PC Game News

Trion World Network has released new details, screenshots, and a trailer for "Heroes of Telara", the upcoming MMORPG.

"Heroes of Telara will immerse players in an extraordinary, evolving world on the brink of disaster. Amidst an era of devastating conflict, Telara calls for heroes to battle the hordes of chaos, conquer wild territories, and bring hope to a struggling civilization.

“With Heroes of Telara™, Trion proudly presents the first in a series of revolutionary video games on the Trion platform,” said Lars Buttler, CEO of Trion. “Trion is showcasing what server-based gaming can really give us: fun, beautiful, fully dynamic, massively social, ‘live’ video games.”

With server based gaming, Heroes of Telara™ can trigger extraordinary events challenging the player to overcome obstacles and embrace the role of hero. Using a unique class system that allows the players to play every character class in the game and choose a class specialty, or “subclass”, the hero will be well equipped to overcome these challenges. Combining this with an easy-to-learn combat system, players will be prepared to stand against the most powerful foes and hordes of enemies.

“We’ve built a spectacular world that’s completely alive and designed everything around the concept of players becoming heroes,” said Russ Brown, vice president, Channel One, Trion. “The ‘right hero for the right time’ is what this game is all about. And with our server-based Trion platform, we can launch massive events and epic encounters at will to challenge the player to step up and become the hero the world needs. It is our promise and mission to deliver awesome kick-ass gameplay in Heroes of Telara™.”

Heroes of Telara™ will also allow large populations of users to play together to truly deliver massively social online gaming. Heroes of Telara™ has been crafted from its inception to allow players to take full advantage of their adventuring time with friends and to make new alliances with other players. Heroes of Telara™ removes many of the technical and design barriers common in MMORPGs, allowing players to more easily share their adventures in the game with anyone, regardless of rank or skill level.

“What we’re showing at E3 will genuinely demonstrate our vision for the future of MMO gaming,” said Brown. “We’re creating beautiful, sweeping landscapes with epic conflict that deliver fun in a new way, every day.”

Heroes of Telara™ will be the first massively social MMORPG that will challenge the player to choose their strategy, master their fate and become the right hero at the right time."

       
       
       

New screenshots from "Trine" have been released, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming side-scroller action game by Frozenbyte.

"Trine is a fantasy action game where the player can create and use physics-based objects to beat hazardous puzzles and threatening enemies. Set in a world of great castles and strange machinery, three heroes are bound to a mysterious device called the Trine in a quest to save the kingdom from evil…

The gameplay is based on fully interactive physics – each character’s different abilities helps the player battle an army of un-dead and defeat hazardous contraptions. The player can at any time freely choose whoever is best suited for the upcoming challenge or puzzle: The Wizard is able to summon objects to help solve puzzles and create new ways to overcome obstacles, the Thief uses her agility and dead-on accuracy to swiftly surprise the monsters, and the Warrior unleashes mayhem and physical destruction wherever he goes."

       
       

The E3 hoopla begins as Valve today announced "Left 4 Dead", sequel to the popular first-person co-op horror survival game.

"Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC, L4D2 promises to set a new benchmark for co-operative action games and become one of 2009’s marquee titles.

 "A large part of how Left 4 Dead became 2008’s top-selling new IP on Xbox 360 and the PC was the custom-tailored gameplay made possible by the AI Director," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "With the knowledge gained from creating the original, new technology, and a passionate team, L4D2 will set a new benchmark for cooperative action games."

Set for release on November 17, the title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and more.

Introducing 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.

Featuring new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original with more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, and maps for Survival mode available at launch.

Supported by a $10+ million marketing campaign, Left 4 Dead has sold over 2.5 million retail copies since it was released in November of 2008. Left 4 Dead 2 is targeted for release on Xbox 360 and the PC on November 17, 2009, and will be launched worldwide with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign across TV, Outdoor, and Online.

"Left 4 Dead was backed by our most aggressive advertising campaign to date, and resulted in a top 5 showing on two platforms during holiday 2008," said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve. "Left 4 Dead 2 is a larger game and will be supported with even more consumer and retail advertising programs than the original."

Left 4 Dead 2 will be featured as the cover story on PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazines this month. For more information, please visit www.l4d.com"

Electronic Arts has announced that upon the launch of "Battlefield 1943" a community challenge will be issued that will unlock the Coral Sea map when the community reaches 43 million kills.

"When it ships this summer, Battlefield 1943 will include three maps (Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, and Wake Island) plus this fourth bonus map, all for $15.

Coral Sea is designed to showcase the intense battle in the skies, offering an all-new Air superiority game mode. The legendary WWII action this map provides will have players dog fighting in this airplanes-only map, proving once again DICE delivers on a first class online vehicle warfare experience better than anyone else! Players will be able to track the progress of their respective console communities at www.battlefield.com/1943.

Battlefield 1943 is a premium arcade title that delivers endless hours of 24-player First-Person Shooter (FPS) action on popular maps inspired by Battlefield 1942™. In addition to Coral Sea, Battlefield 1943 will also have players battling over three tropic locations: Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. These maps have now been updated with the DICE Frostbite™ engine, providing destructibility to the battlefield and leaving players with almost nowhere to hide. Gamers play as the US Marines or the Imperial Japanese Navy, competing by land, air and sea. They have the freedom to pick their path in battle – be it as a rifleman crawling through the trenches, a steel fisted tank commander, or a dog fighting ace pilot that rules the skies!

All four maps will be playable at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) at the intersection of West Hall & Concourse Walkway.

Battlefield 1943, this highly anticipated FPS game will be available on Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace (1200 MS Points) and PlayStation®Store ($14.99) this summer, and in September on PC."

I finally made some time to get another video review done and uploaded to our YouTube channel, this time for "Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor". Since my "Grand Theft Auto IV" Video Review, I have purchased a new Samson C03U Multi-pattern condenser microphone, so the audio quality should be much better this time around. I also wanted to have a good mic in case we ever decide to do a podcast. We’ve thought about doing a weekly news recap but we’re not sure yet.

I decided to start out this review with a clip from the "Causeway" single-player campaign, because numbers are really one of the main problems. Fighting with just one or two units that are super powerful just didn’t seem right for this series and the $30 price point seems much too high for what you get.

Firefly Studios has announced "Stronghold Kingdoms", an upcoming MMORTS in the medieval based series.

"Besiege the castle that’s never been taken, overthrow tyrants, bankroll your factions war effort, pillage your neighbour’s resources, peacefully raise sheep or do it all!  The choice is yours in a wide ranging simulation of medieval life, played out in real time against thousands of online opponents striving for power and glory.

A unique hybrid of web and PC based gaming brings online interactivity and community together with a richly depicted medieval world of thriving villages and dramatic battles. Build a kingdom over days and weeks. A mix of real time gameplay with long term planning, bring a truly novel twist to the Strategy genre.

A huge range of stats and rankings give every player something to aim for, whether it’s ‘Besieger of the month’ or ‘Apple farmer of the day’!
Join a medieval social network! Factions and elections, liege lords and their vassals, all provide a real sense of structured community.    

Whilst strong and well planned castles are at the heart of any lord’s domain, players can also specialise via a vast research tree.  Starting out as a humble peasant, each promotion brings research points to spend on becoming the best in as many  areas as you wish, trading, diplomacy, warfare,  farming and more, as the player seeks to control the local parish, county and beyond. As their power grows, players can eventually join in a country wide war for the Crown.

Classic Stronghold goes online in a world where players can, Build, Besiege, Pillage, Farm, Explore, Research, Vote, Trade, Banquet, Fight and much, much more. Many  unannounced and surprising game features will be revealed in the coming months…    

…to keep up with Stronghold Kingdoms, visit www.strongholdkingdoms.com "

The Natural Selection team has announced the launch of a new teaser site with a new trailer for "Natural Selection 2" along with a pre-order store.

"Natural Selection 2 is a standalone immersive, online FPS that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival. Two teams of up to 16 players face off with unique abilities in dynamic, evolving environments that change as you play. Watch spreading alien infestation deform hallways, and then use a flamethrower to clear it. Cut the power to disable marine structures or weld a loading door shut for defense. No matter what side you choose, you’ll never play the same game twice.

The original Natural Selection was downloaded more than 2 million times and grew to be the most popular independent Half-Life mod. Natural Selection 2 is being created by an independent core team of four people and is scheduled for release on the PC this fall. The hallway and alien footage shown in this movie was filmed entirely in-engine and showcases one of the playable alien classes – the “Onos.”

To find more information about Natural Selection 2 online, please visit https://www.naturalselection2.com"

Playlogic has announced that "Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships" has been shipped to North American retailers and is now available.

"Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships, the sequel to the popular Age of Pirates franchise, reinvents itself with a larger playing field and tons of exciting new content. From the game’s new combat system and trading options to its numerous quests and character classes, players will have countless hours of entertainment at their fingertips. In addition, the game’s free-roaming options expand the already massive storyline to include endless play through uncharted waters, new islands and undiscovered cities.

Players courageous enough to delve into the dangerous world of Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships will discover treasure and adventure as they choose to go it alone and become the most feared pirate on the seven seas, or prove their loyalty and take the coin of one of four different navies; French, English, Spanish or Dutch. As players navigate their own route through the seas of the Caribbean they can explore strange new countries and undiscovered civilizations, plunder merchant ships and even raid fortified ports and cities – interacting with most characters and buildings along the way.

Players will experience tons of ship-to-ship combat and toe-to-toe clashes, as they cross paths with real-life historical characters such as Jamaican governors Colonel Thomas Lynch and Thomas Modyford. Almost everything in the game can be adjusted according to players’ wishes, making customization and resource management a key element to gameplay.

Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships has been rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB.

For more information about Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships, please visit www.ageofpiratesthegame.com."

38 Studios, the company owned by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, has acquired Big Huge Games from THQ.

"38 Studios is pleased to announce that it has just completed the acquisition of Big Huge Games, the extremely successful video game development studio known for making great RPG games.

Big Huge Games was founded in 2000 with the goal of creating top-quality strategy games, with an emphasis on excellence in game design, artwork, technology, and production value. They have proven their salt by producing award-winning games like Rise of Nations and Catan. The BHG team brings loads of talent; among their ranks are developers of well-known games like Oblivion, Alpha Centauri, Dawn of War, and Civilization II. Big Huge Games is currently in development on a number of unnamed products, including an RPG for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms.

38 Studios is very excited to be adding the famed Maryland-based company to the corporate family. Tim Train, General Manager of Big Huge Games, noted that the two studios share a common vision of creating engaging, exciting gaming experiences. Brett Close, 38’s CEO and President, added that there is great synergy between the companies. BHG’s expertise will allow 38 to easily expand the Copernicus IP across multiple genres, giving users a much broader, all-encompassing Online Entertainment Experience™. 38 Studios’ Founder and Chairman Curt Schilling emphasized that the BHG team has an amazing set of skills that will complement the already impressive team assembled in Maynard.

38 Studios sends a warm welcome to BHG — we’re looking forward to what your passion will bring to the ongoing development of the Copernicus IP as well as many future projects down the road. Simply stated, this is going to be an amazing time for all of us."

Phenomic and EA have announced the release of "Battleforge", the real-time strategy game where you assemble an army with collectible trading cards, has been released and the free version can be downloaded from the official site.

"BattleForge is a “Play 4 Free” game, like Battlefield Heroes which is currently in closed beta. By being available for free, all players have easy and immediate access to the action and adventure in BattleForge. The flood of new players will enrich the overall gameplay experience and grow the community.

BattleForge’s Play 4 Free version provides players with full access to the BattleForge game, including all community features, scenarios, the recently launched Renegade campaign and 32 of 200 trading cards. Play 4 Free players will be able to explore the full world of BattleForge and, can add more cards to their collection by purchasing points online. Players that do not wish to download the game or purchase the cards online can still buy the retail version which includes a disk-based game and cards from all 4 factions plus 3000 BattleForge Points that can be exchanged for in-game cards. This retail version of the game remains available for $29.99.

BattleForge combines strategy, fantasy, trading cards and magical spells in a dynamic online environment. Combining the strategic, real-time gameplay of classics such as Command & ConquerTM with a fully enabled, online collectible community, BattleForge pioneers strategy gaming with its online multiplayer design and community features set. The collectable cards in the game are the tools of war – each representing a spell, unit or building that is conjured directly onto the battlefield real time in stunning 3D graphics. BattleForge features single-player scenarios and cooperative scenarios supporting 2-12 players, as well as Player vs. Player (PvP) ranked and unranked duels. With co-op play, chat rooms, and a robust marketplace featuring direct trade, an auction hall and in-game mail, BattleForge is the first RTS to combine the social and community aspects of an MMO with an exciting RTS."

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of May 25th, 2009.

PC Games:

• Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned
• Damnation
• Fallout 3 Operation Anchorage and Pitt Expansion (retail)
• Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper
• Up

Movies Opening This Week:

• Departures (limited)
• Drag Me to Hell
• Up

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
• Abriskie Point
• All the Days Before Tomorrow
• Children of Men [Blu-Ray]
• Cinderella Man [Blu-Ray]
• Designing Women: The Complete First Season
• Digimon Data Squad Collection One
• Edward 2
• Field of Dreams [Blu-Ray]
• Forever Strong
• Gunsmoke – Season 3 Vol. 2
• Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth
• His Master’s Voice [Blaq Out Collection]
• Jeeves & Wooster: The Complete Series
• Killshot
• Land of the Lost: Complete Series
• Land of the Lost: The Complete Series
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Ninth Year
• Lost Worlds: Life in the Balance
• M. Butterfly
• Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus
• Murder Most English
• Naruto Uncut Box Set 14
• New In Town
• New In Town [Blu-Ray]
• Philippe Garrel x2
• Picasso: A Film by Didier Baussy Oulianoff
• Powder Blue [Blu-Ray]
• Princess of Nebraska
• Revolution: Revisited
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves [Blu-Ray]
• Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Vol. 1
• Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Vol. 2
• Seabiscuit [Blu-Ray]
• Spy Game [Blu-Ray]
• Stealing Lincoln’s Body
• The Closer: The Complete Seasons 1-4
• The Devil’s Tomb
• The mod Squad: Season 2 Vol. 2
• The Sky Crawlers [Blu-Ray]
• The Universe: The Complete Season Three
• True Romance [Blu-Ray]

Paradox has announced that "Restaurant Empire 2" has been shipped to retail stores worldwide.

"With two handfuls of cash and a dream of creating a legacy, build, cook and hire your way to the very top of the culinary world, where tasty food is king and smart management reels in the dollars. If you’re skilled enough in the kitchen and behind the management desk, you just may go further than any aspiring restaurateur before you and cement your status as a true legend of cuisine.

With such a delicious game release, Paradox Interactive asks, are you still hungry for more?

You are!  Then get ready to tuck in to this appetiser, showcasing some of the unique aspects of running a café in – Restaurant Empire 2.

You know what they say about keeping your fingers in as many pies as possible, it pays to diversify.   In Restaurant Empire 2, you get the chance to grab a slice of the lucrative café and dessert house markets.  Both types of establishment are available when playing the sandbox scenario, or throughout the second campaign, where you must help Delia carve out her own business empire.

Get set to sprinkle your magic on a failing franchise.  Yet be wary of spreading your finances to thinly, as your empire grows.  Tailor your menus to include the very best and most popular recipes from: iced and hot, teas and coffees, shakes, coolers and smoothies.  Whip up some tasty treats for your customers in the form of: sandwiches, salads, ice-creams, cakes, tarts, pies and many other types.  Then set about juicing up the interiors and exteriors with more theme-specific items, some of which must be unlocked through game events.  Finally, invite the very best entertainers to perform exclusively in your outlets, making them stand out more from the competition.

If you still believe running a restaurant empire is as easy as baking a cake, here’s your chance to step up to the plate.

Restaurant Empire 2 is available worldwide through the digital download portal www.GamersGate.com with an SRP of of $29.99 / €29.99."

Capcom released new video developer diary for "Dark Void", the upcoming action adventure game by Airtight Games.

"Dive deeper into the Void with part one of Dark Void’s Dev Diary Series. Senior producer, Morgan Gray and development team, Airtight Games gives us an in-depth look into Dark Void’s back story. Keiji Inafune, Capcom’s Head of R&D, also makes a guest appearance to talk about why the game is so special! Never-before-seen footage and new info is revealed so make sure to check it out.

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.

Dark Void’s unique combination of in-air and on-ground combat creates a thrilling new gameplay dynamic to the third-person shooter experience. Taking 3D action to a whole new level, Dark Void’s vertical combat system allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and drop enemies from above and below, bringing a whole new sense of vulnerability and thrill to the player. Defying gravity in vertical combat is only half the battle as, over time, Will is upgraded to a powerful rocket pack which allows for fierce in-air combat as gamers are able to fly through the void at unparallel speeds shooting down anything that gets in their path. Blasting away at massive bosses has never been this much fun as Dark Void offers a unique grip system made up of a variety of grip-based mini-games including skyjacking UFOs mid-flight."

A new full trailer for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" has been released, giving viewers a look at the highly anticipated follow-up by Infinity Ward.

"Prepare for the ultimate invasion! The most anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time*, Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2 will strike worldwide on November 10, 2009. Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) will release the newest installment in the groundbreaking and record-setting follow-up to the 2007 blockbuster, Call of Duty® 4: Modern WarfareTM, that has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, to date.

"Everyone on the team is laser focused on making the most gripping experience we’ve ever created," said Infinity Ward’s CEO, Vince Zampella. "No detail is too small and every finishing touch imaginable is underway to make Modern Warfare 2 our best ever. We can’t wait for our fans around the world to play starting November 10th."

For more information, visit www.modernwarfare2.com."

   

The Adventure Company has announced that "Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper" has been shipped to North American retailers.

"The Sherlock Holmes franchise has proved to be one of the top franchises in adventure gaming, with top-selling titles such as Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened and Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy, titles known for their impressive graphics and challenging puzzles. This terrifying new game pairs Sherlock Holmes against one of the world’s most famous serial killers, Jack the Ripper.  Players will have the opportunity to step into the shoes of one of the greatest detectives of all time, accompanied throughout the game by his faithful companion, Dr. Watson.  The game offers both a first person view and a third person view for a truly immersive adventure gaming experience and players will be able to use their gathered clues to test out their theories throughout the game using a unique crime scene reconstruction feature.  

Storyline:

Sherlock Holmes, one of the world’s best known detectives is matched up with the most dangerous serial killer in England’s history, Jack the Ripper. The Year is 1888, London has been overtaken by a series of gruesome murders and police are left baffled, with no leads. The murders continue and Sherlock Holmes steps up to the case, setting out on a terrifying adventure to seek out the identity of Jack the Ripper.

Take on the role of master sleuth Sherlock Holmes as you venture into the dark, grim streets of London searching for the macabre trail of… Jack the Ripper. During this terrifying adventure, Sherlock will attempt to shed some light on the mystery that shrouds the identity and motive of the infamous killer.

Features:

• From Frogwares, the award-winning developers of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
• Scour eerie environments and interrogate mysterious suspects
• Carefully search for clues in first-person, or zoom-out to third-person and observe the incredible surroundings
• An original system that allows you to piece together individual crimes and test your hypothesis as the investigation unfolds
• A progressive hint system included to point the player in the right direction during puzzle solving

Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper for Windows® has an ESRB rating of M for Mature and will sell for a suggested retail price of $19.99 USD. For further information please visit our website at www.adventurecompanygames.com."