PC Game News

Electronic Arts today released a new trailer for "Battlefield 3", giving viewers a glimpse at gameplay footage based on the current alpha code.

"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."

Trion Worlds today announced that the MMORPG "Rift" has launched and is now available in NOrth American retail stores and through digital distribution portals. The game will be available in Australia on March 2, pan-European countries on March 4, and in the UK on March 4.

"In Rift, the world of Telara is under siege from eight primal forces after the magical ward protecting the planet shatters. Joining either the technomagical Defiant or divinely-appointed Guardians, players assume the role of an Ascended hero brought back from the dead to fight the planar invaders and save Telara. Featuring an innovative class-building system, massive dynamic battles in an ever-changing world, and incredible social gameplay, Rift enters the online gaming arena as the new gold-standard in MMORPGs.

Available for Windows® XP, Windows® Vista, or Windows® 7, the Standard Edition, Digital Collector’s Edition, and Retail Collector’s Edition of the game sell for $49.99, $59.99 and $79.99 USD, respectively. Rift is also available as a digital download at www.riftgame.com/buynow."

Paradox Interactive today announced "Magicka: Vietnam" at GDC 2011, an upcoming expansion in the series by Arrowhead Game Studios.

"Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if wizards were allowed to roam the jungles of war-torn Vietnam, attempting to bring peace and stability to the region by casting spells on all opponents? Wait, you haven’t ever wondered that? Ever? Okay, so we’re probably the only ones who have but in our defense: here’s your chance to stop being so closed-minded. Magicka: Vietnam delivers over-the-top action as players take on the role of four meek and physically inept wizards as they try to do what so many 80’s action stars have done in the past: blow stuff up."

The promised "Crysis 2" multiplayer was released today, giving players a chance to try out the online portion of the upcoming sequel by Crytek.

"All versions of the new demo will include two maps, “Skyline” and “Pier 17”, as well as two modes “Team Instant Action” and “Crash Site”. Crysis 2 multiplayer will include six intense, action-fueled gameplay modes: Instant Action, Team Instant Action, Crash Site, Capture the Relay, Extraction and Assault, set across 12 maps in Crytek’s visually stunning recreation of the Big Apple. Players will advance through a deep progression system of 50 levels, earning a variety of upgrades along the way for weaponry and the Nanosuit itself, rewarding long-term players with tactical advantages that increase their speed, strength and stealth abilities even more."

The Demo is available to download from Steam, AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, GameUpdates (torrent), Strategy Informer, or Worthplaying.

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of February 28, 2011.

PC Games:

• Rift
  
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution
  

Movies Opening This Week:

• Abel (limited)
• Beastly
• Happythankyoumoreplease (limited)
• I Saw the Devil (limited LA/NYC)
• Rango
• Red State (limited NYC)
• Take Me Home Tonight
• The Adjustment Bureau
• Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (limited LA/SF)

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• 127 Hours [Blu-Ray]
• A Marine Story
• Bambi – Two Disc diamond ed. [Blu-Ray]
• Brenda Starr, Reporter
• Burlesque [Blu-Ray]
• Cake Boss: Season 3
• Cannes Man [Blu-Ray]
• Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice
• Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde – 35th anniversary
• Faster [Blu-Ray]
• Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection
• Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould
• I Clowns
• Legends of the Silver Screen: The Biographies Collection
• Love & Other Drugs
• Murder Investigation Team: Series One
• Pioneers of Television: Pioneers of Science Fiction
• Pioneers of Television: Pioneers of Westerns
• Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy – set [Blu-Ray]
• Road Trip Unrated Trilogy – set
• Robert Kennedy & His Times
• S.W.A.T.: Fire Fight [Blu-Ray]
• The Beverly Hillbillies – special ed. set
• The cable Guy [Blu-Ray]
• The Norman Conquests
• The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti [Blu-Ray]
• Troubadours: The Rise of the Singer Songwriter
• WWE: Royal Rumble 2011 [Blu-Ray]

Paradox Interactive today announced "Gettysburg: Armored Warfare", an upcoming RTS/FPS hybrid game by Radioactive Software that will be based on a free-to-play model.

"The hybrid Real-time- Strategy (RTS)/ First-Person shooter (FPS) game will offer 32 vs. 32 battles with multiple game modes as Union and Confederate troops fight to change the course of history. Developed by Radioactive Software, Gettysburg: Armored Warfare is powered by Paradox Connect, and scheduled to launch later this year.

Gettysburg: Armored Warfare is a free-to-play online game that merges RTS and FPS gameplay. With technology brought from 2060 to try and change the course of U.S. history, players will enter an alternate reality of the war as they fight for the North or South in 32 vs. 32 skirmishes. The game features persistent statistics which will showcase the best players in the game and offer modification and customization of player avatars.

Main Features:

• Free-to-Play
• 64 Players per server
• 4 maps ( 9km x 9km in size )
• Over 1,000 controllable units on the battlefield at once
• Play as Union or Confederate
• 10 Unit types
• Modifications & upgrades for units
• Persistent Point/XP system and Stat Tracking
• Upgradable avatars ( Using points/XP )
• 3 Unit game modes ( Only 1860s, Only hybrid 2060s, and All types )
• Paradox achievements

For more information visit: https://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/gettysburg-armored-warfare"

DreamCatcher and JoWood today announced that "Painkiller – Redemption" has been released through digital distribution portals.

"The player will continue the story of Daniel and Belial as they join forces for the first time to end the bloody conflict between heaven and hell. You will discover all new maps, fight off literally thousands of demonic fiends, and lose yourself in the intense gameplay rounded off with an absorbing heavy metal soundtrack.

The game also features a tactical component! While reaching your objectives in each level, you unlock Tarot Cards, which will soon prove to be very helpful! In additional to that, collecting souls of fallen enemies will temporarily transform you into a mighty demon!

Features:

• 7 to 10 hours of playtime
• Collect souls to transform into a demon
• Over 6000 enemies, more than any previous PK game!
•  Equip yourself with powerful tarot cards which can be found in secret rooms
• Up to 1000 monsters per map to ensure an intense battle with the army of hell

The game is available for purchase online for less than $5.00. "

Valve today announced plans for an upcoming "big picture" mode for Steam, which will allow users to use other screens in the house with the Steam library. Big picture mode will add controller support and navigation for TV interaction.

"Our partners and customers have asked us to make Steam available in more places. With the introduction of Steam on the Mac, and soon in Portal 2 on the PS3™, we've done just that," said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing for Valve. "With big picture mode, gaming opportunities for Steam partners and customers become possible via PCs and Macs on any TV or computer display in the house."

"Details regarding big picture mode are among the highlights Valve plans to share with developers and publishers in its partner meetings during GDC this week in San Francisco, Ca. "

1C Company announced that "Men of War: Assault Squad" has been shipped and is now available through digital distribution portals and at retail outlets.

"Men of War: Assault Squad features a completely new cooperative skirmish game mode with access to five different nations (Russia, Germany, USA, Commonwealth and – for the first time ever in the Men of War series – Japan) as well as increased realism and accessibility. "

For more information visit: https://www.menofwargame.com

A new launch trailer for "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution" has been released in preparation for the game's launch on Tuesday.

From the official blog:

"Although the beta has come to an end, the team here is on the final push to fix a few more bugs before the game goes live to you on Tuesday.  Here at Relic we consider the beta to have been a great success.  We received a huge amount of great feedback from all of you and we tracked down and solved several problems that would have been issues at launch.  Our matchmaking has been improved, our chat system is helping to build our community and doesn’t lag the game like it was at the start of the beta."

Electronic Arts and Crytek announced that a "Crysis 2" multiplayer demo will be released Tuesday, March 1 for the PC and XBOX 360.

"All versions of the new demo will include two maps, “Skyline” and “Pier 17”, as well as two modes “Team Instant Action” and “Crash Site”. Crysis 2 multiplayer will include six intense, action-fueled gameplay modes: Instant Action, Team Instant Action, Crash Site, Capture the Relay, Extraction and Assault, set across 12 maps in Crytek’s visually stunning recreation of the Big Apple. Players will advance through a deep progression system of 50 levels, earning a variety of upgrades along the way for weaponry and the Nanosuit itself, rewarding long-term players with tactical advantages that increase their speed, strength and stealth abilities even more."

Warmer Bros. released a new trailer for "F.E.A.R. 3", which focuses on environments, music and sound, and the "Almaverse"  (dark visions and situations) in the upcoming next installment in the series by Day 1 Studios.

"Alma returns in F.E.A.R. 3 but this time her sons Point Man and Paxton Fettel introduce divergent co-op, giving players distinctly different abilities affecting their own play as well as the experience of their co-op partner. "

Electronic Arts today released a new trailer for "Crysis 2" titled "Be Invisible", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming sequel by Crytek.

"In Crysis 2, the aliens have returned with a full invasion force bent on nothing less than the total annihilation of mankind. In New York, terrifying alien invaders stalk the streets and a nightmare plague strikes down the city's myriad inhabitants with brutal epidemic speed. "

Electronic Arts today announced that the "Dragon Age II" soundtrack will feature a re-imagining of "I'm not calling you a liar" by Florence + The Machine.

"Produced by award-winning composer  Inon Zur and Steve Schnur, and mixed by Jack Joseph Puig – known for his work with U2, The Rolling Stones, No Doubt and Green Day, the song appears in-game as “I’m Not Calling You A Liar (Dragon Age II: Varric’s Theme)”.Additionally, Zur returns to bring a wide range of dynamic music styles to Dragon Age II. From ethereal and mystical to bombastic and lyrical, his original score befits the game’s dramatic story and visuals and helps drive the heart-pounding action."

Lionhead Studios today announced that "Fable III" will be released in the US on May 17.

“Fable III for Windows takes gamers back to Albion for the next instalment of the beloved “Fable” franchise.  Players can take advantage of the same great action found on the console game as well as a full 3-D functionality made possible by NVIDIA technology and a PC-exclusive hardcore mode which offers a higher level of difficulty!"