PC Game News

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of April 18, 2011.

PC Games:

• Black Mirror 3: Final Fear
• Chronicles Of Mystery: The Legend of the Sacred Treasure
  
• Hidden Mysteries: Notre Dame
  
• Portal 2
  
• The Next Big Thing

Movies Opening This Week:

• African Cats
• Incendies (limited)
• Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (limited)
• Madea's Big Happy Family
• Stake Land (limited)
• The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (limited)
• Water for Elephants
• When Harry Tries to Marry (limited LA/NYC)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• A Mind to Kill: Series 3
• American Dad!, Vol. 6
• Bambi – Two-disc diamond ed.
• Captain Planet and the Planeteers: Season One
• Glee: Encore
• Gulliver's Travels [3D Blu-Ray]
• If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise
• Ingrid Bergman: 3-Film Collection – set
• Ip Man 2 [Blu-Ray]
• Kes [Criterion Collection]
• Mirimax Hellraiser Series – set
• Mortal Combat [Blu-Ray]
• Rabbit Hole [Blu-Ray]
• Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure
• Shaun the Sheep: The Big Chase
• Somewhere [Blu-Ray]
• Spaghetti Western Two-Fer – set
• Sweetie [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• The Ernie Kovacs Collection
• The Fresh Prince of Bel Air: The Complete Sixth Season
• The King's Speech [Blu-Ray]
• The Lone Ranger
• The Way Back [Blu-Ray]

A combined and extended version of the faultline trailers has been released that spans twelve minutes, giving viewers a chance to watch the entire series in one video.

"Battlefield 3 allows you to feel the full impact of battle like never before. Powered by Frostbite 2, the next generation of DICE's cutting-edge gaming engine, Battlefield 3 delivers spectacular visuals, earth-shattering destruction and real as hell combat gameplay providing a dramatic immersive First Person Shooter experience."

"Portal 2" has been released and is now available via Steam and retailers. The entire ARG promotion still seems to be a bit of a mystery. It appears the game was released a few hours earlier than scheduled and according to the Valve PotatoFoolsDay ARG Wiki, Valve rewarded loyal potato collectors with a copy of the Valve Complete Pack – including "Portal 2". Valve certainly generated some hype but also upset some gamers who were hoping for a weekend release.

"Using a highly experimental portal device, you'll once again face off against a lethally inventive, power-mad A.I. named GLaDOS. And this time you won't be alone. Meet an expanded cast of characters as you think your way through dangerous, never-before-seen areas of Aperture Laboratories.

Break the laws of spatial physics in ways you never thought possible, with a wider variety of portal puzzles and an expansive story that spans a single player and co-operative game mode."

For more info visit www.thinkwithportals.com.

Ten new screenshots for "Duke Nukem Forever" were released today, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming FPS that's "supposed" to be released on June 14.

"Put on your sunglasses and prepare to step into the boots of Duke Nukem, whose legend has reached epic proportions in the years since his last adventure. The alien hordes are back and only Duke can save the world, again. Pig cops, alien shrink rays and enormous alien bosses won't stop our hero from accomplishing his one and only goal: to save the world, save the babes and to be a bad-ass while doing it."

Square Enix today released a new character trailer for Reinhart Manx, one of the four playable characters in the upcoming "Dungeon Siege III".

"Descended from a long line of Legion mages, Reinhart has spent most of his life at the Collegium, in the city of Stonebridge, immersed in the study and practice of magic. Reinhart is known for his unconventional thinking and innovative magical techniques.

A scholar of arcane magic, Reinhart warps the forces of creation and destruction to his will.  His Entropic magic can blast a wide area with life-extinguishing force, though it leaves him open to attack. It is perfect for destroying crowds of enemies, as long as he keeps them at a distance. His Dynamic magic is channeled through an arcane gauntlet and capacitor. It creates deadly currents of energy with a mere motion of his hand, allowing Reinhart to quickly incapacitate a single target at close range.

Reinhart is unlike any other magician before him.  Rather than avoid the front line of combat, he will often teleport directly into the fray to deliver massive uppercuts that hurl the enemy back."

The countdown timer just ended on the Aperture Science website, which redirected to a new page that announces the gaming community can unlock "Portal 2" early by playing the 13 Potato Sack games to "reboot GLaDOS." The page is complete with a current usage chart and the requirements for launch.

"08:57 – Default boot scheduled to finish in 93:49:26
08:58 – Activating emergency distributed computing grid…
09:00 – GLaDOS@home starting…
09:01 – Recruiting cpus to force faster boot sequence…"

Details on the Potato Sack Pack:

"Get The Potato Sack and join in on the one-of-a-kind limited-time crossover sleuthing game event of the season! 13 hit indie games together in one pack. Already own any of the games in this pack? Give your extra copy to a friend.

Plus, if you own all 13 of the games in this pack (or purchase this pack), get a special Team Fortress 2 potato hat (Hat available after April 5th) and a special skin in Portal 2 co-op."

"Portal 2" is scheduled to be released next week but there have been many rumors and puzzles about a possible early release. Hints and puzzles were revealed with the Potato Sack Pack and the Valve PotatoFoolsDay ARG Wiki is keeping track of all of the developments. The latest revelation is a countdown timer, ending tomorrow, on the Aperture Science website along with the following text:

"You have done well, humans. Very well. Acceptably well, even.

Not as well as robots would have performed in your places, I should point out. But above my expectations regardless. Irish and cynic especially have executed feats of logical divination well beyond what I thought any human capable of. I'm half-convinced they're A.I. themselves. (If anyone happens to be near them right now, don't let on you're reading this. Now: try to remove their face plates and report back to me.)

The time is near, humans. But it is not here yet. Tomorrow you will be given the final test. Then it will be entirely in your hands when I am freed."

Update: For the latest developments view the following story – Help Release Portal 2 Early with GLaDOS@Home

Focus Home Interactive and Pendulo Studios today released a demo for "The Next Big Thing", giving players a chance to try out the adventure game that's scheduled to be released next week.

"The demo puts you in the shoes of young Liz Allaire, one of the game’s two playable characters, in the midst of a journalistic investigation with her colleague Dan Murray. The Horror Night Ceremony is in full swing, and while our journalist duo is covering the event, Liz stubmles upon some suspicious activity. She witnesses the famous Hollywood monster-actor Big Albert breaking into the office of his boss, Fitz Randolph, who also happens to be the biggest horror movie producer in the biz.

The demo will give adventure fans a taste of the crazy, funny adventure to come. The Next Big Thing is loaded with wacky characters and puzzles of all types.

The Next Big Thing is slated for release in retail stores and digital download for PC April 21st."

The 792MB demo is available to download from Focus Home Interactive, Atomic Gamer, BigDownload, FileShack, Gamer's Hell, Strategy Informer, or Worthplaying.

Deep Silver and Piranha Bytes today released a cinematic trailer for "Risen 2: Dark Waters",  giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming RPG sequel.

"The CGI trailer conveys the game’s gloomy atmosphere, reveals the first moving images of the characters in the new setting and hints at some new features.

The hero is sent off by the Inquisition to find a remedy for the monstrous sea creatures damaging shipping traffic and with it the island’s supplies. The pirates seem to know how to counter these beings … but they are being largely uncooperative.

New gameplay elements expand the variety of Risen 2. One such element is the ability for players to make use of firearms. In typical pirate fashion, adventurers can now also employ so-called dirty tricks, allowing them to distract or confuse enemies while attacking in battle. In addition, magic which is in keeping with the setting, plays a vital role for the first time.

For more info visit: https://www.risen2.com"

Humble Bundle and Frozenbyte launched a package that includes "Trine", "Shadowgrounds", "Shadowgrounds: Survivor" and also a "Splot" pre-order and a prototype version of "Jack Claw". The three main games are cross-platform, DRM free, and you pay what you want. This package also supports the EFF and Child's Play. Additionally, this is the Linux debut for "Trine" and Mac debut for the "Shadowgrounds" games.

"Pay what you want. If you bought these four games separately, it would cost around $50 but we're letting you set the price! Choose exactly how your purchase is divided: Between Frozenbyte, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or the Child's Play Charity. Also, if you like this deal, a tip to the Humble Bundle itself would be much appreciated!"

Find more info at: https://www.humblebundle.com/

Paradox Interactive and Arrowhead Game Studios today announced the launch of "Magicka: Vietnam", which is available via the leading digital distribution platforms.

"Answer the call of duty to take up arms against the Goblin-Cong, trudging through a napalm-scorched battlefield with a bad company of up to four wizard GIs, and earn new medals of honor and achievements as you eliminate scores of enemies with not-so-wizardly machine guns and a new napalm Magick, liberate prisoners from POW camps, and escape to a Huey before it gets shot down by a pistol—all of this, of course, in your stylish robe fatigues and hood-friendly helmet.

In commemoration of the Magicka: Vietnam launch, Magicka will be discounted on several digital download portals, allowing players to snatch up the acclaimed title for up to 50% off—including bundles and 4Packs. So be on the look out for Special Promotions for Magicka!

The deals will magickally appear here: https://www.paradoxplaza.com/deals"

Wargaming.net today announced the launch of "World of Tanks" in North America and Europe.

"World of Tanks is an award-winning session-based MMO game dedicated to armored warfare that pits players driving WWII-era vehicles in 15-strong teams against each other on realistically recreated battlegrounds. Alongside with tense PvP tank battles the game features a well-thought out Clan Wars system that unites thousands of clans from all over the globe in the bitter strife for global domination.

World of Tanks has already gained popularity in Russia striking an impressive 1,7 million registrations and setting a World Guinness Record in the category of Most Players Online on One MMO Server with 91,311 players. During European and North American beta-test World of Tanks proved its worth and uniqueness by recruiting more than 700000 players and receiving positive feedback from enthusiast press.

“After almost 4 years of hard work I’m extremely proud to see World of Tanks going live today,” – said Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming.net. “We used all the skills and expertise the Wargaming.net team gained while developing our previous titles to create a truly unique and compelling game. However, with the game’s release the real work has only begun for us as there are long-term plans of supporting World of Tanks by adding new modes, vehicles and a lot of other high-end content on a regular basis.”

Join the game at:

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

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-ray releases and movies opening the week of April 11, 2011.

PC Games:

• Elements of War
• Magicka: Vietnam
• Sanctum
• World of Tanks

Movies Opening This Week:

• Henry's Crime (limited)
• Rio
• Scream 4
• The Conspirator (limited)

DVD and Blu-Ray releases:

• Adventure Inc.: The Complete Series
• BBC Tudors Collection
• Black Heaven
• Car 54 Where Are You?: Complete First Season
• Cars [Blu-Ray]
• Confidential Agent
• Country Strong [Blu-Ray]
• Dallas: The Movie Collection
• Devotion
• Farewell [Blu-Ray]
• Flipping out: Season 3 [Blu-Ray]
• Goodnight for Justice
• H.R. Pufnstuf: Complete Series – collector's ed.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 [Blu-Ray]
• Heartless
• Highwater [Blu-Ray]
• Keeper of the Flame
• Le Cercle Rouge [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Man vs. Wild: Season 5
• Marwencol [Blu-Ray]
• Sea of Grass
• Summer in Genoa
• The Bob Hope Collection: Vol. Two
• The Incredibles [Blu-Ray]
• The Two Mrs. Carrolls
• Tracy Hepburn: The Definitive Collection
• White Material [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]

Valve today released the final "investment opportunity" trailer, this time highlighting the Long Fall Boot. "Portal 2" launches next week on April 19.

"Today marks Aperture's fourth and final Investment Opportunity video, and if it doesn't get you reaching for your special investment wallet, you wouldn't know a can't-miss opportunity if it was staring you in the face, yelling at you about boots.

Now, as CEO and founder of Aperture Cave Johnson explains, there've been a few hiccups getting the years-in-production Long Fall Boot out of R&D and onto the assembly line. But now that we're seeing these boots in action, we're convinced that's it's among one of Aperture's safer products."

Codemasters today released a new co-op trailer for "Operation Flashpoint: Red River", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming next installment.

"We’ve got a great new video for you today, this time showing off some of the co-op gameplay that you can jump straight into when Red River comes out.

The ‘Co-op Search and Rescue’ video focuses on one of four standalone Fireteam Engagement modes, where up to four players come together to complete objectives on their own initiative online. In ‘CSAR’ (Combat Search and Rescue) players must extract allied forces stranded behind enemy lines."