PC Game News

EA and Mythic Entertainment have announced a new campaign for "Ultima Online" titled "Return to Britannia," which will be released in celebration of the 12th anniversary of the series.

"As part of the Return to Britannia Campaign, all former players are being welcomed back to UO, one of the longest-running MMORPGs in history, for unlimited free game play through October 16th. Closed accounts in good standing have been re-activated, and former players can log back into the game using their original user name and passwords.

New content available to returning players through the Return to Britannia Campaign includes Mondain’s Legacy, the 7th UO expansion which introduced the playable Elven race and dangerous, new dungeons to explore. Mondain’s Legacy was made available at no charge in August 2009 to existing subscribers and to new players as part of the Ultima Online 14-day free trial.

“We’re hoping that, as part of the Return to Britannia Campaign, former players will once again rediscover the joys of Ultima Online,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer for Mythic Entertainment. “UO was the first love of many MMORPG players, and it still holds a special place in their hearts after 12 glorious years. I think returning players will be pleasantly surprised to find a thriving and vibrant community from around the world ready to welcome back their former compatriots and include them in their ongoing adventures.”

Players returning to Ultima Online through the Return to Britannia Campaign can download and install the UO client for free at: https://www.uoherald.com/trial/. Players who no longer have access to their Ultima Online username and password can retrieve their account information at: https://support.ea.com."

Chris jumped on the "Batman: Arkham Asylum" game and already finished up a video review, which we posted this evening on YouTube. He got a chance to see the game at E3 2009 but wasn’t quite sure how Rocksteady was going to pull off the full experience. It’s obvious by his review that he is very pleased with the end result and calls the game a "must play." You can expect to see the full written review posted here hopefully sometime this weekend.

More video reviews are on the way.

Ubisoft’s Twitter feed has been updated with word that "Assassin’s Creed 2" has been delayed for the PC and is now scheduled to be released in quarter 1 of 2010. However, the game is still scheduled to be released on the consoles on November 17th.

"Assassin’s Creed 2 PC has moved to the first quarter of 2010. A bit more time for the dev team to deliver the best quality game to you."

Codemasters today announced that "Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising" has gone gold and is scheduled to ship to North American retailers on October 6th, PAL territories on the 8th, and to UK stores on the 9th.

"The violence, ferocity and carnage of war is brought to life as troops on both sides attack in authentic formations, use cover realistically and engage in ranged, close-quarters and vehicular combat. USMC forces fight through the airfield’s perimeter before infiltrating the Control Tower, eliminating enemy targets with rapid, ruthless aggression. The Marines then assume defensive positions in readiness for the PLA counter-attack. A Chinese WZ-10 attack helicopter is spectacularly blown out of the sky by a shoulder-launched surface to air missile, before the conflict culminates with PLA armour advancing across a battlefield surrounded by mortar fire and strewn with burning wreckage. This flashpoint is still white hot…

Powered by the award-winning EGO™ Game Technology Engine, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising will set the standard for accessible, authentic war gaming."

I don’t like posting stories about rumors because they are often false or very inaccurate. These rumors deal with two very large publishers in the industry so I thought I’d make an exception.

The first rumor is that THQ will possibly be bought out by a large company such as Time Warner or Viacom. This rumor seems plausible as THQ’s stock price has been deteriorating for a while as the company has reported losses for the past couple of years. In addition, they’ve spun off internal development studios such as Heavy Iron and Big Huge Games.

The other rumor seems very unlikely, which is that Microsoft might be interested in buying Electronic Arts. Reuters posted comments from two financial analysts who downplayed the suggestion:

"There’s talk that Microsoft might be interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. It’s unsubstantiated chatter, but it’s out there," said Frederic Ruffy, an options strategist at WhatsTrading.com in New York.

But Trip Chowdhry, an analyst at Global Equities Research, said Electronic Arts was not on Microsoft’s "radar screen" based on his industry contacts.

"Our contacts just don’t see Microsoft buying Electronic Arts, no synergies whatsoever, and also not Microsoft’s corporate primary focus right now," Chowdhry wrote in an e-mailed note.

Fallen Earth has announced the launch of its self titled MMORPG, which takes place in 2156, after the deadly Shiva virus and nuclear holocaust devastated the Earth. The game is scheduled to be in retail stores by September 30th but is available to purchase and download from Direct2Drive and Steam.

"The game is scheduled to reach retailers nationwide by September 30. Additionally, fans can download Fallen Earth digitally from Direct2Drive, Steam and the Fallen Earth store for instant access to live service today.

"The thoughtful development and diligence of our team is realized in a physical product, and that’s exciting," said Jessica Orr, product manager for Fallen Earth. "We are pleased to add another avenue of purchase for our fans in conjunction with our existing digital sales."

Fallen Earth combines the accuracy of first-person shooter style games with the depth and character advancement of a role-playing game. The game features a classless advancement system, a real-time crafting system in which players can make 95 percent of in game items, six unique factions, 70 towns and more than 1,000 square kilometers of zoneless territory to explore. Set in 2156 after the deadly Shiva virus and nuclear holocaust devastated the Earth, survivors are left with the choice to rebuild civilization and rise above the destruction or to embrace the chaos and tear down what’s left of the old world.

Fans can gain immediate access to the game today by digitally downloading through Direct2Drive, Steam and the Fallen Earth store. All purchases offer a free 30-day subscription. Check individual web sites for purchase offers and terms.

Updated Fallen Earth news is available at Twitter (@FallenEarth), on Facebook, and at www.fallenearth.com."

Ubisoft today announced "The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom," the next installment in the long-running real-time strategy series by Ubisoft Blue Byte, which is scheduled to be released this upcoming spring.

"The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom(TM) gives gamers the opportunity to choose the best way to lead their kingdom to victory, in a rich environment set in middle-Europe during the early Renaissance.

“The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom(TM) brings The Settlers® franchise to a new level in the strategy-game genre, relying on the key mechanisms that made the series a success while innovating and giving the gamers the opportunity to build their own thrilling experience.” said John Parkes, Marketing Director EMEA at Ubisoft

Developed by the Ubisoft Blue Byte studio located in Düsseldorf, Germany, The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom(TM) ties in with the tradition of the series success while bringing a fresh, modern and innovative strategy game, based on strong game mechanics and deep gameplay that are hallmarks of the highly acclaimed Settlers franchise. Players will easily become engaged in an exciting campaign, skirmish maps or multi-player challenges in a world of lush forests, open meadows, fast flowing rivers, and high mountains.

The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom(TM) main features:

• Rich gameplay mechanics: The deep building and production systems both allow gamers to expand their kingdom village by village, sector by sector, optimizing their creation by fine-tuning production chains and transport systems.
• Variety of gameplay: Gamers will be able to choose the best path to lead their kingdom to victory around three main pillars:
• Military: by building strong armies and defeating opponents with shear military power.
• Science: by increasing their influence in the monasteries, gamers will be able to have access to the most beneficial technologies.
• Trade: by occupying the best trade routes to become the wealthiest player on the map.

Depending on each style of play, gamers will be able to unlock a variation of new and unique possibilities, changing the way they build their own kingdom.

• An innovative victory system: new victory point system brings more tension and competition to the game. Victory points are awarded in many different ways depending on the choices gamers make throughout the evolution of their kingdom.
• Online Multiplayer: gamers will be able to play online and face opponents in classic adversarial and co-op teamplay modes. Online features include user-generated and downloadable content, in-game feeds, and various leaderboards.
• A new graphic engine and improved AI: A brand-new graphic engine will let gamers experience the beauty of their kingdom in a never-seen-before level of detail and more than a dozen AI profiles, each with unique behaviors, will add enhanced variety to the game like never before.

Make sure you visit the official website, www.thesettlers.com and find out more info on The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom(TM)."

   

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of September 21st. 2009.

PC Games:

• Aion
• Order of War

Movies Opening This Week:

• Astro Boy
• Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (limited NYC)
• Coco Before
• Fame
• I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (limited)
• Pandorum
• Paranormal Activity
• Surrogates

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• 30 Rock – Season Three
• Adam Resurrected [Blu-Ray]
• Albino Farm
• Away We Go
• Battle for Terra [Blu-Ray]
• Castle: The Complete First Season
• Clive Barkers Book of Blood [Blu-Ray]
• Filth and Wisdom
• Ghost Whisperer: The Complete Fourth Season
• Ghosts of Girlfriends Past [Blu-Ray]
• Gojira [Blu-Ray]
• Hot Fuzz [Blu-Ray]
• Jimi Plays Monterey * Shake! Otis at Monterey [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Law & Order: The Special Victims Unit – The Tenth Year
• Life on Mars: The Complete Series [Blu-Ray]
• Lymelife [Blu-Ray]
• Management
• Monsters vs. Aliens
• Naturo Uncut Box Set
• Observe and Report [Blu-Ray]
• O’Horten
• Paul Newman: The Tribute Collection
• Perrot Le Fou [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Shaun of the Dead [Blu-Ray]
• Shrink
• SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan [Blu-Ray]
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home [Blu-Ray]
• Star Trek The Original Series: Season Two [Blu-Ray]
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country [Blu-Ray]
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection
• Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection
• Taxi: The Complete Fourth Season
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – The Complete Second Season
• The Complete Monterey Pop Festival [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• The Girlfriend Experience
• The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
• The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 2
• The Mentalist: The Complete First Season
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre [Blu-Ray]
• The Wizard of Oz [Blu-Ray 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors Ed.]
• Top Fighters: 10 Film Collection
• Tulpan
• Ugly Betty: Season 3
• Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection
• Zombies of the Stratosphere

Square Enix today announced that "Order of War," the WWII strategy game by Wargaming.net, has been shipped.

"ORDER OF WAR is a historically accurate, World War II real-time strategy game that takes the genre to new heights. Massive-scale battles and epic warfare are brought to life with cinematic intensity as players are challenged to take command of vast numbers of infantry, tank battalions, heavy artillery and aircraft. Planning multi-pronged strategic assaults, players will navigate their ways through missions based on key historic events and operations from 1944.

The single-player mode can be played out in two campaigns. The first features American forces versus German forces as they land on the beaches of occupied France on D-Day. The second lets players change sides, commanding German forces in Poland battling against the mighty Soviet Army and in France battling American troops. The multiplayer mode can be played in either LAN or Internet mode, powered by GameSpy® Technology. With battles on six maps from campaign mode, multiplayer allows gamers to play as the Americans, Germans or Soviets with the objective of total domination of all Control Points and total annihilation of enemy units.

ORDER OF WAR is the first of several upcoming titles from Square Enix that are being developed through partnerships with North American and European development studios, including SUPREME COMMANDER® 2 by Gas Powered Games® and FRONT MISSION EVOLVED™ by Double Helix Games™. These titles mark the dawn of a new strategic direction for Square Enix, publishing a broader variety of western-developed games across different genres.

About ORDER OF WAR

In the summer of 1944, the Second World War entered its endgame when the Allies launched two major operations that would drive back German forces on both the Western and Eastern Fronts at once.

In the ultimate test of military strategy, ORDER OF WAR will challenge you to not only lead America’s finest to victory in the west, but also place you in command of German forces charged with repelling the Red Army’s seemingly unstoppable offensive in the east.

Even the keenest military minds will find that it’s one thing to make history, but quite another to change it.

Do you have what it takes to command?

Features

• Experience WWII warfare on an epic, cinematic stage, that truly captures the intensity and scale of the battlefield
• Take command of an entire armed force consisting of up to 1,000 soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and airplanes
• Players can choose between two different campaign modes offering completely different storylines, missions, objectives and environments
• Experience the unique dynamic camera that allows players to command troops over huge geographical scale whilst maintaining movie-like vistas and detail
• In-depth gameplay modes: two different campaigns, multiplayer Deathmatch and Skirmish

ORDER OF WAR is rated T (Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. ORDER OF WAR is available for the PC platform for $39.99. For more information on ORDER OF WAR, please visit the official website at https://www.orderofwar.com/.

To experience the single-player demo, “Road to Paris,” please visit: https://www.orderofwar.com/. Information on a multiplayer demo will be announced at a later time.

ORDER OF WAR is available at retailers today, as well as via download through Steam®: https://store.steampowered.com/. "

A new "Magnushev" trailer for "Order of War," giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming strategy game by Square Enix.

"In the summer of 1944, the Second World War entered its end-game when the Allies launched two major operations that would drive back German forces on both the Western and Eastern Fronts at once.

In the ultimate test of military strategy, ORDER OF WAR will challenge you not only to lead America’s finest to victory in the west, but also place you in command of German forces charged with repelling the Red Army’s seemingly unstoppable offensive in the east.

Even the keenest military minds will find that it’s one thing to make history, but quite another to change it.

Do you have what it takes to command?"

THQ today announced "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising," the next stand-alone chapter in the real-time strategy series by Relic, which is scheduled to be released this upcoming spring.

"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising features a new playable army, the traitorous Chaos Space Marines, and continues the epic journey of the Blood Ravens as they battle this new, more personal enemy. Developed by award-winning internal studio Relic Entertainment, Chaos Rising offers new single-player and co-op campaigns, a level cap increase from 20 to 30, more powerful war-gear and a suite of innovative multiplayer options. The exclusive first look preview of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising will be featured in PC Gamer’s December issue, available on newsstands by October 12.

“Chaos Rising delivers a tremendous amount of new content, including the powerful Chaos Space Marines, new multiplayer maps and units, a new level cap and a continuation of the Blood Ravens single player campaign,” said Kevin Kraff, vice president of global brand management, THQ. “Relic’s passion for the Warhammer 40,000 universe and talent in crafting innovative RTS games will ensure Chaos Rising is an engaging experience that will advance the franchise and genre.”

“Dawn of War II took intimate brutality to another level and introduced RPG-RTS hybrid gameplay,” said Jonathan Dowdeswell, general manager, Relic Entertainment. “The epic struggle between Space Marines and the forces of Chaos lets us take those two game-play elements and create an even more intense experience – this time, the battle is personal.”

About Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising

Set in the grim, war-ravaged world of Games Workshop’s vast Warhammer 40,000 science fiction universe, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising transports players into the midst of an intergalactic war between ancient enemies. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising introduces the Chaos Space Marines as a new playable army, continues the single player campaign from the original Dawn of War II, delivers all new wargear and raises the level cap from 20 to 30. Relic Entertainment will also deliver new multiplayer maps and new units for the Orks, Eldar, Tyranids and Space Marines. Veterans of the Dawn of War II single player campaign can use their existing squads’ accumulated wargear, abilities and experience to battle the traitorous Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion throughout 20 new missions. Newcomers to Dawn of War II will begin the single player campaign with a squad of Space Marines fully equipped to take on the malevolent forces of Chaos. Powerful Chaos tainted wargear can be equipped and used against your enemy, but doing so could lead to dreadful consequences. Will you risk corruption for power? For more information on Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising, please visit www.dawnofwar2.com."

2K Games today announced that "BioShock 2," the anticipated sequel in development at 2K Marin, will be released worldwide on February 9th, 2010.

"Currently in development for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows® LIVE, BioShock 2 will deliver two unique, yet intertwined experiences that form the perfect blend of explosive first-person shooter combat, compelling storytelling and intense multiplayer action.

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. Players step into the boots of the most iconic denizen of Rapture, the Big Daddy, as they travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and their own survival.

Multiplayer in BioShock 2 will provide a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, a premier provider of Plasmids and Tonics in the underwater city of Rapture that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the BioShock toolset to survive, as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a unique multiplayer experience that can only be found in Rapture.

BioShock 2 is currently in development at 2K Marin in collaboration with 2K Australia, Digital Extremes and 2K China for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows® LIVE. BioShock 2 will be available worldwide on February 9, 2010. This title is not yet rated by the ESRB.

For more information on BioShock 2 please visit www.bioshockgame.com, www.cultofrapture.com and www.somethinginthesea.com."

I was pretty excited to get into the M&B Warband beta a few weeks ago, and since I’ve figured out how to get the game running under Windows 7 (it took some doing) I’ve been on the beta server on a nightly basis squaring off against other squires & knights of great renown.

As you might expect from Taleworlds, Warband is still a bit rough around the edges. They’ve got some networking work to do- desyncs are fairly common at this stage, and it used to be that once at least every four or five rounds someone would desync, become invincible (but still visible on the map) and zoom up into the sky to hang there until they re-synced, crashed, or we changed the map. 

When it works, though, it really works. The maps they’ve made are perfect distillations of everything cool about normal singleplayer M&B scenes- the ruined castles, the pastoral fields, the bubbling brooks and leafy trees covering low hills. The graphics have been bumped up considerably (I’m not sure if they’re still using Directx 7) and, of course, the combat is killer. Just trotting out to battle with six or seven of your comrades in plate mail around you feels embarrassingly good in a dress-up Renn Faire kind of way. And I’m totally open to that kind of pleasure in the comfort (privacy) of my own home on a computer screen. 

They’ve got balance work to do with the weapons, but for the most part the actual fights in this game are even better than the ones in singleplayer- because the human you’re facing knows all the tricks too, so you can’t be too gamey about things. It’s all about conserving your shield, striking prudently, keeping distance or closing depending on your situation, using cover, etc. And when you catch your opponent’s guard down and knock him out with a killer overhead smack from your warhammer the neighbors are probably going to hear your Booya.

CDV Software Entertainment today announced a publishing agreement with Larian Studios to publish "Divinity II: Ego Draconis" in North America.

"Divinity II – Ego Draconis combines action-packed, varied gameplay with a deep, diverse quest structure that branches out into many directions, a world where every decision has a consequence on how the game proceeds.

“Divinity II – Ego Draconis is a perfect fit for the North American market, and we are very excited to be publishing it,” said Tom Gross, CEO of cdv Software Entertainment USA. “Larian Studios is a well-respected developer and for this reason we are very glad to be able to expand our US line-up this holiday season with such a fantastic product.”

For more information about Divinity II – Ego Draconis, which cdv USA will ship for Xbox 360 and PC this holiday season, please visit www.cdvus.com"

Codemasters today released a new video for "Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising," showing off the game’s competitive multiplayer modes.

"In Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s competitive multiplayer modes, players will be able to take on the role of either USMC or Chinese PLA troops in intense battles that will test their tactics and combat skills to the full. Whether it’s all-out war or special forces infiltration missions, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising provides a challenging and unique multiplayer experience for online warfare fans.

The explosive gameplay video† demonstrates the breadth of tactical choice, formidable weaponry and enthralling adversarial combat set to feature in the much-anticipated multiplayer sandbox shooter. With access to the full equipment and vehicle set plus AI fireteams, players will fight in pitched team-based battles surrounded by the devastating impact of contemporary weapon systems.

Combatants are shown using surveillance to recon targets, infiltrating buildings, engaging in close and ranged fire-fights and deploying vehicles including the AH6 and MI-17 ground attack helicopters and the M1A2 battle tank. The trailer brings to life Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising’s uniquely tense multiplayer experience, as the 220km² island of Skira becomes an authentic and spectacular online war zone where players can attack or be attacked from any direction."