PC Game News

A demo for "Europa Universalis III: Heir to the Throne" has been released, giving players a chance to try out the upcoming third expansion.

"The demo gives players a timed experience of what the full expansion is set to offer, with the option to play as one of eight major European powers between the turbulent years of 1492 and 1550 – The Age of Discovery – an era that would forever change the future of the world. Vast unchartered territories await even as the cracks widen in the unity of the Catholic Church and the Mohammedans march on Vienna.

Choose Castille or Portugal and discover the Americas. Expand your trade league with Venice or the Hansa. Experience the rivalry between Bohemia and Austria as they vie for control of the Holy Roman Empire. Conquer Europe with France, or unite the British isles under the Tudor dynasty."

The 265.5MB demo can be downloaded from AtomicGamer, FileShack, Gamer's Hell, Gamer's Gate, StrategyInformer, or Worthplaying.

bitComposer and GSC Game World have announced that "S.T.A.L.K.E.R..: Call of Pripyat" will be released worldwide in February.

"The game is published by bitComposer Games and was created by the Ukrainian developer GSC Game World. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is the follow-up to the highly successful S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The successful S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, and the newest episode seamlessly connects to Shadow of Chernobyl. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is one of the first PC games supporting the new DirectX®11 technology.

The release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat for Windows PC is scheduled for February 2010 in English, French, Italian and Spanish language. For more info on bitComposer Games products, visit www.bit-composer.com

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat takes PC gamers once again into the deadly area surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion of 1986. Cordoned off by the military, this highly contaminated “Zone” is scoured by treasure hunters known as s.t.a.l.k.e.r.s, who search the irradiated lands for unique artifacts. In the role of Agent Alexander Degtyarev, the player must go undercover as a S.T.A.L.K.E.R., investigating the mysterious disappearance of five military helicopters while standing against various S.T.A.L.K.E.R. groups."

Stardock today announced "Sins of a Solar Empire – Trinity," a bundle package that includes the original game along with the "Entrenchment" and "Diplomacy" expansions.

As a special incentive, those who pre-order Trinity will gain access to the current Diplomacy beta via Impulse.

Sins of a Solar Empire – Trinity takes players through 25 years of warfare beginning with the real-time strategy game that started it all. In Sins of a Solar Empire, the independent Trader Worlds are forced to unite in order to defend themselves from the alien Vasari menace and the return of their exiled brethren, the Advent. The Entrenchment expansion jumps forward 15 years to a time of stalemate between the factions when they fortify the territories they control with powerful starbases, mine fields and advanced defenses. Diplomacy takes the player to the current day, when the constaint toil of war has taken its heavy toll. Some speak of peace, while others see such initiatives as openings to destroy their enemies through subtler means.

Sins of a Solar Empire – Trinity is scheduled for release on February 9, 2010 and can be pre-ordered digitally for $39.99 USD. The game will also be available at retail stores throughout North America on release. To order Trinity, just visit the Store.

Gearbox has released a downloadable content pack for "Borderlands" titled "Borderlands: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned."

"The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is the first Add-On for Borderlands with new enemy types, new missions, and new … surprises.

The Jakobs Corporation would like to invite you to experience the splendor of a corporate owned small town known as Jakobs Cove. Any rumors you may have heard about the "undead" walking our streets are completely preposterous and we officially deny them all. If those rumors turn out to be true simply purchase a firearm from the conveniently located Jakobs Brand Vending Machines and aim for the head. Also, would you mind saving our employees? (Non-union only please)

• 5 New Areas to Explore
• Dozens of New Missions
• New Enemies to Eviscerate"

Paradox released a new trailer for "Lionheart: Kings' Crusade," the upcoming real-time strategy game by Neocore games.

Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade invites players to rewrite history through controlling and upgrading leaders and their armies, guiding various historical factions through political events, collecting relics, and unlocking new content in a feature-rich campaign set to take on the strategy genre by force in Q2 2010.

Follow Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade @lionheartgame on twitter and visit the games Facebook page. 

Pandemic today announced the release of "The Saboteur," the open world action adventure title.

"The Saboteur is set in World War II France and takes players through the seedy underbelly of Paris as hero Sean Devlin sets off on a revenge mission. Inspired by a true story, The Saboteur stars Sean Devlin who, motivated by personal revenge, fights, climbs, and races through open-world Paris, sneaking into the heart of the Nazi operations and sabotaging their every move. With the help of the French Resistance, the British intelligence, an arsenal of weaponry, street smarts and brawn, players will exact revenge on those who get in his way. From derailing trains and blowing up zeppelins to scaling famous Parisian landmarks, this action hero uses a broad range of weapons, explosives and vehicles to get the job done.

As Sean takes down enemies, the citizens of Paris are empowered to resist the tyrannical Third Reich and their eyes open to the colorful world around them. This innovative mechanic, called the ‘Will to Fight,’ will change the way Paris is seen and felt – from a dark and oppressed policed state to a bright and inspired world where the citizens fight back. As the player executes acts of sabotage against the occupying force, color returns to the stylized black and white world – both figuratively and literally.

The Saboteur is available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PC and is rated “M for Mature” by the ESRB and “18+”by PEGI. For more information on The Saboteur, please visit https://www.thesaboteurgame.com or get the latest news on www.twitter.com/pandemicstudios."

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of December 7th, 2009.

PC Games:

• Dirt 2
• Tales of Monkey Island
• The Saboteur

Movies Opening This Week:

• A Single Man (limited)
• Invictus
• The Lovely Bones
• The Princess and the Frog
• The Slammin' Salmon

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• 5 Fingers
• Airmen and the Headhunters
• AK 100: 25 Films of Akira Kurosawa [Criterion Collection]
• Beautiful Losers
• Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon [Blu-Ray]
• Death Warrior
• Fugitive: Season Three, Vol. 2
• Get Smart: Season 5
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [Blu-Ray]
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [Blu-Ray]
• Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer [Blu-Ray]
• Jonny Mercer: The Dream's on Me
• Julie & Julia [Blu-Ray]
• Knut [Blu-Ray]
• Legendary Gangsters: 5-Movie Collection
• Leonard Bernstein: Omnibus – The Historic TV Broadcast
• Lost: The Complete Fifth Season
• Moonlight Serenade
• Perry Mason: Season Four, Vol. 2
• Perry Mason: Seasons 1-4
• Public Enemies [Blu-Ray]
• Rescue Me: Season 5, Vol. 2
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Season Six, Vol. 1
• The Alphabet Killer [Blu-Ray]
• The Brigitte Bardot Classic Collection
• The Cove
• The Dog Who Saved Christmas
• The First Saturday in May
• The Jerry Lewis Show Collection
• Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks
• While She Was Out [Blu-Ray]
• World’s Greatest Dad [Blu-Ray]

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of "East India Company: Battle of Trafalgar," a new add-on in the series by Nitro Games.

"Set in late 1805, during the height of the Napoleonic wars, East India Company: Battle of Trafalgar recreates the legendary naval battle fought between the British Royal navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies. Players have the opportunity to take control of historically accurate ships from all three navies and serve as key commanders in a simulation of the most decisive British naval victory of the war.

East India Company: Battle of Trafalgar features:

• A reenactment of the Battle of Trafalgar from both the British and Franco-Spanish perspective
• Historically accurate ships from all three navies
• Five real-life naval commanders from the era, including Admiral Lord Nelson, French Admiral Pierre Villeneuve and Spanish Admiral Federico Gravina
• Take control of naval battle groups comprised of the greatest warships of the Napoleonic era
• Real-world naval strategy of the era accurately recreated in the battle AI

East India Company: Battle of Trafalgar requires the original game East India Company and is exclusively available for digital download at all major digital download portals for a suggested retail price of $9.99 and €9.99.

For current East India Company promotions please visit https://www.gamersgate.com/DD-EICG/east-india-company

For more information on East India Company: Battle of Trafalgar, visit the official East India Company website at https://www.eic-game.com."

A new "Dark Void" trailer has been released, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming action adventure game by Airtight Games.

"Dark Void is a new sci-fi action-adventure game that combines an adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and on-foot combat set in a parallel universe called "The Void". Players will take on the role of Will; a pilot dropped into incredible circumstances while on a routine air cargo flight crashes in the Bermuda triangle leading him to be trapped in the Void. This unlikely hero soon finds himself swept into a desperate struggle for survival at the head of a 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."

A new "Mass Effect 2" video has surfaced, which highlights the engineer class in the upcoming role-playing sequel by 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…"

Electronic Arts and Visceral Games have announced "Dead Space 2," a new sequel in the series.

"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.

“Like so many gamers worldwide, we love the Dead Space franchise and are very excited to announce a new game in the series,” said Nick Earl, Senior VP and Group General Manager at EA. “Visceral Games is quickly becoming known for delivering high-quality, action-packed games. Dead Space 2 is on target to deliver a jaw-dropping experience gamers won’t soon forget.”

“We’re thrilled to jump back into the series, making the next chapter in Isaac’s journey. The infection continues to spread throughout space and our hero Isaac Clarke is the only person able to contain it. There are still loads of necromorphs that need killing!” said Steve Papoutsis, Executive Producer of Dead Space 2. “In Dead Space 2, not everything is exactly as it seems. Expect plot twists that will surprise you and a huge cast of twisted, disgusting monsters that are sure to scare the daylights out of you.”

Originally launched in 2008, Dead Space quickly became one of EA’s top rated wholly-owned intellectual properties. With close to 100 industry awards and an average critic score of 89*, Dead Space became a hit with horror and videogame fans worldwide. In 2009, EA launched Dead Space Extraction, a prequel to the original Dead Space that expanded the fiction and brought the franchise to a new audience base.

Dead Space 2 is being developed for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and on PC. This product has not yet been rated by ESRB or PEGI. Follow us on twitter at: www.twitter.com/isaacclarke. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/deadspace. For additional information and news, visit www.deadspacegame.com. "

A new trailer for "Guild Wars 2" has been released, revealing the game's different races in the anticipated MMORPG sequel by Areananet.

"Take the role of a noble human defender and fight for the survival of your people. Play a ferocious feline charr, carving a trail of conquest. Become one of the brilliant asura to study hidden knowledge and harness incredible magical technology. Assume the form of a shapeshifting norn, the massive battle-forged warriors from the far north. Explore the mysteries of Tyria as one of the sylvari, a mystical new race of plant spirits. From these five races, mighty heroes shall rise!

To set the stage for Guild Wars 2, this video introduces the five iconic heroes of each race, all voiced by accomplished actors. Logan Thackeray the human defender is voiced by Troy Baker (Fullmetal Alchemist, One Piece). Rytlock Brimstone the charr warrior is voiced by Steve Blum (Spectacular Spider-Man). Eir Stegalkin the norn is voiced by Jocelyn Blue (Invader Zim, Space Jam). Zojja the asura is voiced by Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, The Guild, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Caithe the sylvari is voiced by Kari Wahlgren (Wolverine and the X-Men, Aliens in the Attic).

Guild Wars 2 is a visually stunning MMO that will offer players the epic grandeur of a massive role playing environment as well as the challenge of intense player vs. player competition. Building on the success and popularity of Guild Wars, ArenaNet is creating a subscription-free MMO where players create their own personalized story in a richly imagined world where their actions have real consequences.

For more information about Guild Wars 2, including a streaming version of The Races of Tyria video, visit www.guildwars2.com"

VSTEP announced the release of "Agile Solution Super Pack," the eight free content pack for "Ship Simulator 2008," which is available through The Shipyard – the online shop for the game.

"All Ship Simulator 2008: New Horizons users will be able to download this new add-on pack for free and sail the vast multi-purpose freighter Agile Solution, enjoy new gameplay features and play exciting new missions. The Agile Solution Super Pack is created by the dedicated Ship Simulator Creator's Forum.

VSTEP will continue to release new high quality free add-on packs for Ship Simulator 2008 at the Shipyard on a weekly basis leading up to the release of the new Ship Simulator Extremes game in 2010.

To download the free add-on pack, visit the Shipyard."

Iceberg Interactive announced the release of "Dark Fall: Lost Souls," which can be purchased on from GamersGate or Impulse.

"Boxed versions can still be pre-ordered at the Iceberg web shop. The boxed version will be shipped from the Iceberg web shop early next week with the UK retail release on December 11th.

The dead are waiting. They have stories to tell. Tales of darkness, loneliness and despair. Be careful you do not join them, as it could be an eternity until the next curious visitor opens that old, rotten door, to find you within. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. What tale would you tell? Would you know how to explain what happened, that dark night when your curiosity got the better of you? Would you be able to speak its name… the ancient name… or would you simply warn the new arrival to beware… to beware the Dark Fall.
Features

• A brand new (and final) Dark Fall horror adventure.
• From the pen of Jonathan Boakes, author of The Lost Crown.
• Explore a derelict train station & hotel, abandoned since World War 2.
• A new game engine allows full exploration and movement.
• Physically interact with the eerie setting, to really ‘feel’ the place.
• Use light as your weapon and ally, to fight the darkness.
• Use Detective skills to solve an urban mystery.
• A hauntingly creepy stereo score that will chill and terrify.
• Explore the memories of the dead, in their own ‘nightmares’.
• Discover the true identity and power behind the Dark Fall itself.

For more information visit https://www.darkfallgames.com/"

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of "Elven Legacy: Magic," the third and final installment in the series.

"The era of Elven Legacy is coming to an end. A relentless wave of demonic magical energy has swept the world and has now reached the free city of Sylent. Powerless, the Masters of the Academy of magic are being driven insane. The Holy Inquisition acts swiftly to intervene in the seemingly hopeless cause of preventing the world’s slide into darkness and madness.

At the forefront is Alfred Brennock, the Archmage supreme, who alone is mastered in the full array of the arcane arts, and who alone can save the lives and the sanity of his academy pupils. Creating spells of untold power, Brennock faces the ultimate test of his will as he summons legions of mystical spectres and crosses half a world in a desperate attempt to stem the tide of evil!

Key Features:

• 15 new campaign missions
• A new hero and the return of heroes of old
• New tactical skills; armies of summons, and sacred dwarven runes
• Powerful new spells and artifacts that can drastically affect any given tactical situation if used correctly
• Bonus mission that continues the tales of heroes from Elven Legacy and Fantasy Wars

Elven Legacy: Magic requires the original Elven Legacy game and is exclusively available for digital download at all major digital download portals for a suggested retail price of €9.99 and $9.99. Visit the Elven Legacy website at: https://www.elven-legacy.com/"