PC Game News

Bethesda today announced that "Brink" will now be released on May 10 in North America and May 13 in Europe, which is a week earlier from what was initially announced.

"Production wrapped on Brink earlier than we planned and we didn’t see any reason to keep gamers from getting their hands on this highly anticipated game as soon as it was ready,” said Pete Hines, VP of PR and Marketing for Bethesda Softworks. “It’s apparent from the tremendous reaction so far that people are eager to jump online and play, and if we can make that happen earlier – we’re going to.”

"Blending single-player, co-op, and multiplayer action into one seamless experience, Brink features dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system. Brink will be released for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows."

A new trailer for "The Secret World" was released today, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming MMOPRG by Funcom.

"For there really is a world within ours, a secret world, where magic exists, monsters roam and ancient forces are fighting for the dominance of earth. It is a world of legendary stories, ageless conflicts and powerful cabals. In this world, even modern cities hide secrets. In this world, players can take part in the greatest conspiracies of our age, and battle the forces of darkness across the world and throughout time.:"

Valve and Square Enix today announced that customers who pre-order "Dungeon Siege III" on Steam will receive free digital copies of both the original "Dungeon Siege I" and "Dungeon Siege II" games once the order is complete. In addition, Squre Enix announced that the game will be released in North America on Jun 21.

"In DUNGEON SIEGE III, players assume the role of one of four heroes, fighting for the sake of their fallen comrades to restore the land of Ehb. Conflict is constant in this action-RPG and decisions have lasting consequences, allowing players to alter the storyline. Choose to battle along with a companion or fight for honor with up to four friends via online co-op play. DUNGEON SIEGE III allows for two players to experience the story from start to finish in local co-op mode. Thanks to the robust AI, DUNGEON SIEGE III’s co-op multiplayer mode allows players to seamlessly drop in and out of battle without interrupting the action or impacting the campaign.

"Providing DUNGEON SIEGE I and DUNGEON SIEGE II free of charge through Steamworks is Square Enix’s way of showing appreciation to the fans of the DUNGEON SIEGE franchise," said David Hoffman, executive producer for DUNGEON SIEGE III. "Selecting Steamworks to be integrated into the upcoming DUNGEON SIEGE III title made perfect sense as we wanted to provide the best possible gameplay experience for PC gamers and long-standing fans of the series.”

For more information about DUNGEON SIEGE III, please visit the official website at: www.dungeonsiege.com."

Paradox Interactive today released a new gameplay trailer for "Supreme Ruler: Cold War", the next installment in the series by BattleGoat Studios.

"As the 1950’s approach, the Korean War looms, the Arms Race intensifies, and the world anticipates a new World War. As leader of the United States or the Soviet Union, you must make the correct Economic, Diplomatic, Domestic and Military decisions to successfully navigate your country through this dangerous historical era and increase your nation’s Sphere of Influence on the world stage. The trailer demonstrates Supreme Rules Cold War’s game-play, strategic complexity and depth, while also highlighting the tension during the cold war.

At this tumultuous time in history, the world craves a leader—will you be it?"

Hi-Rez Studios today announced that the next update for the shooter MMO game will bring free-to-play access to all of the game's content and maps. This update is scheduled to be released

"This update also introduces a new Dome Defense Raid as high-level player content, a CTF- style Mercenary PvP game-mode with pilotable robots, revised skill-trees across all four character classes, and other changes and content.

For an optional one-time purchase of $19.99 USD/13.99 GBP/15.99€, players may upgrade to Elite Agent status, which will accelerate the rate of earning character levels, gear, and currency and also grant access to premium features such as the login priority, auction house and in-game mail. All players that have previously purchased Global Agenda will be automatically upgraded to Elite Agent status.

Effective immediately, until the Free Agent expansion launches:

• Global Agenda is available for $19.99
• Upon release of the Free Agent expansion, any player who has purchased Global Agenda will automatically be upgraded to Elite Agent status"

TimeGate Studios announced that "Section 8: Prejudice" will be released on May 4 for the PC.

"Picking up where Section 8 left off, Prejudice reunites players with Captain Alex Corde and the 8th Armored Infantry, nicknamed Section 8 for their willingness to take on extremely dangerous missions. As they cope with the fallout of the war with the Arm of Orion, Corde's squad pursues the last of the resistance only to discover a mysterious new threat powerful enough to shake humanity to its core.

TimeGate also unveiled a loyalty rewards program for its dedicated Section 8 fans. TimeGate will unlock Section 8: Prejudice equipment upgrades for players of the original Section 8, based on the Level they attained as of April 20th, 2011. Anyone who played the original Section 8 will instantly unlock Aegis Armor and the Reactive Plating upgrade, while those who reached Level 25 will additionally unlock the Ablative Plating upgrade. The very dedicated players who attained Level 50 will also get the Explosives Amplifier upgrade. Provided players have not changed their Microsoft Gamertag or PlayStation®Network ID, the upgrades will be unlocked automatically.

For more information visit www.warisprejudice.com"

Paradox Interactive today released a developer diary video for "Hearts of Iron III: For the Motherland", the second expansion in the series that's set to be released in Q2 of this year.

"The second expansion to the critically acclaimed Hearts of Iron III lets you take charge – or delegate – at any level, from division to nation, through a variety of scenarios. Guide your country to glory from 1936 to 1948 – wage war on the battlefields, in the factories, and at the negotiating table, in the grandest of all World War II strategy games ever made.

Features

• War Goals and enforced peace, each member of the faction can demand their own slice and claim it when it is taken.
• New Partisan system, build Partisan undergrounds to organise your resistance movements and fight 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.
• Battle scenario system with several unique mini-campaigns."

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of "Darkest Hour", the stand-alone Hearts of Iron game, which is available via digital download.

"Emphasizing Paradox Interactive’s strategy of promoting outstanding development talent from within their modding community, Darkest Hour features a mixture of multiple length single player campaigns set against the backdrop of the darkest chapters of the 20th century, from the outbreak of World War I up to onset of the Cold War in the late 1940’s, as well as a multiplayer mode for up to 32 players.

Darkest Hour also introduces a new Artificial Intelligence that is now able to react and adapt to hundreds of different situations simultaneously, implementing a dynamic diplomatic system that will allow the player to have a real impact on the course of history.

Features:

• Multiple length single player campaigns set against the darkest historical periods of the 20th century
• Online multiplayer mode for up to 32 players
• New game map redesigned to offer greater detail as well as improved strategic and tactical opportunities
• Dynamic diplomatic system giving the player greater influence on the course of events
• New Artificial Intelligence capable of reacting to hundreds of different situations"

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-ray releases, and movies opening the week of April 4, 2011.

PC Games:

• Battlefield Play4Free
• Hoard
• Shadow Harvest: Phantom Ops

Movies opening this week:

• Arthur
• Born to Be Wild
• Ceremony (limited LA/NYC)
• Hanna
• Meek's Cutoff (limited LA/NYC)
• Soul Surfer
• Your Highness

DVD and Blu-Ray releases:

• Arabesque
• Arthur / Arthur 2: On the Rocks – set [Blu-Ray]
• Batman Beyond: Return of Joker [Blu-Ray]
• Casino Jack [Blu-Ray]
• Desert Son
• Eclipse Series 26: Silent Nature – set [Criterion Collection]
• Friday Night Lights: The Fifth Season
• I Love You Phillip Morris [Blu-Ray]
• iCarly: Season Two, Vol. Three
• Kung Fu Panda – pandamonium double pack [Blu-Ray]
• Lark Rise to Candleford – complete collection
• Life Unexpected: The Complete First and Second Season
• Little Fockers [Blu-Ray]
• Masterpiece Classic: Any Human Heart
• Roger Corman's Action-Packed Collection – set
• Rope of Sand
• Taxi Driver [Blu-Ray]
• TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Legends – Bette Davis – set
• TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Legends – Marlon Brando – set
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [Blu-Ray]
• The Cove [Blu-Ray]
• The Mountain
• The Night of the Generals
• The Tagwacores
• Tron: Legacy [Blu-Ray]
• Tron: The Original Classic [Blu-Ray]
• Tyler Perry's House of Payne 7

Electronic Arts today announced "The Sims 3 Generations", a new expansion pack focusing on humorous and memorable moments from the teenage years to adulthood, which will be released this spring.

"From new celebrations to dramatic life events, The Sims 3 Generations offers gamers all-new ways to express their Sims’, characters unique to The Sims, creativity. Players will be able to capture and keep track of their Sims’ life moments with in-game cameras and upload and share their Sims’ memories on www.TheSims3.com via the new memory system. Players start off in the imagination-fuelled world of childhood, where they can take dance classes, misbehave with their imaginary friend or goof around in one of three themed tree houses; space rocket, wooden shack or princess. Players may then move on to embrace the drama of the teen years by pulling elaborate pranks such as exploding toilets, color dye in the shower or ding dong ditch, become prom king or queen, or forget the school dance and throw a raging party at their parents’ house. There will be even more creative options to explore with a brand new chemistry set, but they’ll need to use caution, or their Sims might turn themselves into a ghost. As adult Sims, players ride the wave of freedom. They can attend or plan bachelor and bachelorette parties, throw lavish weddings, and go through a mid-life crisis where they may change their hair, style, and more. With a wealth of new options and activities, Sims’ lives are sure to be more interesting in The Sims 3 Generations.

For more information about The Sims 3 Generations or The Sims 3, please visit www.TheSims3.com."

Valve today released another new trailer in the "investment opportunities" series highlighting turrets in the highly anticipated sequel.

"Introducing the consumer version of the Turret. They come in hundreds of designer colors, fire entire bullets – that's 65% more bullet per bullet and is the same technology we've been using on robots for decades. We box them up and ship them to your doorstep so you can protect the things that matter most."

"Portal 2 is the best documentary-style investment opportunity game we've ever contributed to," said Gabe Newell, President of Valve, "and we're confident that savvy investors will immediately see the value in these product demonstration videos."

The fourth and final installment of the "Product" series of Aperture investment videos will be released next week.

A new trailer for "Shift 2 Unleashed" was released today, giving viewers a look at cornering in the recently released racing title by Slightly Mad Studios.

"Do you have the guts to take a corner at 190 mph? Time Attack Champion Chris Rado talks about walking the fine line between racing glory and disaster.

Are you driving on that thin line or are you going too far? Only in SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED can you really test your limits and attack those corners."

Paradox Interactive today announced that sign-ups for the closed beta for "Defenders of Ardania" have begun.

"Ink your signature on scrolled parchment (well, enter your details online) before midday on Monday the 11th of April! If you are selected for a place in the Closed Beta, you will receive a confirmation e-mail the 15th of April.

Defenders of Ardania  is set in the rich fantasy world of Majesty, but with a twist. Besides the addictive core mechanics of placing towers to stop advancing enemy units, Defenders of Ardania also allows players to take on the role of the attackers seeking to conquer the enemy base. The game will be available in Q3, 2011."

Sign up for the Defenders of Ardania Closed Beta now at: https://beta.paradoxplaza.com/

Interwave Games today announced that "Nuclear Dawn" is now scheduled for a release in September of this year. Additionally, players who pre-order the game, when pre-ordering is available, will be entered into the closed beta and may get a chance to participate as early as August.

"The game that’s been already on sale on Steam three times so far could not let April’s Fool day pass by without an announcement, and the only way to do so properly is to announce our new release schedule, along with some details on how to participate in the upcoming closed beta.

Nuclear Dawn will be released in September 2011. Which date, you ask? When it’s done, we say.Pre-orders will open sixty days before the release date, and players will be able to purchase the game as early as July 2011. Players who have pre-purchased the game will be automatically invited to the closed beta, and will be able to play Nuclear Dawn as early as August 2011.

For more info visit www.nucleardawnthegame.com."

Electronic Arts today announced the launch of "Battlefield Play4Free", which combines the maps from Battlefield 2 with classes and weapons from Bad Company 2.

"Battlefield Play4Free raises the bar in the free-to-play space even further with 16 different vehicles including the Mil Mi-28 attack helicopter, its nemesis the F35 VTOL jet fighter, the massive Russian T-90 main battle tank, and the hard to catch LSV light strike vehicle.

Players progress through the game to learn new combat skills, and earn in-game currency to spend on a massive array of devastating weapons and equipment to propel players to victory in 32-player online battles. Battlefield Play4Free simulates the career of a professional soldier and as player’s progress, they can upgrade their physical capabilities, available equipment and combat expertise. At every level the player is creating a more unique, more customized soldier and creating their own, personal playing style to take to the battlefield.

Players can also rock out on the battlefield to the latest song ’Age of Rage’ from Swedish heavy rockers CORRODED. This heart pounding single is featured in the game and the launch trailer released online today. ‘Age of Rage’ will be included in the band’s upcoming second album, ‘Exit to Transfer’.

For more information on Battlefield Play4Free, please visit https://battlefield.play4free.com"