PC Game News

Fallen Earth, LLC has announced that alpha sign-ups for "Fallen Earth", the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMORPG set in the year 2156.

"We are happy to announce that we’ve opened sign-ups for Alpha testing to all forum users who are not already registered. A new section, “Fallen Earth Testing,” was recently added to the “User CP” preferences for each forum user’s account.

To sign up, participants will first need to create an account for the Fallen Earth Forums at forums.fallenearth.com.

Note: If you are a registered forum user, you will not need to re-register—the testing sign-up should be available in your account settings.

After creating an account, users can access the sign-up portion in “User CP” under “Fallen Earth Testing.” Participants will be asked for basic information and computer specs to make sure they meet requirements. After being added to a waiting list, participants will receive a key to validate their testing account via e-mail as Fallen Earth requires new testers.

We hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to test (if you haven’t already). It should be a lot of fun, but we also need to make sure that our participants understand that it’s a commitment to building a finished product. Our testers have access to a bug reporting Web page, forums and other reporting mechanisms. They provide valuable feedback through reporting bugs and crashes. We also find it helpful when players keep track of anything awkward in the game play, interface or content. Any opinions or notes our testers have should be reported on the internal forums and through focused feedback.

About Fallen Earth

Fallen Earth is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth in the year 2156. Within the Grand Canyon Province, an isolated pocket of settlements around one of the world’s most amazing landmarks, you’ll face threats to mankind’s continued survival, from irradiated zones to mutated beasts to raiders. Six factions struggle for dominance in the province. Over time, you’ll have the chance to pick a side in the effort to hold sway over what remains of the post-Fall world."

ACE Team has released a new trailer for "Zeno Clash", the upcoming first-person shooter that is scheduled to arrive in retail stores and on Steam in the first quarter of next year.

"The new gameplay video that has been released displays some of the melee attacks that players will be capable of performing to overcome their adversaries. A variety of punches, grabs and kicks are displayed as Ghat punishes his adversaries by throwing them to pits or knocking them into the air with a powerful comeback punch. The video also features combat with very different weapons for different situations. The clubs are necessary to bring down heavy foes that won’t be stopped by anything in their path. The musket can be used to blow up explosive rodents that parachute from a giant creature’s head. In Zeno Clash players will encounter all sorts of dangers and keeping a grasp on these weapons is key to survive."

Paradox Interactive has released new screenshots from "Elven Legacy", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming latest installment in the turn-based strategy series by Ino-Co.

"Elven Legacy is a fantasy strategy game that 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 campaigns and share them in multiplayer mode, Elven Legacy will provide hours of exciting gameplay for strategy fans.

Elven Legacy is scheduled for release in March, 2009 and will be published worldwide by Paradox Interactive. It will be available for digital download at GamersGate for a suggested retail price of $29.99 / €29.99."

       
     

Codemasters has announced that "Rise of the Argonauts" has been shipped and is now available at retail stores.

"Rise of the Argonauts immerses players in a gladiatorial adventure set in a wondrously imagined vision of ancient Greece. Taking the role of Jason, a hero and expert warrior, players will battle alongside Hercules, Achilles, Atalanta and other Argonauts as they engage in brutal, real-time combat against formidable beasts and enemies, in a vast world alive with fickle gods, jaw-dropping panoramas, deep exploration and epic quests.

“Rooted in Greek mythology, the narrative in Rise of the Argonauts is a modern retelling of Jason’s relentless quest for the Golden Fleece,” said Ed Del Castillo, president of Liquid Entertainment. “The innovative deeds system and immersive environment in Rise of the Argonauts is sure to keep players entrenched in the gameplay.”

From Athena and Ares to Apollo and Hermes, the Greek gods know and judge all of Jason’s adventures in Rise of the Argonauts. Wise and virtuous Athena casts down bolts of lighting to stun and smite Jason’s foes. Ares, the Lord of Battle, can imbue Jason’s weapons with the power to turn flesh to stone. Apollo, the Sun God, beams shafts of sunlight to protect and regenerate Jason’s health in battle. Hermes, the trickster of Olympus, can grant Jason the power to create decoys of himself or to banish his enemies to Tartarus, the place of the condemned. Through careful decision-making, Jason can improve himself through combat, dialogue and the divine favor of the gods. The search for the Golden Fleece is not only one of exploration, but of transformation: from warrior king to exalted hero touched by the gods. For more information, please visit www.rise-of-the-argonauts.com."

CDV Software has released a free holiday content pack for "Sacred 2: Fallen Angels", adding a new area for exploration, a new quest chain, about 20 new creatures, and more.

"Owners of the PC version of the game may download the update immediately, which includes new content and game fixes (listed below) completely free of charge.

The content update is available at www.sacred2.com or via auto-update function from within the game.

New Content:

• A new area for exploration, including an underground portion
• New “snowy landscape” textures and objects
• New sounds for the snowy landscape
• Roughly 20 new creatures
• New NPC’s
• A new quest chain
• A new armor set for each character
• New armor items and weapons

Fixes (a detailed list is available at www.sacred2.com):

• Game server creation bugs have been fixed in both single- and multiplayer play
• Some Combat Arts for all characters have been adjusted or re-balanced
• Visual issues (such as UI elements not fading out properly) have been fixed
• Miscellaneous sound and graphical fixes in various environments and situations

For more information about Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, please visit https://www.sacred2.com or https://www.cdvus.com."

The list of new PC game releases, DVD releases, and movies opening the week of December 15th, 2008.

PC Games:

• Rise of the Argonauts

Movies Opening This Week:

• Nothing but the Truth (limited LA/NY)
• Seven Pounds
• The Tale of Despereaux
• The Wrestler (limited LA/NY)
• Yes Man

DVD Releases:

• 2008 Philadelphia Phillies: The Official World Series Film [Blu-ray]
• Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Vol. 6
• Death Proof [Blu-ray]
• Drake Bell In Concert – Drake Bell
• Ice Road Truckers: The Complete Season Two
• Into the Wild [Blu-ray]
• Mamma Mia! The Movie 
• MotoGP 2008 Official Review
• Old School
• Petticoat Junction – The Official First Season
• Planet Terror [Blu-ray]
• Power Rangers: Jungle Fury – Way of the Master
• STOMP Live
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
• The Official Review of the 2008 FIA Formula One Championship
• Tommy Boy [Blu-ray]
• Will Shakespeare

Isotx has announced that a new free expansion for "Iron Grip: Warlord" titled "Winter Offensive" will be released next week.

"Starting December 22nd, Offensive will be available for digital download through their webstore (https://webstore.isotx.com). In order to access this free new content, players must own the original game first and then undergo a simple and quick patching process to upgrade.

Iron Grip: Warlord Winter Offensive will include three new units, one new level, a new soundtrack, and a myriad of technical changes and bug fixes. Isotx hopes to reliably update and add new, free content to the game every few months – stating that "while this expansion is the first, it is certainly not the last. We have hopes to continue to add value to our title and thank our growing community for playing our first commercial release."

Iron Grip: Warlord is now available for $24.95 through Isotx’s digital download at https://webstore.isotx.com with the Winter Offensive expansion to be available by 12/22/08 for free. To try out the game for free, download the demo today from www.igwarlord.com/splash."

NCSoft has announced holiday events for three MMORPGs including the "City of Heroes 2008 Winter Event 2008", "Guild Wars Wintersday 2008", and "Lineage II Saving Santa Event".

"City of Heroes Winter Event 2008

The City of Heroes developers have been making a list and checking it twice, but whether players are naughty or nice, Heroes and Villains alike will receive gifts this holiday season. By simply logging in between December 15th, 2008 and January 4th, 2009, City of Heroes players will receive a gifted badge, fuzzy earmuffs costume piece, the Holiday Spirit temporary power and the Holiday Cheer temporary power. Also available for players will be a new Father Time mission, ski challenges, holiday auras, candy canes and Gamester’s gifts, as well as a winter gift enhancement set.

For more information, please visit the official site at https://www.cityofheroes.com

Guild Wars Wintersday 2008

Once again, it’s time to celebrate the season in true Guild Wars fashion. This year’s annual Wintersday festival is bigger and better than ever, with new NPCs, quests, rewards, and even holiday-themed PvP tournaments. Players also get another chance at the best prizes and quests from previous Wintersday festivities, including the traditional snowball fight between the followers of Grenth and those of Dwayna. Plus, for the first time ever, players will get to see the Eye of the North all decked out in its best holiday finery!

Guild Wars players are encouraged to clear their schedule from December 19th through January 5th, and make plans to join Lt. Thackeray of the Ebon Vanguard as he oversees and coordinates the most spectacular Wintersday festival ever!

For more information on the Wintersday event, please visit the official site at https://guildwars.com/events/ingame/wintersday2008

Lineage II Saving Santa Event

Santa’s Helpers throughout Aden and Elmore are begging for the assistance of Lineage II players. It seems that Santa Claus has been imprisoned by the jealous and fanatical Thomas D. Turkey. Outraged by the treatment that he and his brethren have endured over the centuries, Thomas is holding Santa hostage in an undisclosed location to show the world that turkeys mean business. It is up to the citizens of this fair land to help free Santa. The fate of this and all future holidays depend on all Lineage II players. They must find Thomas and defeat him in a "turkey style" battle. Only then will Santa be free from turkey tyranny. Help Santa’s Helpers, help Santa, but most of all, help save the holidays for us all.

For more information, please visit the official site at https://www.lineage2.com/"

Another new IP from EA! Something’s going down over there. There’s not much to really see, except for flashes of demonry and Sataney stuff. The last little bit seems to imply that you’ll take on the role of a bad dude who has a tendency to stab people in the head with crosses. Whatever this all is, it’s nice to see EA come out with a steady stream of IPs, even though Mirror’s Edge and Dead Space aren’t setting the sales charts on fire.

Terrible DRM not yet confirmed.

If you happened to flip through Spike’s VGAs yesterday, you might’ve caught the brand new trailer for Mafia II. I did and I just ended up giggling and clapping like a maniac. The game looks too good to be true, but it is real-time. If you haven’t played the original, you really should consider giving it a go, because it’s a classic. Mafia captured the essence of its time period so well and here’s hoping its sequel will, too.

Electronic Arts has announced that the "Dead Space" dev team at EA Redwood Shores is now working on "Dante’s Inferno," an upcoming 3rd person action adventure game based on the The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. It was not specified what gaming platforms "Dante’s Inferno" would be released on but we assume all.

"The dark fiction gave birth to the Tuscan Italian dialect and is widely considered the work that has defined the western world’s contemporary conception of hell and purgatory. The poem tells the tale of Dante who journeys through the twisted, menacing nine circles of hell in pursuit of his beloved Beatrice. Dante’s tortured and tormented world is an ideal setting for this 3rd person action and adventure of a video game, Dante’s Inferno™.

Written in the 14th Century, The Divine Comedy was published and read aloud in Italian (unlike the Bible), thereby making the poem accessible to the mass public. The poem delivers a striking and allegorical vision of the Christian afterlife and the punishments of hell. In part one, known as Dante’s Inferno, Dante traverses all nine circles of hell; limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery.

“The time is right for the world of interactive entertainment to adapt this literary masterpiece, and to re-introduce Dante to an audience who, until now, may have been unfamiliar with the remarkable details of this great work of art,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer for Dante’s Inferno. “It’s the perfect opportunity to fuse great gameplay with great story.”

For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please visit www.dantesinferno.com and sign up for the newsletter and bookmark for news, features and upcoming events."

Shrapnel Games and KE Studios have announced that "War Plan Pacific" has been shipped.

"War Plan Pacific is an exciting computer wargame for one or two players about the war in the Pacific waged from 1941 to 1945 between the allied nations of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands against Imperial Japan. Grand strategic in nature, this turn based title focuses on the air and naval battles that shaped the conflict, using a historical order of battle showcasing individual ships of light cruiser size or larger.

War Plan Pacific can be described as a serious beer and pretzels title, with a play time of about three hours. And yes, that’s three hours to fight the entire war-from the initial Japanese surprise attacks to the surrender in Tokyo Bay-and not just a battle. Balancing playability and accessibility with historical accuracy, the developer John Hawkins has done a fine job of making War Plan Pacific easy to play yet true to history.

For more information about War Plan Pacific please visit its official gamepage."

Cyan is having trouble with resources and has decided to open source the source code for the servers, clients, and tools for MystOnline (a.k.a. URU Live).

"Cyan has decided to give make MystOnline available to the fans by releasing the source code for the servers, client and tools for MystOnline as an open source project. We will also host a data server with the data for MystOnline. MORE is still possible but only with the help from fans.

This is a bit scary for Cyan because this is an area that we have never gone before, to let a product freely roam in the wild. But we’ve poured so much into UruLive, and it has touched so many, that we could not just let it whither and die. We still have hopes that someday we will be able to provide new content for UruLive and/or work on the next UruLive.

This is also a bit scary for the fans. We realize that this could turn UruLive into the "wild west" and lead to many fractured and diverse MystOnline servers. But it is our hope that with the help of dedicated core fans (if you are reading this, it probably means you) that a safe and secure MystOnline server set (many servers from around the world working together as one) can be created that will let people explore and live in UruLive.

We also are pretty sure that releasing MystOnline will result in some pleasant surprises for us. Our fans have always been so innovative, creative, and resourceful!

This release will probably be accomplished in stages, but we hope to get things ready for the first stage very quickly. More details to surely follow."

Valve has announced the beginning of a new hardware survey though the company’s Steam platform, which will now collect data on a monthly basis to track customer adoption of new hardware components.

"The new version of the Steam Hardware Survey tracks hardware adoption behavior by collecting data on a monthly basis directly from computers running Steam. Today’s re-launch of the public survey results includes data collected since June of this year, and reveals adoption trends from the past six months. The results are now updated on a monthly basis and allow readers to view specific reports of interest.

The survey was first conducted in March of 2004, when Steam made its commercial debut with the launch of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. Since then, Steam has collected data from over 8 million PCs. In addition to allowing individual gamers to compare their computers to those of the community at large, the Steam Hardware Survey has become an industry touchstone, providing valuable insight for companies across the software industry.

For more information or to view the survey, please visit https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey"

Sega has announced that the release date for "Empire: Total War," the upcoming real-time strategy game by Creative Assembly, now has a scheduled release date of March 2009.

"We can confirm that Empire: Total War’s release date has been moved to March 2009.

"The extra development time will allow us to finalise and polish Empire, making it the most accomplished and epic of the Total War series." said Kieran Brigden, Studio Communications Manager at The Creative Assembly. "There is a great deal of anticipation around Empire Total War and we want to ensure that it is the benchmark for strategy games upon its release."

Significantly the additional time will also allow Creative Assembly to implement the underlying technology for a much desired feature; a multiplayer campaign mode. An opportunity to participate in the 1 versus 1 multiplayer campaign mode beta will be made available to all Empire Total War buyers post release."