PC Game News

Funcom today announced the "Savage Coast", a new location in the MMORPG "The Secret World".

"From the dark and unforgiving Atlantic shoreline, to the overgrown attractions of a theme park lost to the darkness, the Savage Coast reveals more of its hidden mysteries in the latest location video from Funcom. Only a small part of the game, the Savage Coast is home to several unique monsters and myths as well as providing a fantastic backdrop for players to immerse themselves in.

‘The Secret World’ is a next-generation massively multiplayer online game for the PC platform, where players are given total freedom to create and progress their characters, unbound by the restrictions of classes and levels. Players will get the opportunity to join one of the three secret societies and fight for power over important locations throughout our own world.  Players will also journey through familiar places across the globe, such as Egypt, New England, London, New York and Seoul and battle monsters of myth and legend.

For more information please see www.thesecretworld.com"

"Andoran: Prologue", an upcoming mod for Oblivion is getting a lot of buzz today around the community, and rightly so, as the preview trailer is quite impressive. The mod is scheduled to be released by the end of the year and is being created by a group of Russian developers. The game's Youtube channel says that there will be an English version but there isn't any mention of this on the official site.

"In Andoran one can do whatever crosses his mind and become whoever he wishes: from a smith to a knight, from a pearl diver to a vampire lurking in the night, from a killer to a diplomat who won't take a sword a single time during the game and will solve all the problems with persuasion.

The story of Andoran consists of plenty interconnected events. Information is of the greatest value in the game. The one possessing the necessary information has the potential to predetermine the plot and to turn the tide of global events.

The player will be able to accomplish a great deal of extra short quests, as well as long ones. They will be interesting stories, funny and sad, requiring intellect and strong sword. Each of them is designed to supplement the players perceptions of the island, like gathering pieces of puzzle together."

Petroglyph today announced the launch of the open beta test for "Rise of Immortals", the free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game.

"Rise of Immortals, an online, free-to-play PC game that expands on the hit MOBA genre with new, innovative features, is now open to anyone who is interested in getting a sneak peek at the game as it moves toward commercial launch this summer. Anyone interested in participating in the open beta test can register at https://www.riseofimmortals.com, and will be immediately invited to download the game and start playing.

In addition, Petroglyph also announced today that anyone who participates in the open beta test will receive 1,000 Petroglyph Coins at commercial launch (worth over $10), and an exclusive Immortal skin. The Immortal skin, a dazzling gold version of the robot-suited Psychozen, named “The King of Bling,” will be available exclusively for open beta testers to enjoy both during the open beta, and as a complementary add-on to their account at launch.

“Petroglyph, with the help of thousands of our fans, has been testing the game in a closed beta for several months now. We're finally ready to show the game to the world as we polish it for launch,” said Steve Wetherill, executive producer of Rise of Immortals for Petroglyph. “Beta players will see ground-breaking features that we’ve added to the game and which are new to the MOBA genre. From player versus environment maps to character persistence, we’re confident that both MOBA newcomers and MOBA fans will find Rise of Immortals to be a fantastic new game.”

Rise of Immortals is a free-to-play, micro-transaction-based online game that will be available via direct download. The game features the popular action-strategy gameplay of traditional MOBA games, but adds enhanced socialization features, along with persistent character progression – a first for the MOBA genre. In addition, Rise of Immortals features a social hub where players can show off their enhanced Immortals, chat, emote, browse leaderboards, shop, manage friend and guild lists and more. Players also have the option of taking their Immortals through cooperative Player versus Environment (PvE) scenarios to learn the game, try out new abilities, and earn persistent experience before jumping into Player versus Player (PvP) matches online."

Snail Games USA today announced that "The Chosen", a free-to-play MMORPG set in ancient China, has been officially launched.

"In The Chosen, players must side with one of five ruling Dynasties within the Human Kingdom, and travel through vast landscapes and historical landmarks while fighting for the supremacy of their empire. Join the fight now and take part in the war between the Light and Dark kingdoms, and take your place as one of The Chosen, destined to challenge the gods and put an end to the crippling conflict.

Gameplay features an opportunity for endless customization on a foundation of six character classes — Sword, Blade, Bow, Flute, Fan, and Scroll. Each class possesses different skills, with strengths ranging from physical and magic attacks to long and short-range tactics. Players will also participate in various quest and battle systems, select equipment from a myriad of discoverable items, create and train animal companions, advance through a skill tree that offers over 160 talents to master, and earn in-game prizes through an award system based on game achievements. Closed beta testers will receive their own exclusive award—the Reindeer Mount—for their participation."

Register to download and play The Chosen through the official website: www.thechosengame.com"

Funcom today announced the release of "Age of Conan: Unchained", a free-to-play version of the MMORPG that replaces the existing version of the game.

"Players now get to choose whether they want to experience the free offering, or become a Premium member with access to even more game content. An in-game store also allows both free players and Premium members to purchase in-game goods such as weaponry and mounts. For more detail about the differences between the free and Premium offering, visit the new ‘Age of Conan: Unchained’ website.

Since the game launched three years ago, ‘Age of Conan’ has undergone several changes and a huge amount of new content has been added. Funcom is already in the process of developing new locations, monsters, equipment and storylines for ‘Age of Conan: Unchained’. This includes the movie tie-in adventure that will introduce content and characters from the upcoming ‘Conan the Barbarian’ movie.

To download the client and play the game for free, please visit the new official Age of Conan website."

Tripwire Interactive announced that the "Killing Floor" Summer Sideshow Event has begun, which allows players to play for new achievements and unlock a new character and mini game.

"Get to work on those achievements and you'll be able to permanently unlock the Steampunk Mr Foster. The event is, of course, completely  free to everyone who owns Killing Floor and will download automatically through Steam. Don't forget there is a completely new DLC Character pack for you – the Steampunk Character Pack.

But that isn't enough… so we have worked with our partners to bring you MORE free stuff. Teotl Studios have added a completely new Survival level for The Ball – free, of course. And Power of 2 have done their own Summer Event for Dwarfs!? – https://dwarfs-game.com/summerevent/. Now you can not only decorate all your Dwarfish caves with summer carnival paraphernalia – you also have a completely free mini-game to play as well. Play it well enough and you'll get to keep it after the summer event is over. And there are more achievements to go after!

All Tripwire games and DLC are currently available in the Steam Summer Sale at 50% discount.

For good measure, there are KF and Dwarfs!? goodies for free in the Steam Summer Camp Prize Booth, so start collecting achievements in your games!"

2K Games today released a new video with Creative Director Ken Levine, of Irrational Games, in which he explains that the full 15 minute demo video that was shown at E3 2011 will premier on SpikeTV on July 7th in a special 30 minute segment. The second half of today's video includes the first 2 minutes of the demo video as a preview. So, get pumped up for a video already!

"Originally conceived as a floating symbol of American ideals at a time when the United States was emerging as a world power, Columbia is dispatched to distant shores with great fanfare by a captivated public. What begins as a brand new endeavor of hope turns drastically wrong as the city soon disappears into the clouds to whereabouts unknown."

Valve sent word that a Steam summer sale is on now. Today's deals include "Medal of Honor", "The Witcher 2", "Obliviion", and "Operation Flashpoint: Red River" among others. The sale goes from now to July 10th.

"Dear Everyone:

Me, Syl, and Tappet arrived okay at Steam Summer Camp today.  A lot of our friends are here too.  The folks we left back at Valve–who all got pink-eye and couldn't go–said they'd put up the pictures from camp that we send them (after they're done posting the loads of Summer Camp daily sales and publisher packs on Steam each day).  The first one (with our new pals Marty and Max) is there now.  This morning, Syl drove Marty's car.  Tappet had to work the pedals, but we got it up to 87 miles an hour on the dirt!  We think we can get it to go faster tonight.

The counselors have planned a bunch of camp activities each day.  Like playing games gets you special Steam Summer Camp Achievements.  Then they say you get tickets for each Achievement you earn.  Big whoop, right?!?  But, guess what? There's a Prize Booth where you can trade your tickets for cool stuff.  I made the banner on the booth!

At the end of camp, they're giving away some really big prizes:  one-hundred campers get the top ten games on their Wishlist! They were going to have field day races for prizes, but not all of us have legs.

Gotta go.

Sir Roderick Bodkin & Syl & Tappet."

Deep Sliver today announced "Secret Files 3", a new installment in the adventure series by Animation Arts.

"True to the tradition established by its popular predecessors Secret Files: Tunguska and Secret Files 2, the game combines an exciting story with entertaining gameplay, mental challenges, and beautiful graphics. A writing team supervised by NEOS Film is on board for the series' third installment; having already worked successfully on TV and movie productions, they will help develop the game's plot, drama, and characters. FilmFernsehFonds Bayern supports this cooperation as part of its program for the promotion of computer games.

"We are happy to be working together with our long-standing partners, the adventure pros at Animation Arts, to enrich the Secret Files series still further, and to announce to the fans that a new, exciting game featuring Nina and Max is coming," says Dr. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Koch Media. "Secret Files 3 will provide adventurers with typical clever but fair puzzles and new locations – and a thrilling story."

"Following the success of the first two Secret Files games and the equally popular game Lost Horizon, we are glad that we can realize Secret Files 3 with Koch Media as well," adds Marco Zeugner, CEO of Animation Arts. "With the support of a professional writing trio, we will send Nina and Max on a truly breathtaking adventure."

The NEOS Film team has been offering story development for computer games for approximately two years now. "Story development for movies and television and for games is quite different. We all really enjoy this challenge and our creative participation in the continuation of the Secret Files series. After all, we are not just movie lovers, but also enthusiastic gamers," says Andreas Atzwanger, CEO of NEOS Film.

Deep Silver plans to release Secret Files 3 in 2012.
More details about the game will be revealed shortly.

www.secretfiles.deepsilver.com"

Paradox Interactive today released a new developer diary video with game designer Chris King on "Crusader Kings II", which focuses on the game's character database.

"In this deep character-driven strategy game, Europe is in turmoil. The lands are fragmented into petty fiefs, the emperor struggles with the Pope, and the Holy Father declares that all those who go to liberate the Holy Land will be freed of their sins. Now is the time for greatness. Expand your demesne and fill your coffers, appoint vassals, battle traitors, introduce laws while interacting with hundreds of nobles, and create the most powerful dynasty in medieval Europe."

The "Portal 2" blog has been updated with the announcement of the mapping contest winners.

"Patent Pending was the overall winner with Infinifling grabbing second place. The voting was so close, we added an honorable mention for Edifice.

Since we all know that the appreciation of your fellow man is not a real prize, they will all also be receiving the following:

• Jinx Portal 2 Gear
• Gels and a Shirt from Think Geek.
• Gear from Glitch
• More Shirts than you can wear in a week, enough Posters to wallpaper your cell, and more from Valve.
• Not pictured because we haven't even released them yet – the winners will also receive a Wheatley Laboratories Glow in the Dark T-shirt and the super cool 70s Portal 2 poster signed by the entire team.

Right now we know what you're thinking, "I'm an idiot. That's a ton of cool stuff! I should have entered that contest!"

First. You're right. Second, don't worry you still have a chance. This prize package pales in comparison to what Valve and The National have for the winners of the Portal 2 Music Video contest. Check the rules here and then get to work! You still have time to make your video, so no excuses – your wardrobe needs it."

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of "Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland", the second expansion in the series.

"Set between the years 1936 and 1948 Hearts of Iron III: For The Motherland lets you take charge, or delegate, at any level, from a single military division up to an entire nation across a wide variety of scenarios. Wage war on the battlefields of Europe, in the factories of the industrial superpowers, as well as at the negotiating table, in the deepest of all World War II strategy games.

Hearts of Iron III: For The Motherland is a digital download only release and requires both Hearts of Iron III and the first expansion Semper Fi to play.

KEY FEATURES

• War Goals and enforced peace – each member of a faction can demand their own slice and claim it when it is taken
• New Partisan system – build Partisan undergrounds to organize your resistance movements and battle not just the occupier but also other ideologies for control of the country
• Seize strategic resources to fuel your war machine
• New Theatre Interface giving greater strategic information
• Improved internal politics and a new coup system
• The return of the battle scenario system to offer new mini-campaigns

For more on Hearts of Iron III: For The Motherland visit the  official website."

Wargaming.net today announced a partnership with Interactive Gaming Software to publish "World of Tanks", the free-to-play MMO.

"The essential benefit of this partnership is the strong relationships with retailers across the United States gained by IGS. World of Tanks will be offering special boxed editions to their network available for only $19.99.

“We’re extremely proud to say that our headliner will finally appear in stores,” said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. “We are happy to partner with IGS and hope that their tremendous expertise in distributing retail production will help in bringing the popularity of World of Tanks to a completely new level.”

“World of Tanks has been incredibly popular in Europe," said IGS CEO and founder Paul Lombardi. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to help bring this stunning game to a North American audience. We also think this partnership has huge potential for both companies.”

World of Tanks is the first and only team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other tank fans all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 150 armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

Join World of Tanks:

• https://game.worldoftanks.com/registration/ (North America)"
• https://game.worldoftanks.eu/registration/ (Europe)

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of June 27th, 2011.

PC Games:

• Glowfish
• Hacker Evolution Duality
• Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland
• Nancy Drew: The Captive Curse

Movies opening this week:

• Crime After Crime (limited)
• Larry Crowne
• Monte Carlo
• Terri (limited LA/NYC)
• The Perfect Host (limited LA/NYC)
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon

DVD and Blu-Ray releases:

• 3 Backyards
• Above and Beyond [Blu-Ray]
• An Inconvenient Tax
• Ancient Aliens : Season Two
• Apollo 13 [Blu-Ray]
• Backdraft [Blu-Ray]
• Bad Company: Live at Wembley [Blu-Ray]
• Barney's Version [Blu-Ray]
• Beastly [Blu-Ray]
• Beneath Hill 60
• Billy the Exterminator: Season 3
• Black Moon [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Bloodworth
• Bloody Birthday
• Bringing Ashley Home
• Christopher & His Kind
• Dawn of the Dead [Blu-Ray]
• Dawning [Blu-Ray]
• Deep Ocean Experience 3D [Blu-Ray]
• Dog the Bounty Hunter: This Family Means Business
• Doobie Brothers: Live at the Greek Theatre
• Eddie Vedder: Water on the Road [Blu-Ray]
• Galaxy Express 999
• George Gently: Series 3 [Blu-Ray]
• Guilty Hearts
• Hot Fuzz [Blu-Ray]
• How the Universe Works
• In Bruges [Blu-Ray]
• Inside Man [Blu-Ray]
• John Muir in the New World
• Jumanji [Blu-Ray]
• Law & Order Criminal Intent: Season 6
• Lebanon, PA.
• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels [Blu-Ray]
• Mahler: Autopsy of a Genius
• Mamma Mmia! The Movie [Blu-Ray]
• Max Manus: Man of War [Blu-Ray]
• Michael Flatley Returns as Lord of the Dance [Blu-Ray]
• Nature: Bears of the Last Frontier [Blu-Ray]
• Nightmares
• Patricia Cornwell: At Risk
• Patricia Cornwell: The Front
• People on Sunday [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Perfect Man
• Phoenix Rising
• Phoenix Rising [Blu-Ray]
• Pride & Prejudice [Blu-Ray]
• Prize
• Rammbock: Berlin Undead
• Reviving Ophelia
• Rizzoli & Isles: The Complete First Season
• Season of the Witch [Blu-Ray]
• Serenity [Blu-Ray]
• Sleeping with the Enemy [Blu-Ray]
• Stuart Little [Blu-Ray]
• Suart Little 2 [Blu-Ray]
• Sucker Punch [Blu-Ray]
• Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
• The Baby
• The Far Pavillions
• The Last Starfighter [Blu-Ray]
• The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy [Blu-Ray]
• The Nesting [Blu-Ray]
• The Story of Queen Elizabeth II
• To the Ends of the Earth: Complete 3 Part Miniseries [Blu-Ray]
• Typeface
• U-571 [Blu-Ray]
• Uncle Buck [Blu-Ray]
• Unleached [Blu-Ray]
• Until They Sail
• Van Helsing [Blu-Ray]
• Wanted [Blu-Ray]
• Warehouse 13: Season 2
• Warrior's Way [Blu-Ray]
• Winnebago Man
• Zathura [Blu-Ray]
• Zazie Dans Le Metro [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Zombie Holocaust [Blu-Ray]

The US Supreme Court ruled that California's ban on the sale or rental of violent video games to minors is unconstitutional.  California State Senator Leland Yee (D – San Francisco) has apparently vowed to continue fighting against violent video games.

"Holding: California’s ban on the sale or rental of violent video games to minors is unconstitutional. The Court held that the law imposes a restriction on the content of protected speech and cannot satisfy strict scrutiny.

Judgment: Affirmed, 7-2, in an opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia on June 27, 2011. Justice Alito filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, which was joined by the Chief Justice Roberts. Justices Thomas and Breyer filed dissenting opinions."

Source: SCOTUS blog