PC Game News

Valve announced that the Darkspore Open beta is now available through Steam. Steam also has an exclusive pre-purchase offer – a four-pack for the price of three, allowing you to send extra copies of the game to friends.

"Darkspore is an online Action-RPG where you can play up to four players in co-op and PvP. Instead of playing a single hero character, you collect and control many heroes, each with their own unique set of special abilities. Battle across alien worlds to collect loot that you can use for upgrades. Deeply customize your heroes in an Editor based on the award-winning Creature Editor technology from Spore™."

Valve today released another new "Portal 2" trailer in the "investment opportunities" series titled "Bot Trust", highlighting the use of robots in the upcoming sequel.

"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.

"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."

Further videos will release at thinkwithportals.com every week leading up to the release of Portal 2 on April 19th."

Square Enix and Obsidian Entertainment released a new character trailer for "Dungeon Siege III", highlighting Katarina in the upcoming RPG sequel.

"DUNGEON SIEGE 3 seamlessly blends intuitive action gameplay, a robust RPG system featuring a large selection of abilities, an extensive multiplayer component and the depth of story Square Enix and Obsidian Entertainment are known for creating."

Activision and Treyarch today announced the release of "First Strike", a DLC pack for "Call of Duty: Black Ops". To celebrate the release, a double XP weekend began today.

"Call of Duty®: Black Ops First Strike, published by Activision Publishing, Inc. and developed by Treyarch, is now available worldwide for Windows® PC. The first DLC offering for Call of Duty: Black Ops adds five new maps and is available for purchase through Steam, GameStop, Direct2Drive, and other digital download partners.

The DLC expands on the Black Ops experience with new multiplayer maps "Berlin Wall," "Stadium," "Discovery," and "Kowloon." For Zombie fans, Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike also features an all new Zombie level, "Ascension," where players fight against perk-stealing zombie monkeys, flesh-eating Soviet zombies and more in a trap-filled, Cold War era Cosmodrome.

Starting today, enjoy a Double XP weekend on the PC as Treyarch offers double the normal amount of experience points for multiplayer in Call of Duty: Black Ops.

For additional information and updates, please visit www.callofduty.com/blackops"

DreamCatcher and JoWood today announced that "SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny" has been delayed indefinitely. The stand-alone add-on hasn't been canceled and will release when it's done.

SpellForce 2 – Faith in Destiny has not been cancelled, but further improvements & polishing are necessary. JoWooD Entertainment argues the rumours: "The official AddOn of SpellForce 2 – Faith in Destiny will be completed in due time", explains Reinhard Pollice, Producer JoWooD Entertainment. "Our highest priority is the quality of the game. The development is already in an advanced stage, but the game experience will be further enhanced in some sectors – like multiplayer stability. Due to this improvements the release of the game cannot yet be determined, we’ll go with 'when it’s done'."

Another new Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer was released today, which features three different ways to approach the same level.

"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."

Take a guess at what has happened to the release date of "Duke Nukem Forever". We don't even want to post this but it's relevant so get your groans ready: Duke Nukem Forever has been delayed until June. The release date for North America is now June 14, and June 10 internationally.

"In case you haven't heard, Duke never comes early," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "We're committed to deliver a laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect experience that people will talk about for years to come. We thank Duke's fans for their continued patience – I promise this won't take another 15 years."

"I'm very sorry for the added delay. We've all been working extremely hard and are very eager to deliver the game to you," added Pitchford. "I've been thinking of these lyrics from the great country song, 'He's The Duke' – 'He told us if we waited we could Come Get Some, but I never knew Forever was going to be so long.' If you're like me, June cannot come quickly enough."

For more info visit www.dukenukemforever.com

Fatshark today announced the released of "Appendoah Valley" on Steam, a new free DLC pack for "Lead and Gold". In addition, a free weekend for the game begins today.

"The farmers and miners in Appendoah Valley are experiencing a conflict of interest, to say the least. Tensions have grown steadily and when Old Jessup, head of the McKenna clan, proclaimed “This vale ain’t big enough for both of us” the ongoing petty harassment and shenanigans soon escalated out of control.

The McKennas took dynamite to the railroad tracks, and sabotaged the life line of the Mining operation. In response, the Krug Mining Company flooded parts of the McKenna crop fields.  Both sides have now gathered a veritable army of the worst dregs to soil the face of the west. Rustlers, cutthroats, desperados, hired guns and mercenaries have been amassed for an epic battle to decide the fate of the vale.  When the dust has settled, the new kings of Appendoah Valley will be crowned.

Dedicated to the Lead and Gold community, Appendoah Valley sees a variety of player paths, a wide choice of gameplay styles and several stylish locations for shooting off hats."

THQ today released new details on "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine", announcing that the game will feature Orks and the forces of Chaos. In addition, a release date of August 2011 was revealed.

"Space Marine puts players into the role of one of humanity’s elite soldiers, as they battle to protect an Imperial Forge World from a millions-strong Ork invasion. But this isn’t all that faces Captain Titus of the Ultramarines. When Titus makes planet-fall, he soon realizes that the forces of Chaos are lurking in the shadows pulling the strings for their own nefarious purposes.

The addition of Chaos forces adds more variety to the Space Marine single-player campaign by complementing the animalistic and horde-like Orks with a much more powerful and strategic enemy. While Titus can dispatch dozens of Orks alone, the Chaos Space Marines are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with him, especially with the support of Renegade Militia, Tainted Psykers and Bloodletter Daemons, among other units. 

Set in the rich Warhammer 40,000 universe created by Games Workshop®, Space Marine is scheduled to be released worldwide for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC in August 2011."

Bohemia Interactive today released a new patch for "ArmA II", bringing the war simulation game to version 1.09. The announcement also mentions that ArmA II: Reinforcements will be released in April.

Fixes:

• I2 – mission is no longer failing before the takeoff
• C1,I1 – SD pistol mags were missing
• C5 – high command icons were not loaded
• C6 – task waypoint for transporting important POW is fixed
• C3 – smuggler not shooting
• I1 – Shilka was too strong
• I1 – Razor is hunting down one enemy on the whole of Chernarus
• Minor fixes in (CZ/RU) dubbing protocol

The update is available on the game's home page:  www.arma2.com.

Ubisoft today announced that "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" has been shipped and is now available in North American retail stores.

"The critically acclaimed single-player experience of Assassin’s Creed is back and better than ever as Ezio returns in an epic struggle against the powerful Templar Order. Now a legendary Master Assassin, he must journey into Italy’s greatest city, Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire Brotherhood that will rally to his side. Only by working together can the Assassins defeat their mortal enemies.

And for the first time, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood offers a never-before-seen multiplayer layer. Players can help the Templars by using Abstergo to train in the art of Assassination to eliminate the Assassins once and for all. Players can choose from a wide range of unique characters, each with their own signature weapons and assassination techniques, and match their skills against other players from all over the world in different game modes.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, please visit: https://www.assassinscreed.com. "

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-ray releases, and movies opening the week of March 21, 2011.

PC Games:

• Assassin's Creeed: Brotherhood
• Crysis 2
  
• Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
  
• The Sims Medieval
  

Movies Opening this Week:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
• Miral (limited)
• Peep World (limited LA/NYC)
• Potiche (limited LA/NCY)
• Sucker Punch
• White Irish Drinkers (limited LA/NYC)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• 4 Movie Marathon: Classic War Collection – set
• 4 Movie Marathon: Classic Western Collection – set
• A Brady Bunch of Movies – set
• Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle 1 – set
• Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle 2 – set
• Bedrooms
• Berkeley Square: The Complete Series
• Death Race: Unrated – 2 movie box set [Blu-Ray]
• Elizabeth / Elizabeth: The Golden Age – double feature [Blu-Ray]
• Garfield Double Feature – fat cat double pack [Blu-Ray]
• Hawkeye: The Complete Series
• How Do You Know [Blu-Ray]
• Jackson County Jail / Caged Heat – double feature
• Meskada
• Michael J Fox Comedy Favorites Collection – set
• Our Hospitality [Blu-Ray]
• Riddick Collection – set [Blu-Ray]
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King: The Complete Second Season
• Scary Movie 4 [Blu-Ray]
• Sesame Street Essentials Collection: Milestones
• Skyline [Blu-Ray]
• Stand By Me – 25th Anniversary Ed. [Blu-Ray]
• The Ambassador – The Complete Series
• The Lost Missile
• The People I've Slept With
• The Tourist [Blu-Ray]
• The Vanguiasher [Blu-Ray]
• The Venture Bros.: Season 4, Vol. 2
• The Venture Bros.: The Complete Season 4 [Blu-Ray]
• WWE: Survivor Series 2010 [Blu-Ray]
• Yogi Bear [Blu-Ray]

Valve today released a new promotion video for "Portal 2" titled "Panels", showcasing panel features in the upcoming sequel. This is the first of four videos focusing on "investment opportunities" and is narrated by Cave Johnson.

"The first video, titled "Panels", showcases one of the many lucrative products in development at the applied sciences company. Narrated by Aperture CEO and founder Cave Johnson, it offers a fascinating glimpse at the future of test environment construction.

"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."

Further videos will release at thinkwithportals.com every week leading up to the release of Portal 2 on April 19th."

Electronic Arts today announced that "The Sims Medieval", the new stand-alone addition to the series, has been shipped and is now available at retailers worldwide.

"Set in the Middle Ages, players will find themselves faced with new ways to play with life like never before. As they build up their kingdom, players create Hero Sims in a range of professions including knight, bard, wizard, priest, blacksmith and spy. Playing each Hero Sim is different, as players control the Sim’s professional life as well as take on the varied adventures of the quests. Other new gameplay elements include diplomacy with neighboring territories, and of course medieval punishments.

The Sims Medieval is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about The Sims Medieval please visit www.TheSimsMedieval.com."

A new gameplay trailer was released today, showing off different tactics and approaches in the upcoming sequel by Eidos.

"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."