PC Game News

Paradox Interactive announced that "East India Company: Privateer" has been released, an expansion to Nitro’s naval strategy game "East India Company."

"The expansion introduces players to the nebulous world of the privateer, who forges alliances based solely on a thirst for fortune and will go to any length to see that his job is fulfilled.

Featuring new campaigns and commander skills, East India Company: Privateer offers players even more intense action on the high seas.

East India Company: Privateer Features:

• Two new campaigns in which you play the game as a privateer and complete missions for different nations.
• New missions, including destroying forts, locating and either sinking or capturing enemy ships, blockading enemy ports and escorting friendly fleets.
• New commander skills to fit the life of a privateer, such as ‘False Colors’, which allows the player to get close to the victim without them perceiving a threat, and ‘Critical Hit’, which gives the player a chance to hit an enemy ship’s magazine, causing the enemy ship to explode.

East India Company: Privateer requires the original game East India Company, which is available at 50% off during a limited time at most digital download portals. The expansion East India Company: Privateer will be exclusively available for digital download at all major digital download portals for a suggested retail price of €9.99 and $9.99."

A new "BioShock 2" trailer has surfaced, giving viewers more of a glimpse of the anticipated upcoming prequel by Irrational Games.

"Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. You are the very first Big Daddy as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival."

BioWare today announced a 24 hour event titled "Dragon Age: Origins Wardens’ Quest," which will take place to celebrate the game’s launch on Wednesday.

"To celebrate the launch of this award winning new game, BioWare is inviting gamers and press from North America and across Europe to put their skills and endurance to the test as they embark on a tense, epic journey of discovery. On October 28, at 10:00 AM GMT, ten teams of four players each will live, fight and explore the game as the drama unfolds in their 24 hour quest to claim the grand prize. Each winning team member will receive $12,500. Official rules can be found at https://www.wardensquest.com.

“We’re extremely excited about the Dragon Age: Origins Wardens’ Quest – it’s going to be an awesome chance for gamers to band together to prove they’re the best at navigating the world of Dragon Age,” said Mark Darrah, Executive Producer, Dragon Age: Origins. “In the game, putting together a strong team is essential to success – in the same way the overall strength of the competing teams will decide who walks away with the money.”

There will be ten participating teams representing their countries: the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and a specially selected team comprised of the most loyal BioWare fans from around the world. The competition will take place in the Debating Chamber at County Hall in London, England. This space will provide a grandiose setting for the competitors to play the game, discuss strategy and battle for the grand prize as teams are eliminated throughout the day. Around the chamber, screens will be used to display leader board stats and show highlights. BioWare staff and costumed actors will further enhance the environment, theatrics and dramatics of the day.

In Dragon Age: Origins, players take the role of a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians. Now, as a rising evil threatens to destroy all life, it is up to players to unite the shattered lands and slay the corrupted dragon known as the Archdemon. To restore peace, players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind.

Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 3rd in North America on the PlayStation®3, the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. The game will ship on November 6th in Europe on PC, the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and later in November on the PlayStation®3. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

For more information on Dragon Age: Origins, please visit www.dragonage.com."

Uforia today announced a play test for its upcoming "Mercenary Wars," asking for player feedback and ideas before the final launch. The test runs from 2PM -9PM PST today and tomorrow.

"Anyone with a current or new registered Uforia account will be eligible to play in the beta.  The game will officially launch later this fall.

"The testing phase as we lead up to launch is very important to us so we are looking to our community to come and check out the game and give us their feedback on things we can improve upon," said Mike Min, Creative Director of Uforia. 

Unlike other first person shooter games available today, Mercenary Wars features a unique stat system that players can use to upgrade and customize their lifelike characters.  The combat in the game is designed to feel very realistic, while also allowing players to adjust their speed, accuracy, and health stats.  Mercenary Wars is set in the not so distant future in a world where order and society as we know them are a thing of the past.  The economies of the world have crashed and have been replaced with total chaos.  New alliances have been forged and the world is now controlled by well-trained groups of mercenaries.  Players must determine who to swear their allegiance to and fight side-by-side to the death, if necessary, in the quest to ensure becoming the new global powerhouse.

For more information, visit https://mercenarywars.uforia.com"

Paradox Interactive and Kerberos Studios have announced that "Fort Zombie" is set for a Halloween release and will be available on major digital distribution portals next Saturday.

"From an apocalyptic world full of undead, Kerberos Studios prepare for a weekend of horror as lite action/RPG title – FORT ZOMBIE is confirmed for a Halloween release.

Though the screams have died down and the immediate terror may have past, the sea of undead lurch forever forwards. Closer and closer they come. Make ready! For it is time to make a break from your latest hiding place. Grab whatever weapons you can find. Run and fight through the mass of undead. Make your way towards the last place of safety on Earth. Seek out precious caches of weapons, food and fuel, while rounding up the few people that remain. Rally them into a unit and begin the fight of your life.

Fort Zombie will be available on October 30, for purchase exclusively through all major digital distribution channels for the hauntingly low suggested retail price of $9.99 and €9.99. For more information, please visit: www.fortzombie.com."

A new trailer is also available on Youtube.

BioWare announced Friday that "Dragon Age: Origins" has gone gold for all platforms and will be available in stores on November 3rd.

"At launch, Dragon Age: Origins will be available on all three platforms with several packs of downloadable content (DLC) including The Stone Prisoner, the Blood Dragon Armor and Warden’s Keep; each further enriching the gameplay experience.

“We’re excited to confirm that all three versions of Dragon Age: Origins will be available to fans on November 3 in North America,” said Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager, RPG/MMO Group of EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. “The Dragon Age: Origins development team was able to polish the PlayStation 3 version to our high standard of quality and we are ready to deliver the richest and deepest role-playing fantasy experience across all three platforms.”

In anticipation of the game, players can begin their Dragon Age: Origins experience early by joining the BioWare Social Network — a destination to share in-game screenshots, review game data and share story information. Players can also download the free* to download Character Creator where players can create and customize a player character on the PC and then upload their character data and avatar to the BioWare Social Network before Dragon Age: Origins launches. The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator will provide players with the tools to create a character with a nearly endless amount of options. Players can download the character creator and get more information on the BioWare Social Network by clicking here.

In Dragon Age: Origins, players take the role of a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians. Now, as a rising evil threatens to destroy all life, it is up to players to unite the shattered lands and slay the corrupted dragon known as the Archdemon. To restore peace, players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind.

Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 6th in Europe on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. The European PlayStation®3 version will follow later in November. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

More information about Dragon Age: Origins and the pre-order and first purchase incentives can be found at www.dragonage.com."

Valve and Activision have announced that "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" will be shipping with Steamworks. This should be good news to some but won’t make up for the dire announcement about multiplayer made last weekend.

"All PC versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be powered by Steamworks, providing gamers with auto-updating, anti-cheat technology, Steam Achievements, and the recently introduced Steam Cloud.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for PC will include 50 Steam Achievements, enticing players to train a local militia and be "Back in the Saddle" or infiltrate the snowy mountain side base and earn the "Cold Shoulder." Fans may access the game from any computer. And through Steam Cloud, multiplayer game progress will be stored persistently and travel with the player."

Well, we haven’t heard anything about "METRO 2033" since 2006. THQ today re-announced the upcoming first-person shooter based on the novel of the same name being developed by 4A Games, which is scheduled to be released for the PC and 360 early next year.

"Developed by Ukrainian studio 4A Games, and built with the cutting edge, proprietary 4A Game Engine, Metro 2033 is set to deliver a gripping, atmospheric experience. The PC version supports NVIDIA® PhysX® technology to enhance the incredibly realistic worlds and provide even more immersive gameplay. Metro 2033 is scheduled for release in early 2010, and the first trailer is available to view on the official website at www.Metro2033Game.com .
 
"Metro 2033 will plunge gamers into a terrifying vision of the future," said Richard Williams, vice president of global brand management, THQ. "4A Games have worked closely with Dmitry Glukhovsky to deliver a unique game world, a compelling, cinematic story and an incredible, atmospheric  experience to rival anything in the category."
 
“Metro 2033 boasts some of the most advanced graphics and PhysX effects we’ve ever seen,” said Ujesh Desai, vice president of GPU business at NVIDIA. “From what we’ve seen so far, this will be a showcase PC gaming title for 2010!”
 
About Metro 2033

Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow, Metro 2033 is a story of intensive underground survival where the fate of mankind rests in your hands.
 
In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the earth’s surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age.
 
The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival, with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside.
 
You are Artyom, born in the last days before the fire, but raised Underground. Having never ventured beyond your Metro Station-City limits, one fateful event sparks a desperate mission to the heart of the Metro system, to warn the remnants of mankind of a terrible impending threat. Your journey takes you from the forgotten catacombs beneath the subway to the desolate wastelands above, where your actions will determine the fate of mankind.
 
About Dmitry Glukhovsky

Dmitry Glukhovsky, (born 12th June 1979) is a Russian author and journalist.
Glukhovsky’s first novel, Metro 2033, was originally made freely available via his own website in 2002 and quickly became a cult classic, attracting thousands of readers. A publishing deal followed, and Metro 2033 was eventually released in hard copy in 2005. It has since sold 450,000 copies in Russia, whilst online readers have topped 2 million. The rights have been sold to more than 20 countries, including Germany where the book has already been released to critical acclaim; and the UK, where it goes on sale later this year. Metro 2033 the game has been in development at 4A Games for just over two years, and the film rights are currently in negotiation with a number of Hollywood studios.
 
As a journalist, Dmitry Glukhovsky has worked for EuroNews TV in France, Deutsche Welle, and the Russian Television station, RTtv. He writes columns for Harper’s Bazaar, l’Officiel and Playboy.
 
Glukhovsky has lived in Israel, Germany and France and speaks English, French, German, Hebrew and Spanish apart of his native Russian."

   

Square Enix and Wargaming.net have announced the release of new downloadable content for "Order of War," in celebration of the game’s one month anniversary.

"ORDER OF WAR is the action-focused World War II strategy game developed by Wargaming.net for personal computer that focuses on the climactic summer of 1944 and brings realistic and historically accurate settings and scenarios to bear on intense, combat-focused strategy gameplay.

The downloadable content, which is free to all owners of ORDER OF WAR, is comprised of formerly exclusive bonuses that were available only through special pre-order offers at participating retailers.  With this update, all players will have identical content, regardless of where they purchased the game.

The free downloadable content update includes:

• Heavy Bomber Squadrons:  Addition of German Arado and Allied B-24 Marauder heavy bomber units to air support.
• Infantry Mortar Launchers:  Addition of infantry mortar units.
• Off-Map Heavy Artillery:  Addition of heavy artillery strikes to the air support menu.
• Survival Mission Mode:  New survival mission mode where you fend off waves of attacking enemies for as long as possible.

To receive the free downloadable content, players of ORDER OF WAR need only to start the game.  When the game connects to Steam, the Steam system will automatically download and update their install with the DLC items."

Futuremark revealed the minimum and recommended hardware specifications for "Shattered Horizon," the upcoming DirectX 10 only multiplayer FPS. Along with this information, a new trailer was released.

Shattered Horizon is a multiplayer first person shooter that immerses you in the cold reality of combat in space. Teams of players fight in zero gravity to control hollowed-out asteroids, huge fragments of Moon rock and the ruined remains of the International Space Station.

Speaking about the requirement for DirectX 10 Jukka Mäkinen, Head of Futuremark Games Studio, explained, “PCs are rapidly leaving the consoles behind when it comes to graphical capabilities. Because Shattered Horizon is being developed exclusively for the PC we haven’t had to make any compromises. Everything, from graphics and controls, through to the interface and dedicated server support, has been designed for PC gamers who love to play FPS games.”

Jaakko Haapasalo, producer at Futuremark Games Studio added, "With Windows 7 launching today, and some very affordable DX10 and DX11 cards entering the market, there are plenty of reasons for PC gamers to make the jump from XP. When they do, they’ll find that Shattered Horizon’s stunning space setting is a great way to show off their PC."

Minimum Requirements:
Shattered Horizon requires DirectX 10 on Windows Vista or Windows 7.
There is no support for Windows XP or DirectX 9.

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 / AMD Athlon64 X2 5600+
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT / ATI Radeon HD 3870
• GPU memory: 256MB
• Hard disk space: 1.5 GB
• RAM: 2GB
• Sound: Windows Vista compatible sound card

Recommended Requirements:
Shattered Horizon requires DirectX 10 on Windows Vista or Windows 7.
There is no support for Windows XP or DirectX 9.

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 / AMD Phenom II X4 940
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 / ATI Radeon HD 4870
• GPU memory: 512MB
• Hard disk space: 1.5GB
• RAM: 2GB
• Sound: Windows Vista compatible sound card

Winch Gate, or whoever is in charge of "Ryzom" these days, sent word of several upcoming events for Halloween.

"We invite you all to come celebrate Halloween with us on 31 October and 1 November! We’ve got many great events and surprises in store for you.

During the weekend you get a chance to prove how well you know Ryzom with a giant treasure hunt! You will have from Saturday midnight to Sunday midnight in order to be first on the ladder!

During all of Saturday (from midnight to midnight, GMT+1), come discover Atys like you have never seen it before!

Saturday evening, after 18:00 GMT, Animation and CSR Teams will be on Atys to create some live adventures for you! On program is: Mini-mek races, scavenger hunts, Lore knowledge tests, amazing fights, …

Sunday evening, after 20:00 GMT, will be a moment of looking back:
This Halloween, the Ryzom Teams invite you to experience Ryzom’s History like it is not, like it could have been, and live in history while it is written.
Either Join the Tyrant Jinovitch’s army, the Black Circle and their allies, the Corsairs of Wyler, the Prince’s forces or join the ranks of the Burning Faces, and come reforge the destiny of Hominkind.

More Information about these events here."

Frogwares has announced an in-game Halloween event for "Runes of Magic," where Halloween-themed items will be given away and a decorating contest will be held among other events.

"Over the next two weeks, the publisher will be giving away Halloween-themed in-game items, holding real world and in-game decorating contests, running special events and selling special Halloween bundles. Runes of Magic has more than two million registered users worldwide and over 750,000 in North America where Frogster America operates the game.

“Halloween is an important holiday for most MMO games, but we really get into the holiday spirit at Frogster America,” said Jeremy Monroe, director of marketing and business development at Frogster America, Inc. “With a lot of different events, giveaways and contests for the community, we want our players to know that we appreciate their support and we’re constantly working to make the game better and more enjoyable for our users.”

• In-Game Item Giveaways – October 23rd-October 31st
• Real World Halloween Decoration Contest – Now until October 30th
• Halloween Bundle Sales – Now until November 1
• In-Game Decoration (Screenshot) Contest – Now until Oct. 28
• In-Game Events – Now until October 31

For more inforation visit www.runesofmagic.com."

DreamCatcher and JoWood have released a demo for "Painkiller: Resurrection," giving players a chance to try out the upcoming sequel by Homegrown Games that’s scheduled to be released next week.

"Painkiller Resurrection for Windows is the next adrenaline-fueled chapter in the highly rated first-person-shooter series. Originally released in 2004, Painkiller has received critical acclaim and holds true to its pure shooter and fast-paced action roots. This new installment introduces a new Coop-Multiplayer campaign mode, new levels, new monsters and a whole new story. The demo offers a mere taste of the raw Painkiller action, check out improved shadows and texture resolution, moveable light sources, post processing, motion blur, ambient occlusion and all the carnage you can handle!"

The 1.3GB demo can be downloaded from AtomicGamer, FileShack, Gamer’s Hell, or Worthplaying.

Rober Bowling, the community manager at Infinity Ward who broke the disappointing news about "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s" new PC multiplayer setup, has made a post on his own website trying to clarify IWNET and the reasons for the switch. The following big questions still remain however (a summarization of questions being asked in forums and comments around the web).

• Is IWNET composed of dedicated servers around the world or is multiplayer pure P2P play? In either situation, how will players in smaller countries be supported?
• If there are no IW servers then why the premium $60 price? We’ve learned that the single-player portion of the game will be around the same length as the first, and now with less features than the previous installment it’s difficult not to see this as paying more for much less.
• Is LAN play supported?

The "Tropico 3" website has been updated with word of the game’s release on the PC.

"Populist or polarizing, it’s all possible with Tropico 3, a new strategy game for personal computers released today by Kalypso Media.

The true sequel to the original best-seller, Tropico 3 lets players take the reigns of a small, but strategically positioned Caribbean island and challenges them to stay in power for more than 50 years.

As the famed ‘El Presidente,’ players ward off political opposition while choosing to either lead their country into peace and prosperity, or rule their banana republic through fear as a tyrannical dictator."