The recently updated version of "Unreal Tournament 3", with the Titan Pack, can be played for free on Steam this weekend.
"All you need is a free Steam account to play: Install Steam, Create an account, Play UT3 Black.
Free period starts this Friday at 10am PST and ends Sunday at 1pm PST."
Midway and Ubisoft have announced that "Wheelman" has gone gold and is scheduled to be released on March 24th in North America and March 27th in Europe.
"Combining spectacular Hollywood-style stunts with a gripping storyline, Wheelman provides an adrenaline-fueled, cinematic thrill ride. Vin Diesel stars as an undercover agent and highly skilled driver who must infiltrate the Barcelona underworld to gather intelligence surrounding a covert heist. Posing as a driver-for-hire, he ends up caught in a crossfire of corruption and chaos while trying to stay one step ahead of local law enforcement and rival gangs."
The previously announced free update for "Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45" has been released. To celebrate, Tripwire has cut the game’s price on Steam to $4.99 through next Thursday, March 16th.
"This comes along with the anniversary of the original release of Red Orchestra – coming up on 14th March. So now, to celebrate all this – and to further encourage everyone to try the game, grab some new Steam Achievements and play the new map – Tripwire is dropping the price of Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 our anniversary weekend to just $4.99.
Red Orchestra is available via Steam and at retail outlets worldwide. For more information about Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 and Steam, please visit www.steamgames.com."
Aspyr Media has announced a publishing agreement with Russian publisher and distributor Noviy Disk to publish "Dark Sector" for the PC, which is scheduled to be released on March 23rd.
"Dark Sector is a stunning third-person action title that introduces gamers to an original, action-filled story and places them in the role of deadly covert operative Hayden Tenno. Sent on a dangerous mission to a mysterious Eastern European city, Hayden becomes infected by a viral bio-weapon that grants him superhuman powers. Included in his new, otherworldly arsenal is the bladed glaive, a fierce weapon that can be thrown to cut down foes with vicious accuracy. As the game progresses, players will witness Hayden’s ongoing transformation as he evolves with his new powers and becomes even more lethal.
Originally created by acclaimed developer Digital Extremes, co-creators behind Epic Game’s award-winning Unreal® franchise, Dark Sector was released last year on next-gen consoles by D3Publisher. Dark Sector has been optimized for the PC by Noviy Disk. The game is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.99."
Austrian developer Infinion has announed "Louisiana: Mystery Cases", an upcoming adventure game based in New Orleans in 1902.
"Louisiana: Mystery Cases is a modern full 3D adventure game with a stylish environment and catchy storyline. The year is 1902, and you will find yourself at a New Orleans’ suburb. The lazy summer sun is slowly penetrating the gloom of the local marshes, and yet the city is being overcast by a heavy creeping cloud of doubts and anxiety. There have always been a lot of murders in this neighborhood. Now, however, the situation is different. These killings are so brutal, lacking any apparent motive and too complicated to have been committed by a raging insane maniac. Before long they catch the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who is now sending their best special agent…"
THQ released new screenshots from "Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor", giving viewers more of a look at the anticipated upcoming real-time strategy sequel by Remedy.
"Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor is the next standalone chapter in the award-winning Company of Heroes franchise, featuring all-new content, including three single-player campaigns, new multiplayer modes, additional maps and units. Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor also introduces a new "direct-fire" feature that allows players more tactical control of their units and more strategic options in-game. Developed by internal studio Relic Entertainment and powered by Relic’s proprietary Essence Engine™, Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor is fully compatible with Company of Heroes and Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts, allowing players who own the entire series complete access to the epic battles of World War II."
GamersGate today announced that "Men of War" is now exclusively for sale on its digital distribution website.
"Men of War takes place in Europe and North Africa during the height of World War II, the story unfolding across three different campaigns played out through he eyes of Soviet, Allied and German soldiers. Each campaign has its own scenario and structured timeline bringing a different story of the war to life.
In addition to Men of War, GamersGate will be adding other 1C titles to their catalog exclusively over the next two months including Death Track (3/24), Cryostasis (4/20), Necrovision (5/25), and Hummer 4×4 (5/22)."
Frogster has announced that players will now be able to have their own castles in "Runes of Magic".
"Frogster is activating the long-awaited "Guild Castles" feature today in Runes of Magic, the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) that is redefining the standard for free-to-play titles and launching March 19, 2009. In-game castles will give guilds the opportunity to live together and furnish their personal guild dwelling. The next step in the plan to support guilds is to enable the guild wars function which will allow players to wage war against each other in GvG (Guild vs. Guild) combat.
However, building a castle isn’t going to be so easy. Guilds must first reach level seven and must have their community coffers well stocked with ore, wood and gold. Should guilds meet these conditions, they will have access to a fortress located in an instanced part of the game world. This will then open a range of opportunities for the guild. For one, the guild castle will contain a central bank for its members and the players themselves will be able to decide what kind of furniture they wish to use to furnish their castle. Guilds can even acquire a throne for their castle as well as practical upgrades such as gates or teleporters that will be useful tactical elements in the planned guild wars.
In future conflicts, guilds will be able to conquer opposing castles. However, guilds may go to war only if they also possess their own throne. The destruction of a throne marks the end of the conflict and the defeated guild loses its throne as well as a part of its assembled resources.
There is also a plan to introduce guild furniture which is reserved specifically for use in castles and grant guilds special bonuses. Guild wars are currently in development and a launch date has not yet been announced."
Uforia has announced that an open beta for "Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins" has begun.
"Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins is a new free-to-play MMO based on one of the most well-known Asian novels of all-time.
"We had a great response to our first beta test and are happy to have this opportunity to launch an Open Beta so players who didn’t get a chance to join the previous one can jump in and play the game as we lead up to its commercial launch," said JK Kim, CEO of Uforia.
Players will be able to keep the characters they create during the Open Beta for the Grand Opening later next week. Numerous bug fixes and improvements such as new screen resolutions and tutorials have been made to the game since the first Beta.
Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins, developed by G-rex Soft, chronicles the tragic last reign of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), when the Chinese empire was divided into three kingdoms at battle. This important period in Chinese history became a subject of extreme andcontinuing interest to historians, poets, and dramatists. Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins narrates this account and provides players the opportunity to choose from 4 gripping and distinctive character classes to help battle through 200 extraordinary levels packed with boss monsters and their relentless followers. As players undergo the world of Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins, they can reshape the story by carefully planning and executing political assassinations.
For more information about Three Kingdoms; The Battle Begins and to sign up for the Open Beta visit https://threekingdoms.uforia.com"
The list of new PC Game releases, DVD/Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of March 9th, 2009.
PC Games:
Movies Opening This Week:
DVD Releases:
Battlefront.com and 1C Company have announced that "Theatre of War II: Africa 1943 will be available worldwide on April 24th, 2009.
"Theatre of War 2 covers the events of 1943 during the operations in Tunisia. Players will have the option to lead the German Afrika Korps of Rommel in their last full-scale attack or be at the head of the opposing English and American armies, led by Montgomery and Eisenhower, during 15 missions in three campaigns.
The game presents more than 40 types of different vehicles, new types of units, improved graphics and sound, a new advanced visual system that considers even tiny tactical details such as observation angle or smoke screens, ombatinside buildings and hand-to-hand fighting, a brand new interface, improved soldier AI and a detailed infantry damage system. Special attention is being devoted to multiplayer and user created missions.
The game will cost $45.00 USD and will be available both as digital download and physical copy (DVD with printed manual). Pre-orders will be opened later this month. An English-language demo with a all new original mission (different from the Russian language demo) will be released shortly as well."
Electronic Arts announced that "BattleForge" has moved to the open beta stage of testing and that everyone can now try out the upcoming real-time strategy card game by EA Phenomic.
The open beta players will have access to all 200 BattleForge cards and all maps in the game. Everyone who takes part in the beta will get the bonus, upgraded Firedancer unit that will be available after launch. Players who pre-order BattleForge from participating retailers will receive four, exclusive units, one from each faction to jump start their decks.
BattleForge combines fast-paced strategy with a digital trading card mechanic in a dynamic online environment. Players use virtual trading cards to build custom armies and lay waste to their foes. Combining the strategic, real-time gameplay of classics such as Command & ConquerTM with a fully enabled, online collectible community, BattleForge is a breath of fresh air in the strategy genre. With an all-new style of play that is more accessible for casual gamers, BattleForge also offers a rich, deep gameplay experience that veteran RTS players seek. The collectable cards are the tools of war — each representing a spell, building or unit that is conjured directly onto the battlefield in stunning 3D graphics.
BattleForge features single-player scenarios and cooperative scenarios for 2 to 12 players, as well as Player vs. Player (PvP) ranked and unranked duels. With co-op play, guilds, 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. Let the battles begin!
BattleForge ships March 24th, 2009 for the PC. For more information, visit www.battleforge.com."
Mezmer Games announced that "Stalin vs. Martians", the upcoming arcade style real-time strategy game by Black Wing Foundation, N-Game, and Dreamlore, is scheduled to be released in April.
"Stalin vs. Martians, as the name suggests, is a game both absolutely ridiculous and over-the-top. Fun and accessible, it takes a simple arcade-like approach to the genre of real-time strategy. The player controls the Red Army as it defends Earth from the Martian Invasion of 1942, the highly classified military operation which even today remains a closely guarded state secret. Stalin himself conducts the mission briefings, and later even becomes a playable unit.
The bold leader is duly serious even as he faces the most ridiculous threat the world has ever known. The game itself is far from standard RTS fare; this is not a realistic and deeply strategic war simulation, but a straightforward, fun and light-hearted arcade-style game complete with power-ups falling from conquered foes in the form of bright shiny coins.
Stalin vs. Martians features include:
The game is scheduled for release in April 2009 as one of the first releases of Mezmer Games, the new company under Paradox Interactive that focuses on indie development."
Electronic Arts has announced that "The Godfather II" has Gone Gold and will be shipped to stores on April 7th in the US and on April 10th in Europe.
"The Godfather fiction endures because it emphasizes the power of being a Don – running the family, pulling the strings, outsmarting enemies – and The Godfather II game puts this power in the player’s hands right from the start. On the eve of the Cuban revolution, a major mob meeting in Havana takes a bloody turn and the Don of your family is killed. Success breeds opportunity, so when Michael Corleone comes under investigation by a Senate Committee on Organized Crime, the Corleone Family calls upon you to reestablish its operation in New York and eventually expand into new territories, Miami and Cuba, by any means necessary.
As a Don in the Corleone family, The Godfather II lets the player carve out their own story of deception, betrayal, and conquest in a 1960’s organized crime world. While at its heart The Godfather II is an action game, it allows players to go beyond street life to roll up their sleeves and get a feel for the challenges of running their own organized crime family. Players will have to invest in their family, manage their business, and even reach out to corrupt officials all of which is done through the revolutionary Don’s View. The Don’s View is a 3D representation of the player’s criminal empire, putting the player in the Don’s mindset; it allows them to coordinate their family strategy, plan hits on rival made men, attack enemy rackets, and much more. By letting players call the shots, The Godfather II delivers the ultimate organized crime experience in both the single and multiplayer* modes.
The Godfather II has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB and 18+ for PEGI. Players who pre-order The Godfather II at participating retailers worldwide will receive an exclusive crew member, named Tommy Cipolla, to hire into their family.
For more information about The Godfather franchise, please visit https://godfather2.ea.com"
Tripwire Interactive announced that Steam Achievements and a new map are coming soon to "Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45".
"The initial list of Achievements includes:
The new map “Fallen Heroes” is a brutal combined arms battle set on the iconic “Red Square” in downtown Stalingrad. Developed by Tripwire for the initial release as the set piece Russian counterpart for the popular Konigsplatz map, the map didn’t make the cut and was shelved for the past three years. Some months ago the map was passed off to award winning community mapper Kevin “Dr. Guppy” Butt to complete. Resurrected by a fan, for the fans, this excellent addition to the RO map line up is being released for free with this update for anyone with RO:Ostfront.
Red Orchestra is available via Steam and at retail outlets worldwide. For more information about Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 and Steam, please visit www.steamgames.com."
