PC Game News

Frozenbyte and Nobilis have released the second trailer for "Trine", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming action game.

"The second trailer showcases the co-operative mode, where the three characters – the Wizard, the Knight and the Thief – work together to overcome obstacles and beat enemies. In co-op mode the players can invent even more creative solutions to puzzles and battles using each character’s strengths to their advantage. Players can also join in at any time and leave freely, making the game perfect for co-op.

Trine™ will be released in June 2009 for PlayStation®Network and PC. More information on the game can be found at the official website https://www.trine-thegame.com/"

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of April 13th, 2009.

PC Games:

• Cryostasis
• Demigod

Movies Opening This Week:

• 17 Again
• American Violet (limited)
• Crank: High Voltage
• Enlighten Up
• Every Little Step (limited)
• Goodbye Solo
• Is Anybody There (limited LA/NY)
• Sleep Dealer (limited LA/NY)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• 8 Mile [Blu-Ray]
• Cranford [Blu-Ray]
• Crude Impact
• Dark Matter
• Exosquad: Season 1
• House of Saddam
• IMAX: Deep Sea/Into the Sea [Blu-Ray]
• Intelligence: Season 2
• Jeff Jarret: King of the Mountain
• Knots Landing: The Complete Second Season
• Lost in Austen
• Malcom & Eddie: Season One
• Paris
• Pride and Prejudice [Blu-Ray]
• Skins, Vol. 2
• Splinter [Blu-Ray]
• Strange Wilderness [Blu-Ray]
• The Caller
• The Reader
• The Ruth Rendell Mysteries: Set 4
• The Spirit [Blu-Ray]
• The Story of India [Blu-Ray]
• The Thirteen Floor [Blu-Ray]
• The Who: Maximum R&B Live
• Universal Soldier: The Return [Blu-Ray]
• Wings: Final Season
• WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s
• State of Play

Stardock has announced that "Demigod" has been shipped and is now available in North American retails as well as digitally on Impulse.

"Developed by renowned gaming studio Gas Powered Games, Demigod lets players take control of an immensely powerful being whose goal is to defeat his brethren in a series of epic arenas in order to ascend into the pantheon of the gods. During the course of each battle, players gain experience, purchase equipment, learn magical spells, capture key resources and upgrade their Citadel while working to lay waste the opposing faction.

Demigod battles take place in spectacular environments that are visually stunning and yet still run well on relatively older hardware thanks to a new technology developed by Gas Powered Games that optimizes the way rendering is executed on most video cards.

"Demigod in many ways captures the combined spirit of two hit Gas Powered Games titles – Supreme Commander and Dungeon Siege," said Brad Wardell, President & CEO of Stardock. "In Demigod, the player controls a massively powerful unit who in some ways is like the commander in Supreme Commander except here, like in Dungeon Siege, the character can purchase equipment, buy items, and go up in level as he gains experience to access more powerful skills."

In single player, Demigod provides both a skirmish mode for individual battles as well as a tournament in which players choose a Demigod and compete against other Demigods controlled by the computer to gain the most favor points with the gods in order to ascend.

In multiplayer, players can compete in online skirmishes in which matches players together based on their skill and experience or participate in the Pantheon, a persistent online tournament in which players choose a faction and earn favor points to through victory in the arena. Wins, losses, experience and much more is available.

Demigod is also the first PC title to make full use of Stardock’s new development platform, Impulse Reactor which provides Demigod with its in-game community features (friends, chat, tournaments, matchmaking, and more).

Like all Stardock games, the retail version of the game contains no DRM or copy protection. It includes Impulse to allow users to update to the latest version or even re-download the entire game. Players can install the game on multiple computers via Impulse without a hassle.

For further details about Demigod, please visit www.demigodthegame.com."

A new "BioShock 2" gameplay trailer has been released, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming next installment in the series by Irrational Games.

"Set ten years after the events of BioShock, a number of towns around the world have been reporting kidnappings of young girls by attackers described as "thin", with red lights often reported as either being worn by the attacker or spotted nearby in the sea. This single attacker, who is the Big Sister, one of the Little Sisters from the first entry in the series, has mechanised herself in a similar fashion to the Big Daddies — and has become the ruler of the underwater city of Rapture, which under her control has reached an equilibrium in which she "actively maintains the city’s infrastructure, and viciously hunts anyone down who disrupts the balance of power"; Tenenbaum, discoverer of ADAM and original creator of the Little Sisters, states that the Big Sister has begun kidnapping girls and turning them "into creatures… like her"."

"Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor", the latest stand alone expansion in the popular real-time strategy series by Relic, is now available and to kick things off, THQ has released a launch trailer for the game.

"Tales of Valor delivers three intense single-player campaigns, three new multiplayer modes, a brand-new “direct-fire” feature, additional maps, new units, and is available now at retail and online outlets."

Matrix Games, Tri Synergy, and GFI have announced a publishing agreement in which Matrix Games will handle the digital distribution and Tri Synergy will bring the game to retail stores in North America.

"Officers puts you in command of the Allied force in the largest conflict of our time. Take control of the US and British armies in order to strike back and defeat the Axis menace on the Western front of Europe. With over 1500 units on maps up to 10 square miles, Officers is the first WWII real time strategy game to let you fight on a truly massive scale. Historical battles like Operation Overlord, Millennium, and Cobra will put your tactical skills to the test using combined forces from infantry and engineers to tanks, artillery and bombers.

Blazing speed and blunt force will only secure victory if you extend your supply lines and capture enemy weaponry and warehouses. Take the high ground and use terrain to your advantage with fully realistic physics and ballistics – only sound tactical maneuver will keep your men alive!"

Reakktor Media released the first gameplay trailer for "Black Prophecy", the company’s upcoming space combat MMORPG.

"The trailer provides a first look at parts of Black Prophecy’s game-play like the user interface, the mission system and the modular ship design.

By the mid 26th century humanity has conquered the universe and colonized countless planets. Yet life in space requires a great deal of adaptation. Bred for just these conditions, the cybernetically adapted Tyi and the biogenetically optimized Geniden have outgrown their creators to become the new ruling races. Their uncompromising battle for total mastery of space leads humanity into the sphere of influence of an ancient alien life form – a life form which tolerates no other cosmic civilizations but its own. In this battle against an overpowering enemy, players must first choose which of the two rival factions they wish to join as they try to save humanity."

Mezmer games today announced that "Stalin vs. Martians" will be available at digital distribution websites on April 20th.

"Stalin vs. Martians is a blazingly fast real-time strategy game developed by an alliance of three independent studios: Black Wing Foundation, Dreamlore and N-Game.

The announcement and earlier video from Stalin vs. Martians has triggered a huge interest in the game, with well over 100,00 views of the video on YouTube.

Tom Söderlund, Executive Producer at Mezmer Games, explains, “One contributing factor to the success could be the high level of historical accuracy, that is completely missing from the game.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.mezmergames.com/group/stalinvsmartians"

Activision has announced that "Prototype" is scheduled to ship to North American retailers on June 9th, and on June 5th in Europe.

"Fans of the infamous Alex Mercer should also be sure to check out the newly updated official game website located at www.prototypegame.com to gain access and view newly added game information and content, including the first half of PROTOTYPE’s must-see intro cinematic.

PROTOTYPE lets gamers feel the power of being the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. You are the PROTOTYPE: Alex Mercer – a genetically mutated man without memory, armed with amazing shape-shifting abilities, hunting to discover what created you and determined to make those responsible pay. As Alex, gamers tear through a densely populated contemporary New York City moving with Parkour-style fluidity, consuming anybody that gets in their way…assuming their physical form, memories and abilities. Fueled by a three-way war between Alex, the Blackwatch (military) and a viral outbreak known as the Infected, players venture into a deep, dark conspiracy 40 years in the making!"

So, this is the game Ragnar Tornquist has been generating excitement for on his blog. Funcom’s latest MMO, The Secret World, looks pretty neat. Modern samurai shake-loving chicks fight demonic monsters from a lax circle in hell. I do wish Ragnar would get his team to work on the Dreamfall Chapters instead, but the premise of two parallel worlds clashing is very Longest Journey-ish and considering Mr. Tornquist’s history with developing sweet narratives and characters that leave an indelible mark on our little lives, I’ll be paying attention.

Atari has announced that "The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena" has been shipped and is now available.

"Featuring the series’ signature blend of stealth, action and gripping narrative, all presented in glorious high- definition, the highly anticipated new chapter in the _Riddick_ saga is available at retail in North America for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft ($59.99), PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system ($59.99) and Windows PC ($49.99).

THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA contains a brand new full-length Riddick campaign in addition to a high-definition pixel-by-pixel remake of the universally acclaimed title Escape from Butcher Bay. In addition to the thrilling, visceral single player action, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA brings Riddick into the multiplayer arena for the first time, with six intense online multiplayer combat modes including the unique Pitch Black mode.

Reprising his role as Riddick, Vin Diesel brings his unique vocal talent to THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA, creating a powerful anti-hero with a talent for chilling one-liners. Diesel is joined by a high caliber cast of actors including Lance Henriksen, Wade Williams, William Morgan Sheppard, and Michelle Forbes who brings depth and weary malevolence to Riddick’s chief adversary on the Dark Athena, Captain Revas. Starbreeze Studios’ proprietary ‘vo-cap’ technology ensures that every nuance of the actors’ vocal and physical performance ends up in the game, creating a uniquely absorbing experience.

In THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror. The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures’ films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic _Pitch Black, which first introduced Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero.

Playable demos of THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION(R)3 system are currently available for download, showcasing the game’s evocative art style, exceptional production values, and the breadth and ferocity of gameplay.

For more information on THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA, please visit the official website at https://atari.com/riddick/. "

Paradox Interactive has announced that "Elven Legacy", the turn-based strategy game by Ino-co, has been shipped to US retailers and is also available on digital distribution sites. The game will be available in Europe on Thursday.

"Elven Legacy invites players into a magical world, where fantasy strategy enthusiasts have the opportunity to restore the Elven race to glory.  Play as elves, humans, dwarves and sorcerers in luscious 3D environments that immerse the player in a world full of adventure and mysticism. Featuring a thrilling, non-linear storyline and in-game tools that enable the player to create their own missions to share online in multiplayer mode, Elven Legacy is sure to satisfy any strategy fan for hours on end.

On the game’s release, lead developer Max Bodrikov said, “After working on this title for such an extended time, it is bittersweet to have the game reach its full release.  When we started to develop Elven Legacy, we wanted to create a fantasy strategy turn-based title that would be accessible for all gamers and I’m confident that we reached our goal."

Elven Legacy has been rated “T” for “Teen” by the ESRB and is published worldwide by Paradox Interactive.  Elven Legacy is also available on all leading digital download portals for a suggested retail price of $29.99 / €29.99.

Read more at: https://www.elven-legacy.com"

CDV released a new patch for "Sacred 2: Fallen Angle", bringing the role-playing game by Ascaron to version 2.4.

"The new patch updates the retail version of Sacred 2 to version 2.40 and adds a slew of new features, including nVidia® PhysXTM support, new mini-bosses and a new achievement system.

The patch, along with a detailed “readme” file, is available at https://update.sacred2.com/, and includes the following content updates and fixes –

• nVidia PhysX technology implemented for two combat arts of each respective hero
  • Direct impact on immediate environment
  • Updated particle effects
  • Variable wind speeds
• Pause functionality for single player mode
• Direct control of minions
• New achievement system (available in logbook)
• Inventory screen changes:
  • Equipped items now have a new layout which is individual for each character
• Three new mini bosses
  • All mini bosses now have their own quests"

MIrrors:

The full 817MB US patch can be downloaded from AtomicGamer or FileShack.

The 200MB v2.34 > v2.4 US patch is mirrored on AtomicGamer, FileShack, or Gamer’s Hell.

Stardock has announced that "Demigod" has gone gold and will be available in North American stores and on Impulse next Tuesday, the 14th.

"Developed by renowned gaming studio Gas Powered Games, Demigod delivers an epic game experience by combining elements of its acclaimed strategy game Supreme Commander and its award-winning Dungeon Siege role-playing game series.

In Demigod, a god has fallen, leaving an opening in the Pantheon. Players take control of a Demigod, waging war in spectacular arenas against others to ascend to godhood.

Each battle takes place in an arena, where players earn gold and experience in battle which can then be used to acquire new abilities, learn magical spells, purchase better equipment and improve their faction’s Citadel with the goal to lay waste to the opposing faction.

Demigod makes use of Stardock’s Impulse Reactor which provides intelligent match-making, on-line tournaments, player skill ratings, and much more.

"We are extremely happy with how Demigod has turned out," said Stardock’s CEO and president Brad Wardell. "Demigod is the kind of game that we think players will be playing years from now. It has a really fun single-player tournament, and it has online features that let both casual and competitive players create their own fun and unique gaming experiences."

"We’re proud of what the Demigod team has accomplished," said Chris Taylor, CEO of Gas Powered Games. "They’ve created an original world and setting, with spectacular art direction and characters, and have matched it with unique gameplay that seamlessly mixes elements from multiple genres."

While most PC games are released at $49.95 or more, Demigod has been priced at only $39.95 due largely to Stardock and GPG’s confidence that Demigod is a game that will appeal to a very broad set of PC gamers.

For further details about Demigod, please visit www.demigodthegame.com."

Paradox Interactive announces that "Elven Legacy", the turn-based strategy game by Ino-co, will be released next Tusday, the 7th, in the US, and the 9th in Europe.

"Elven Legacy sends players on an epic quest aimed to restore the former glory of the Elven race. With a thrilling non-linear storyline and tools that allow players to create their own missions and share them in multiplayer mode, Elven Legacy will provide hours of exciting gameplay for strategy fans.

Elven Legacy will be published worldwide by Paradox Interactive and will also be available on all leading digital download portals for a suggested retail price of $29.99 / €29.99.

For more information, go to https://www.elven-legacy.com."