Shohreh Aghdashloo as Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay; Michael Hogan as Captain Bailey; Adam Baldwin as Kal ‘Reegar; and Michael Dorn as Gatatog Uvenk.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/masseffect2. For more information on Mass Effect 2, go to https://masseffect.bioware.com/. "