A new trailer for "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings" was released today, giving viewers a tease before the release tomorrow.
"The second entry in the Witcher saga is characterized by an incredibly gripping, mature and challenging non-linear plot. In addition, the new combat system is even smoother and guarantees a greater variety of tactical possibilities."
Eidos websites and "Deus Ex" accounts have reportedly been compromised by a sub-cell of the Anonymous group. According to Krebs on Security, the main Eidos.com website along with the Deus Ex website and forum were unreachable Thursday morning. Additionally, the "Deus Ex" site was defaced Wednesday night.
"KrebsOnSecurity.com obtained an archived copy of the attackers’ online chatter as they were covering their tracks from compromising the sites. A hacker using the alias “ev0″ discusses having defaced the sites and downloading some 9,000 resumes from Eidos. ev0 and other hackers discuss leaking “src,” which may refer to source code for Deus Ex or other Eidos games. In a separate conversation, the hackers also say they have stolen information on at least 80,000 Deus Ex users and that they plan to release the data on file-sharing networks."
You can read the entire report on KrebsOnSecurity.
A new "Diablo III" gameplay video highlighting the followers system surfaced today, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming next installment in the RPG series by Blizzard Entertainment. This is apparently a leaked video.
From the video it appears that you will be able to recruit three different followers: Enchantress, Scoundrel, and Templar.
"When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram Cathedral seeking clues to defeat new stirrings of evil, a fiery harbinger of doom falls from the heavens, striking the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. This fire from the sky reawakens ancient evils and calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells once again."
New screenshots for "Deus Ex: Human Revolution" were released today, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming next installment by Eidos Montreal.
"In DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION you play Adam Jensen, a security specialist, handpicked to oversee the defense of one of America's most experimental biotechnology firms. But when a black ops team breaks in and kills the scientists you were hired to protect, everything you thought you knew about your job changes."
Gala Networks Europe today announced the launch of "Allods Online", the MMORPG by Astrum Nival.
"The launch will be celebrated in-game with a special event for all players that will see special anniversary coins scattered across the universe of Sarnaut. Also available as drops from slain foes the anniversary coins can be traded with merchants at capital cities for a variety of high-quality in-game gifts. These include special wings, fireworks, outfits and even a unique light grey wolf mount. The coins will be available for a month from today, 11.5.11 to 14.6.11.
Volume 4: Astral Odyssey brings a huge amount of content for existing players and newcomers to Allods Online. High-level players from level 42 upwards can look forward to two brand new zones; “Kirah” and the “Isle of Revelation”, which will both provide players with many quests with new and amazing rewards. Daily events now take place several times per day, such as demon invasions on land and in the Astral space, heroic rescues and more. Astral space conquerors will be getting new layers in the deep Astral Space and 6 new allods to explore and fight in. The final bonus for experienced players is that the level cap will be raised to 47 and that several formerly paid items will now be free in-game or in the boutique following the community feedback during the beta.
For newcomers to the game, beginners’ packages, filled with many useful free items from the Boutique, will be automatically offered to every character that completes the starter zone, including a larger backpack. As they progress, additional packages will be unlocked every few levels until the character reaches level 30. Players will be able to enjoy over 2,000 quests at launch, with much more still to come.
For more information and to discover Allods Online and the world of Sarnaut for free on the gPotato.eu portal, players can simply register accounts and download the full game at: https://en.allods.gPotato.eu/Download/Client.aspx."
The "Portal 2" blog has been updated with the announcement of the release of "Portal 2" Authoring Tools, which are freely available to PC owners of the game. If you want to install the tools you can find a link under the "Tools" tab in Steam.
The Portal 2 Authoring Tools include versions of the same tools we used to make Portal 2. They'll allow you to create your own singleplayer and co-op maps, new character skins, 3D models, sound effects, and music.
Here's what's included:
If you want to get started on the beta, we suggest joining two mailing lists:
This is beta software, so if you have any problems or issues, please send them to the p2mapper email list.
Get out there and show us what devious puzzles you've all been brainstorming!
The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of May 9, 2011.
PC Games:
Movies Opening This Week:
DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:
Square Enix and IO Interactive today officially announced "Hitman: Absolution", a new installment in the series that will be showcased at E3 next month. A teaser trailer was released along with the announcement.
"HITMAN ABSOLUTION follows Agent 47™, a cold–blooded assassin, who takes on his most dangerous contract to date. Betrayed by those he once trusted — and now hunted by the police — he suddenly finds himself at the center of a dark conspiracy and must embark on a personal journey through a corrupt and twisted world.
“For the first time we are taking Agent 47 on a personal journey which allows us to explore other parts of the Hitman® fantasy,” said Tore Blystad, game director, IO Interactive. “This is both a familiar and yet significantly different experience from other Hitman games; something our silent assassins will relish, as will all those new to the Hitman world.”
HITMAN ABSOLUTION will be showcased by invitation only at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles from June 7–9.
HITMAN ABSOLUTION is not yet rated. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.
For more information and updates about HITMAN ABSOLUTION, please visit the official website: www.Hitman.com"
Bethesda Softworks today announced that "Brink" has been shipped and is now available in North American retail stores.
"Brink, an immersive first-person shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, was named as the 'Game of Show' at Eurogamer Expo 2010, while Destructoid.com proclaimed"it's going to be one of the standout shooters of the year."
Brink allows you to develop your character playing alone, with your friends, and against others online. Featuring dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system, Brink lets you choose your side, Security or Resistance, as you engage in heated battle for control of the Ark. Once an experimental, self-sufficient and 100%"green" habitat, the Ark is now home to the original founders, their descendants, and thousands of refugees made homeless by the rapid rise of the Earth's oceans.
Decide the combat role you want to assume as you fight to save yourself and mankind's last refuge, one that is on the brink of all-out civil war.
Brink is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Brink, visit www.brinkthegame.com."
It seems obvious to most people by now that the episodic game model simply doesn't work for complex, non-casual mainstream games. There are multiple examples of it flat-out failing – see "Sin". In a new interview with Develop, Gabe Newell has confirmed what everyone believed to be the case with "Half-Life 2": episode installments aren't working. What is a bit puzzling though, is that he states that Valve wants even shorter development cycles. Some unique intellectual property has to be developed at some point, right? Anyway, the interview is an interesting read and provides more insight into what the bigwigs at Valve are thinking.
Here are a few snippets, you can read the entire interview at Develop:
“We went through the episodes phase, and now we’re going towards shorter and even shorter cycles,” Newell said.
The ‘games as a service’ credo is to create games that are platforms in themselves; content that can be rapidly reconstructed through a series of updates.
“For me, ‘entertainment as a service’ is a clear distillation of the episodic content model,” Newell added.
Likely the most popular example of this newer system is Team Fortress 2, a game that since 2007 has received over 200 updates. New weapons, new customisation options and even a in-game market have been added to the game.
“If you look at Team Fortress 2, that’s what we now think is the best model for what we’ve been doing,” Newell said.
Focus Home Interactive and Spiders Studio today announced that "Faery: Legends of Avalon" is now available for the PC via digital distribution.
"Today, Focus Home Interactive and Spiders are proud to announce its digital release on PC! Faery: Legends of Avalon is now available for download on the official website's online store, and many other digital distribution platforms.
Faery: Legends of Avalon is a role-playing game set in a unique atmosphere illustrated by beautiful graphics. Magic, original creatures, colorful characters, battles against fearsome monsters, a great story accompanied by many side quests make for 10-15 hours of gameplay. Faery is now available for download on PC, for only $14.99(US) – £11.99(UK) – €14.99(EU)."
Fore more information visit: Faery-thegame.com.
A launch trailer for "Brink" has been released, giving viewers one last look at the FPS by Splash Damage that launches tomorrow.
"With Brink releasing tomorrow in North America, we’ve just released the game’s official launch trailer.
For those looking to play the game at the strike of midnight, call your local retailer to see if they have a midnight opening. And if you’re playing on Steam and Direct2Drive, you’ll be able to unlock the PC game at midnight EST."
Tripwire Interactive and the "Darkest Hour" development team have released a large update for the "Darkest Hour" mod, which is available to download free from Steam for "Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45" owners.
"This content update features 2 new weapons, 6 new roles, 11 new maps and 13 new playable vehicles – we said it was a huge update!
The new maps:
Ally vehicles:
German vehicles:
In addition, there are new crewable mortars, a new set of roles – and a very long list of other changes. For the full details, head for the Darkest Hour website at https://www.darkesthourgame.com"
It may not be in the best taste but it was bound to happen. A fy_abbottabad map has been released by an independent developer for "Counter-Strike: Source" based on the now notorious compound in Pakistan. "Counter-Strike: Source", the next installment to the immensely popular team-based multiplayer "Half-Life" modification "Counter-Strike", was released in 2004 and remains one of the most popular online games.
"Counter-Strike: Source blends Counter-Strike's award-winning teamplay action with the advanced technology of Source™ technology. Featuring state of the art graphics, all new sounds, and introducing physics, Counter-Strike: Source is a must-have for every action gamer."
The map can be downloaded from GameBanana.
Thanks /r/gaming.
Eidos Interactive today announced that "Deus Ex: Human Revolution" will be available to purchase through Steam and will support several Steamworks features.
"DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION™ is making a triumphant return to its franchise PC roots, with digital availability on Steam®, the leading online platform for PC games and digital entertainment, as well as in boxed copy form at retailers worldwide at launch in August 2011. Eidos-Montreal has chosen this agreement with Steam because of its esteemed capability for an enhanced experience for the PC gamer, with boosted functionality and easy accessibility.
DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION will support a host of Steamworks® features such as auto-updating, Steam Achievements and Steam Cloud support. Available in the standard version and the robust Augmented Edition on Steam, gamers will be able to enjoy the Deus Ex experience of their choice. The Augmented Edition boasts a digital 40-page art book, a “making of” special, trailers, animated storyboard of the CGI trailer, motion graphic novel, soundtrack, and a free download of the Deus Ex Game of the Year Edition.
Telling the story of Adam Jensen, a man cybernetically augmented against his choice who finds himself in the middle of a global conspiracy to which he holds the key, DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION is set in a near-future world where humanity is at a turning point. By offering players the chance to play the game in multiple and vastly different ways, DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION challenges the foundations of gaming and provides an immersive experience where every choice has a lasting consequence.
DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION is available now for pre-order on Steam at special limited-time pricing of $44.99 (standard version) and $53.99 (Augmented Edition), for release on August 23 in North America.
This title is not yet rated. For more information about DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION visit www.deusex.com"
