PC Game News

Valve today announced the release of the Source Filmmaker along with Meet the Pyro. Source Filmmaker is a movie editing tool built and used by Valve to make movies inside Source games. Interested gamers can sign up for a free invite on the app’s website or through Steam.

“The SFM is a storytelling tool Valve developed inside the Source Engine to create all its animated short films, including those in the “Meet the Team” series of Team Fortress 2 shorts. The SFM condenses the production pipeline of an animation studio down onto a single gaming PC.
 
To celebrate the announcement of the SFM, Valve also released the ninth and final short in the “Meet the Team” series today, “Meet the Pyro.”
 
“The goal of the SFM was to develop a story telling tool that allowed us to create computer animated movies more efficiently, and with greater creative freedom,” said Bay Raitt, designer at Valve. “Over the past five years, we’ve produced more than 50 animated shorts with the SFM. The Source Filmmaker will allow our community to create their own movies in Team Fortress 2 and in their own Source SDK-created mods.”
 
The SFM is currently in closed beta and will be made available – free of charge – later this year via Steam. More information on the SFM may be found at www.sourcefilmmaker.com
 
The release of “Meet the Pyro” caps off a three-day “Pyromania” event over at https://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/“

Telltale Games today announced that Starved for Help, the second episode in The Walking Dead game series, will be released for PC and Mac on Friday. The Xbox version is available today.

“In this tailored game experience, players get the chance to see how their story continues based on the decisions that they made in episode one, ‘A New Day.’

The Walking Dead is set in the world of Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.  Lee Everett, a man convicted of a crime of passion, has been given the chance for redemption in a world devastated by the undead. Players experience life changing events, meet new characters and familiar ones from the original comic, and also visit locations that foreshadow the story of Deputy Sherriff Rick Grimes. The Walking Dead offers a tailored game experience – player actions, choices, and decisions affect how the story plays out across the entire series.”

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam, the first expansion in the role-playing strategy series.

“Thought keeping an eye on one wife was bad? With the release of the Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam expansion, this scheming strategy RPG will allow players to command Muslim nations, opening up a world of polygamous problems, new laws, traits, titles and over 100 new events, as well as a flavorful Islam-inspired interface. Experience the Crusades from the other side. Combat decadence within your own dynasty. And solve problems arising in your very own harem. Or just start panicking and invade France. Your call.

Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam enables players to play as any Muslim ruler across the great dynasties including the Ottoman and Mamluk empires. These brand new gameplay mechanics reflect the distinctive traits of the great rulers and empires of the time, creating an entirely new experience for players and introducing another layer of richness to one of the finest strategy games of recent years.

A free update as well as additional downloadable content will also be released alongside the expansion, which introduces improved combat mechanics, numerous new events, traits and decisions to the main game.”

Paradox Interactive today announced that sign-ups for the closed beta test of Game of Dwarves has begun. Interested gamers can head to https://beta.paradoxplaza.com/signup/37/ to sign up.

“Like to get your hands dirty? While digging for treasure? As a dwarf? Have we got the job for you! Paradox Interactive has opened the gates to a limited tech beta for upcoming classic management game A Game of Dwarves. Anyone wishing to boss around the bearded race of beer-guzzling builders can sign up for a chance to participate in the limited beta

Selected applicants will receive further instructions on how to obtain the beta build and, thereafter, shall be thrust into the bustling world of dwarves as they set out to dig their way to fame and fortune. Oh, and there’s some monsters running about underground, too, did we forget to mention that? Could be the reason why the last bunch of beta testers disappeared so abruptly. Just wear a hardhat, that should be more than enough protection; it’s worked for us for a — WHAT IS THAT THING TRYING TO BITE MY ARM OFF?!”

The IndieFort Bundle 2 sale deadline has been extended until next Monday, July 2nd on GamersGate. Again, this bundle includes a total of six games and any extra money goes straight to the developers. The games in this bundle include 3079, Fortix 2, Aztaka, Dark Scavenger, Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol, DEMISE: Ascension, Intrusion 2 and some bonus content.

“GamersGate has teamed up with a group of supremely talented developers to create the Indie Fort Bundle – 6 great games at the price of less than one! Not only that, but we’ve made it possible for you to show your support – if you pay more than the minimum $5.99 (or €4.99 or £3.99) price, then all of the extra money goes straight to the devs.”

2K Games today announced the North American release of Spec Ops: The Line. The game will ship internationally on Friday.

“Developed by YAGER, Spec Ops: The Line features an intense single-player narrative that unfolds within Dubai after a series of cataclysmic sandstorms cut the city off from the rest of the world. Playing as Captain Martin Walker, gamers fight through Dubai in this gripping third-person shooter in their search for Colonel John Konrad and his missing battalion, The Damned 33rd. Players will blast their way through sandstorms with a variety of weapons and explosives, even using sand as a weapon to strategically bury enemies in their path. Combining brutal action and combat with a riveting narrative and the unique setting of a sandstorm ravaged Dubai, Spec Ops: The Line is unlike any other military shooter.

In addition to the single-player campaign, Spec Ops: The Line features an expansive, class-based multiplayer experience set in visually stunning and unique environments. Players are encouraged to use their sand-filled surroundings to thwart their enemies; however, the environment can quickly turn from advantageous to treacherous with the onset of sandstorms – which impact visibility, team communication and weapon handling.

Free cooperative bonus content for Spec Ops: The Line will also be available for download* to anyone who purchases the game when the mode is complete post-launch (current estimate approximately August 2012). The bonus content features a series of objective-based cooperative multiplayer scenarios set in same sand-ravaged scenario as the single-player campaign prior to Captain Walker and his squad’s arrival. It includes four fast-paced missions, each with its own unique objectives, environments and playable characters. Players must work together to fight through waves of enemies and blinding sandstorms to complete their objectives, emphasizing teamwork and utilizing a variety of weapons and explosives.”

The list of new PC game releases, Blu-ray releases, and movies opening the week of June 25th, 2012.

PC games:

• Battlefield 3 Close Quarters
• Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
• Sniper Elite V2
• Spec Ops: The Line

Movies opening this week:

• Beasts of the Souther Wild (limited)
• Madea’s Witness Protection
• Magic Mike
• Neil Young Journeys (limited)
• People Like Us (limited)
• Take This Waltz (limited)
• Ted

 Blu-ray releases:

• 21 Jump Street
• 4 Symphonies
• A Thousand Words
• Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 5
• Bending the Rules
• Best Laid Plans
• Bullhead
• Christopher Nolan Director’s Collection
• Deliverance
• Dr Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories
• Earth From Above – Preservation of Water and Forests
• Giselle
• Hiding
• II Giasone
• Kasabian: Live at the O2
• Little Lord Fauntleroy: Kino Classics Remastered Ed.
• Marmaduke
• Mars in 3D: Images from The Viking Mission
• Mirror Mirror
• Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
• Oranges and Sunshine
• Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here
• Sector 7
• Shark Divers – Documentary Collection
• Stone Temple Pilots: Alive in the Windy City
• Swan Lake: Matthew Bourne
• Tales That Witness Madness
• Tearing It Up: Albert Lee
• The 39 Steps (Criterion Collection)
• The Artist
• The Decoy Bride
• The Hangman
• The Hedgehog
• The Night of the Grizzly
• The Samurai Trilogy (Criterion Collection)
• The Spirit is Willing
• Una Noche De Luna
• Wrath of the Titans

Spec Ops: The Line ships today and 2K Games has kindly given us a few extra Steam Keys for a giveaway. We’re going to do this via Twitter so be sure to follow @cpu_gamer and check for a tweet around 3:30PM Central.

In the meantime, here’s a nice juicy launch trailer:

The Scrolls website has been updated with the announcement of a Scrolls alpha test that will be starting soon. When a stable version is reached an open beta will be launched.

“We are rapidly approaching the closed alpha of Scrolls. Although this alpha version will be far from a feature complete version of the game, it will include multiplayer matches, single player matches vs AI and the Deck Builder, where you can build your decks out of the 100+ scrolls that currently exist in the game.

As we get closer to a stable build, we will stop the closed alpha, and move to an open beta, where you will be able to buy the game at a reduced price and with some added benefits (more about that later).

At that point, we will also look to include the single player world, where you can explore and do battle to earn new scrolls to your collection.

Keep in mind, that the beta will not be feature complete. We will still have a big bag of goodies that we plan to include over time, such as an auction house where you may buy or sell scrolls from each other and additional features in the world such as character customization, items, quests and so on. If you’re wondering why we would release a game that’s obviously not finished, the reason is simple: We want your feedback in good time to help us shape Scrolls to be the next big online Collectible Card Game!

So if you’re curious enough to pick up a copy of the game, please don’t be shy. Hit the forums and help us out!”

Valve today announced the beginning of Pyromania, a three day “celebration” that feature the release of new Team Fortress features. This week will feature the release of “Meet the Pyro” on Wednesday.

Today’s announcement is the addition of a new game mode called Doomsday:

“Doomsday pits BLU against RED, with only one team getting the honor of transporting a suitcase nuke full of recalled Mann Co. Australium to American monkeynaut Poopy Joe’s rocket, so he can blast off and hunt down Soviet space chimp Vladimir Bananas. It’s the same spirit of competitive enterprise that stalled the moon landing by three years when Buzz Aldrin suplexed Neil Armstrong into a pile of folding chairs at Astromania ’69! Both teams will attempt to get the necessary fuel up a preposterously slow-moving elevator and into Poopy Joe’s Australium-powered rocket to the stars.”

Electronic Arts today announced the release of new content to celebrate the third anniversary of Battlefield Heroes, which includes a new map and an expanded mission system. Additionally, players who log in between today and July 1st will receive two free Party Packs.

“The brand-new map, “Fortress Frenzy,” will have players fighting for victory on a small island, where the only way on or off is over six bridges located on each side of the isle. This will be an all-out war of bullets, explosives, powerful abilities, fire-proof underpants, magic and land vehicles for ultimate island control. Also part of this anniversary celebration, Battlefield Heroes is expanding their mission system with more opportunities to earn Valor Points and Experience Points as well as introducing the Treasure Chest to give players special rewards that appear at random upon killing an enemy.

And to really get this celebration off the ground, players who log in between June 25, 2012 and July 1, 2012 will receive two free Party Packs*: one Royal and one National. Each Party Pack will include a Battlefield Heroes Birthday Shirt, a Tricycle Emote that lasts for 3-days and a new Treasure Chest Key. To claim their free Party Packs, players can log in at www.battlefieldheroes.com then look in the “My Stuff” menu and select “Rewards.”

Battlefield Heroes brings classic Battlefieldâ„¢ action to the masses with fun cartoonish graphics and gameplay that caters to players of all skill levels. Battlefield Heroes is easy to pick up and play and has vast character customization and sticky online features so gamers can spend hours building up their characters to win the war.

Play now by visiting the game’s official website at www.battlefieldheroes.com. ”

Square Enix today announced that Quantum Conundrum, the game Portal developer Kim Swift and Airtight Games, is now available through digital distribution channels.

“Players can also purchase a Season Pass through Steam® for $19.99, and get an exclusive downloadable Quantum Conundrum soundtrack and two future downloadable puzzle packs.

In Quantum Conundrum, players take on the role of a young boy dropped off on his uncle’s doorstep for the weekend; his uncle just so happens to be the brilliant, eccentric inventor, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle. Upon entering the Professor’s vast manor home, retrofitted with crazy technology to test his latest hypotheses, players quickly realize their uncle has gone missing. Fortunately, players immediately find Professor Quadwrangle’s latest invention, the Inter-Dimensional Shift (IDS) Device, which, at the press of a button, can shift the world around them to a different dimension. In order to find their uncle, players use the IDS to dynamically alter between five dimensions and progress through bizarre and challenging rooms in the labyrinthine Quadwrangle Manor. Becoming adept at using the various dimensions – sometimes in combination – will be critical to solving puzzles and moving on to the next room.”

More info: www.quantumconundrum.com

Valve is launching a new program to help educators with teaching science, technology, engineering and math. Teachwithportals.com provides free content, game developer tools and community forums that can be used to develop applicable Portal 2 based puzzles and exchange lessons.

“Welcome to the new, free educational collection of puzzles and teacher-created content from Valve’s best-selling game, Portal 2, an engaging 3D puzzle-solving game.  Based on Valve’s technology, the Portal 2 Puzzle Maker takes place in an environment with realistic physics – a playground rich with opportunities for educational fun.

We understand that learning is not fulfilled by a one-size-fits-all approach, so we’re engaging with a community of educators, parents and students to create infinite possibilities for learning.  The educational version of our Puzzle Maker empowers students and educators to craft unique puzzles, explore worlds, and share custom lesson plans.  Teachers can also simply leverage other contributor’s shared lessons, selecting among the best of them to suit their learners’ needs.

“Somewhere out there an innovative, dynamic high school physics teacher will use Portal 2 as the linchpin of an entire series of lessons and will immediately become the most important science teacher those lucky students have ever had. For those of us who have left school behind, Portal 2 is one of the finest brain games around.” The New York Times, May 10, 2011.

Get started with Portal 2 and the Puzzle Maker and download a copy to try out this summer.  By signing up, educators also gain access to the Valve Education forum, where teachers from around the world share insights and advice on effective uses of video game technology in the classroom.”

Railsimulator.com today anounced that Railworks 3: Train Simulator 2012 will include a Steam Workshop, which will allow users to create game content and share it with others.

“The Steam Workshop functionality will be fully integrated into the game so players can view and choose user-generated content via a seamless interface.

“We’re thrilled to be adding this functionality as a result of our strong community and great relationship with Steam,” said Paul Jackson, CEO of RailSimulator.com. “A major feature of our game is the world editor, in which users may create new railroads and scenic settings from a blank canvas, and Steam Workshop opens up a new way of sharing content with other enthusiasts.”

Steam Workshop will make it easy to find, play and share certain types of custom content created by fans and amateur developers. Users can post reviews of uploaded items, enabling content creators to become stars in the community. Initially Train Simulator’s Steam workshop will contain game-play content adopting more features in the future.

For more information, please visit www.railsimulator.com“

GamersGate has a new Indiefort bundle for sale, which includes 3079, Fortix 2, Aztaka, Dark Scavenger, DEMISE: Ascension, Intrusion 2 and some extra bonus content. The total value of all of the games is about $80 and the bundle price is $5.99. With Indiefort bundles, any extra money that customers give goes to each of the participating developers.

“GamersGate has teamed up with a group of supremely talented developers to create the Indie Fort Bundle – 6 great games at the price of less than one! Not only that, but we’ve made it possible for you to show your support – if you pay more than the minimum $5.99 (or €4.99 or £3.99) price, then all of the extra money goes straight to the devs!”