PC Game News

Electronic Arts today announced that "Medal of Honor" has been shipped and is now available in North American retail stores.

"Set in today’s real-world war zone and inspired by actual missions in Afghanistan, Medal of Honor was developed with unprecedented access to the U.S. Army as well as active and retired Tier 1 Operators. The game brings a new level of authenticity to interactivity, inspired by soldiers’ stories from the war in Afghanistan, which the NY Times Magazine calls, “…transgressively real.”

Medal of Honor has impressed critics and fans around the world with its authentic environments, advanced graphics, and outstanding gameplay. As Medal of Honor ships today, it launches with great momentum. Some highlights:

• Highest pre-orders in the 11-year history of the Medal of Honor franchise.
• Supported by a global marketing campaign including multiple TV spots during Monday Night Football and out-of-home billboards in top 6 U.S. markets including attention-getting real estate in Manhattan’s Times Square.
• Over 180K Facebook fans and 25K Twitter followers before the game even shipped.
• Exposed Medal of Honor multiplayer to over 1M people across PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC platforms via two open betas to ensure the best performing multiplayer gameplay experience.
• PC Multiplayer Beta Peak Simultaneous Users (PSUs) outperformed EA’s previous record-holder Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 by 41%.
• According to internal estimates, Medal of Honor is slated to be the biggest blockbuster week-one event in October 2010 outpacing movies such as ‘The Social Network’ ($46M), ‘Secretariat’ ($12.6) and ‘Life as We Know It’ ($14.6). Box office estimates according to Boxofficemojo.com.
• Launched Linkin Park song “Catalyst” to #1 with music video set in the Medal of Honor fiction; 6.5M worldwide views to date making it #1 most viewed video on YouTube on August 1 and 2.

For the first time in its 11-year history, Medal of Honor leaves the WWII theatre and enters the modern setting of war-torn Afghanistan. The game is told through the lens of a small band of fictional characters within the real-life Tier 1 Operators, a relatively unknown instrument of the U.S. Military. Tier 1 Operators function under the National Command Authority to take on missions so dangerous, so specialized; they require an elite level of soldier. The unparalleled authenticity and realism in the Medal of Honor single player campaign is supported by a multiplayer mode awarded “Best Multiplayer of E3 2010” by GameSpy, with its dedicated servers and full feature set developed by DICE, delivering one of the most seamless online experiences of the year."

Paradox Interactive today released a new developer diary for "Crusader Kings II".

"Crusader Kings II explores one of the defining periods in world history and medieval Europe is brought to life in this epic title rife with rich strategic and tactical depth.

”What makes Crusader Kings unique among Paradox Interactives games is its character system and its RPG-like elements. The role of the player is clear since there is a ruler, a character, to identify with. The player is the king, and it's good to be the king! In Crusader Kings II, we aim to really hone in on the importance of characters – their personalities, interests and interactions – and to tone down the relevance of "countries". The sum total of the Prestige your successive rulers have gathered throughout the game determines your final score; not the size of your realm at game end. ” says Henrik Fåhraeus, Project Lead on Crusader Kings II

To read the complete developer diary, please visit: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?503167-Dev-Diary-1

The developer diary will be an ongoing feature published monthly on the Paradox forum. "

Paradox and NeoCore games today released a free "Allies" DLC pack for "Lionheart: Kings' Crusdae", which will be available to all customers who purchase the game before October 17. The DLC is available via the major digital distribution portals.

"You can add Taqi al-Din Umar, one of the trusted allies of Saladin that has been fighting alongside his vizier since they first moved to reclaim the Saracen lands. Or choose Arthur of Brittany that fought so bravely in the battle for Cyprus that he earned frequent comparisons with his legendary namesake.

Or you can bend the rules of history by adding Joan d'Arc, the enigmatic warrior-woman from another time and place and she will appeared in Jerusalem in a flash of blinding light claiming that God had brought her to free the Holy Land. At your disposal is also Lancelot, King Arthur's greatest champion, the most famous – and infamous – knight of the Round Table to the Crusader regime as you rewrite history."

The full list of details on the Allies DLC is posted on the official site.
 

Paradox Interactive today announced that "Lionheart: Kings' Crusade" has been released.

"From the acclaimed development team of King Arthur: The Role-Playing Game and Crusaders: Thy Kingdom Come, Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade is a real-time strategy game transporting players back in time between the years 1189 and 1192 during the Third Crusade, as they take their battle-hardened warriors in to the heart of battle and one of the most vicious wars in history.

Play as either Richard the Lionheart, the great English king and legendary warrior, set to invade and take back the treasured Holy Land once and for all, or as the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, the chivalrous Saladin who defends Jerusalem, patiently waiting and preparing his people for the oncoming invasion. Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade invites players to rewrite history through controlling and upgrading leaders and their armies, guiding various historical factions through political events, collecting relics, and unlocking new content in a feature-rich campaign set to take on the strategy genre by force."

Tripwire Interactive today announced the release of the "Incendiary" content pack along with the "PostMortem" character pack. These packs are free to owners of the game through Steam.

"Highlights of the content pack include:

• Four new maps – Hospital Horrors, Biohazard, Mountain Pass, and Suburbia
• New Firebug weapon – the MAC-10 firing incendiary rounds
• New money system – money now rewarded based on % of damage dealt rather than who gets the final shot, no more kill poaching for money!
• Balance changes for several perks including the Sharpshooter, Commando, and Demolition perks
• Bug and map exploit fixes

The character pack includes:

• Harold Hunt: Harold was the front man for the underground punk band "The Fecking Nancies", who played mingin' pubs and bars all over South London. And if he wasn't screaming into a microphone about anarchy and chaos he was out causing it by kicking the shite out of cockneys, chavs and pikies before stealing their bling. Courtesy of the Horzine outbreak, he's finding out what real anarchy and chaos is.
• Kerry Fitzpatrick: After disfiguring one inmate in his last prison fight, the others stopped calling "Kerry" a girl's name. During his transfer to the high-security psych ward at Broadmoor, he watched the guards get eaten by a herd of crazed, emaciated mutants. Kerry took pleasure ripping apart the monsters before looting the dead prison guards. From life in prison to a free man in seconds, Kerry has found a world where he truly fits in.
• Trooper Clive Jenkins: When he wasn't jumping out of airplanes and breaking heads for the British government, Jenks could usually be found getting rat-arsed in the pubs of Aldershot and picking fights with civvies. C Company was on standby when word of the outbreak struck. They loaded into the Herc and jumped over London. Straight into a mob of chainsaw-wielding nutters. Come and get some, ya ponces!
• Paramedic Alfred Anderson: Working nightshift for the hospital can be interesting. It's also a good place to stock up on supplies when the whole city has turned into a cannibalistic feeding frenzy. Well equipped and knowledgeable, Alfred's a good ally to have when a fleshless creature is beating down your door.

And the Special One-off Character: to celebrate the upcoming release of “The Ball”, we are releasing a new playable character for Killing Floor – the hero from The Ball – Harchier Spebbington himself. The character will be available exclusively to anyone who pre-purchases The Ball from Steam before the release on 26th October. Pre-orders for The Ball launch on 18th October 2010, so move quick because once pre-orders are finished no more of this exclusive character will be available. "

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of the independently developed expansion "Iron Cross" for "Hearts of Iron II", which is available on GamersGate.

"Developed by Irshappa, Iron Cross introduces a completely overhauled map with 4,000 new provinces, fresh scenarios as well an extended playtime of 1933 to 1964. New units and brigades, thousands of historical events, improved AI and an impressive new technology tree will ensure that Iron Cross elevates the Hearts of Iron II playing experience to unprecedented heights.

Key Features:

• Play as any one of over 200 nations from 1933 to 1964
• New game map with more than 4,000 new provinces
• Over 6,000 new events
• Technology tree with a realistic research system across 800 technologies
• New units and brigades including special forces, infantry and heavy artillery
• Improved AI with greater depth and more options

The expansion Iron Cross is compatible with Hearts of Iron II: Armageddon (Hearts of Iron II: Complete), Arsenal of Democracy and Darkest Hour (once released).

The Hearts of Iron II expansion Iron Cross is a digital download release only for 9.99 USD and available here: https://www.gamersgate.com/DD-IRCR/iron-cross"

CJ Internet today announced the launch of "Uncharted Waters Online", a historical MMORPG developed by TECMO KOEI GAMES. In addition, there is an in-game contest to win a cruise ticket.

"To celebrate the launch, and in honor of Columbus Day, CJ Internet is also hosting an in-game event simulating the first voyage of the great explorer Christopher Columbus himself. Players who complete the route will be awarded in-game money and items, with one lucky player winning the Grand Prize: a cruise ticket valued at $4,000 USD to a destination of their choice.

“Uncharted Waters Online^TM celebrates the explorer in all of us,” said Takeda Tomokazu, producer, TECMO KOEI GAMES. “We invite players to set forth on the stormy sea and set sail for the pages of history. Whether battling pirates or becoming a master of trade, this online adventure will inspire players to chart their own course through the game and beyond. And, with our Columbus Day promotion, one of our fans can live out their sea-faring dreams.”

Set between the Fifteenth- and Seventeenth-centuries, Uncharted Waters Online^TM players will have the chance to conquer hundreds of neutral cities to ensure that their nation becomes the world’s leading power. Sailors can choose to fly the flag of one of six nations: England, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal or Venice, buying or building ships to ready for battle, trade routes or exploration of new worlds. Featuring nearly endless lands to visit, thousands of artifacts to discover and more than 75 professions and 100 skills to master, Uncharted Waters Online^TM offers ample game play for hardcore and casual players alike.

For more information or to set sail for lands unknown, please visit the official Uncharted Waters Online^TM website at: https://global.netmarble.com/uwo/."

Eversim today announced the release of "Rulers of Nations", a geo-political simulation game.

"Players are immediately confronted with significant and ever-changing world situations requiring immediate action – just like real life – and they must quickly react to the resulting consequences of their actions.

Among many of today’s real-world challenges in Rulers of Nations are the U.S. budget deficit, the crises in Afghanistan and Iran and the persistent problem of climate change. Other critical issues are creating energy sources from solar to deep-sea oil drilling, managing refugees after a catastrophe, colonizing countries and buying black market weapons. Budding leaders will also face complicated and challenging scenarios of economic wars, armed conflicts, forging diplomatic alliances, spying, treason, and terrorist attacks.

Rulers of Nations, created by using the new Version 2.0 of Eversim’s powerful and most realistic geo-political game engine, is played on a detailed 3D world map showing 8,000 cities in 192 countries in a visually stimulating user interface with multiple windows and on-screen video inserts. Each country has current data on 400 key factors (economics, energy, monetary, military, etc.) based on current data from 50 international organizations including the United Nations, G20, NATO, NAFTA, and OPEC. Players can go solo or with friends (up to 16 online players) and decide if other human or simulated Heads of State are your friends or enemies.

Rulers of Nations offers a small taste of its in-depth strategy with a personality test at the official website, which is available at:

https://www.rulers-of-nations.com/"

The list of new PC games, DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and movies opening the week of October 4, 2010.

PC Games:

• Lionheart: Kings' Crusade
• Rulers of Nations

Movies Opening this Week:

• GhettoPhysics: Will the Real Pimps and Hos Please Stand Up?
• I Spit on Your Grave: Unrated
• Inside Job (limited)
• It's Kind of a Funny Story (limited)
• Leaving (limited)
• Life as We Know It
• My Soul to Take
• Nowhere Boy (limited)
• Secretariat
• Stone
• Tamara Drewe (limited LA/NY)

DVD and Blu-Ray releases:

• A Nightmare on Elm Street [Blu-Ray]
• All in the Family – The Complete Seventh Season
• Battle of Britain [Blu-Ray]
• Beauty and the Beast – Diamond Edition [Blu-Ray]
• Bones: The Complete Fifth Season
• Bullitt [Blu-Ray]
• Caprica: Season 1.0
• Elvis and Anabelle
• Holiday Inn – Special Edition
• Humphrey Bogart: The Essential Collection
• Jackass Unrated 3 Pack
• Leading en Collection
• Medium: The Sixth Season
• MGM Film Noir Collection
• MGM Holiday Movie Collection
• Oxford Murders
• Peanuts Holiday Collection
• SGU: Stargate Universe – The Complete First Season
• Splice [Blu-Ray]
• The Adventures of Robin Hood
• The Exorcist [Blu-Ray]
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly [Blu-Ray]
• The Human Centipede
• The Karate Kid [Blu-Ray]
• The Maltese Falcon [Blu-Ray]
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show: The Complete Seventh Season
• The Mission [Blu-Ray]
• The Secret of Kells [Blu-Ray]
• The Treasure of the Seirra Madre [Blu-Ray]

Sega today released a developer diary-like video showing off an example of a "ninja assassination" in the upcoming strategy sequel by Creative Assembly.

"Set during the golden age of Samurai warfare, Shogun 2 brings to life the most turbulent period of Japanese history."

Tripwire Interactive today announced that "The Ball", an action adventure title by Teotl Studios, has gone gold and is scheduled to be released on October 26.

"Pre-orders on Steam start 18th October 2010 with a special exclusive bonus for Killing Floor owners that get on the ball and pre-order before the 26th – the hero from The Ball as a fully playable character in Killing Floor!

“We are really happy to see The Ball get a full commercial launch. It is the first UDK-based game to get into stores and the previews show just how much a group of talented developers can achieve with the toolset,” said Mark Rein, Vice President of Epic Games. “Like previous success stories from the Make Something Unreal contest, such as Red Orchestra, it is a highly-polished standalone product – and a great fun game, too! This is a great example of why we put the effort into supporting the community with the UDK and the MSU contest.”

The Ball will be released on 26th October 2010 through Steam and eastern European retail stores and will roll out through other digital outlets and worldwide retail soon after."

Electronic Arts today announced that a "Medal of Honor" multiplayer open beta has launched and is live for 3 days.

"For just three days – until October 8 at 9am GMT – EA has pre-released a portion of the Medal of Honor multiplayer game, allowing thousands of players worldwide to see that Medal of Honor delivers unparalleled authentic action set in the unforgiving Afghanistan terrain using real-world weapons. The Open Beta also allows the development team to load-test the multiplayer servers to ensure easy connectivity and a smooth play experience when the game launches on October 15. Gamers can download the Open Beta today at www.medalofhonor.com/pcopenbeta."

Focus Home Interactive today released the official trailer for "Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition", which is scheduled to be released next month.

"Today, Jim and Bob, the famous commentators of Blood Bowl, present Blood Bowl Legendary Edition through the official trailer, less than a month away from the game’s release on PC.

This video is a unique opportunity to discover the numerous novelties featured in this Legendary Edition, after a previous version that has already attracted over 600.000 gamers worldwide in 2009.

Those considering the Legendary Edition as a simple extension of the game released in 2009 will certainly be surprised, as Blood Bowl Legendary Edition offers an incredible content with all the races from the original Games Workshop tabletop game, that are finally playable. Indeed, 11 new playable races with a unique style are joining the 9 existing ones, bringing a wide variety and a huge interest in this new Blood Bowl game. Players will also enjoy discovering the stunning new stadiums for a total of 9 gorgeous Blood Bowl arenas. New champions are also emerging as well as battalions of cheerleaders in fury, new game modes, a new campaign and many novelties and improvements making Blood Bowl Legendary Edition, the ultimate version that all the Blood Bowl fans dreamt of!"

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that "World of Warcraft: Cataclysm" will launch on December 7.

 The first two World of Warcraft expansions, The Burning Crusade® and Wrath of the Lich King®, each shattered PC game sales records upon their release.* In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races — worgen and goblins — will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they'll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

The beta test for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is currently underway. Visit the official Battle.net® website at https://www.battle.net to set up a Battle.net account and sign up for a chance to participate. To learn more about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, visit https://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm.

As you've probably noticed by now, things look a little different. We decided that it was time for an update, not only with the site design but also the name. We've been 2404.org since we launched, eight years ago, and over time we came to the realization that 2404 just wasn't working. Sure, it was unique but in my experience people always seem to have a difficult time remembering it, it has nothing to do with what we're doing, and we're not a non-profit organization. When we first registered the domain, we used it for a TFC clan site. There were no expectations or long term plans for the domain and none of us expected it to transform and evolve into a full-fledged PC gaming website.

I had looked for other domains in the past but I was never able to find anything that worked well. A forum moderator came up with CPUGamer.com and I was surprised that all of the domain extensions were available (.com, .net, .org). If you've never tried 2404.com before, it's an Asian shipping company. It might not be the best domain in the world but there weren't exactly a lot of options and it fits well with what we're trying to establish as a brand. We're obviously aware that consoles have central processing units (CPU) but the term is usually synonymous with computing.

As far as new features go, we have a new video page, and for the most part the entire design was updated. There are a few more things that are coming that didn't make it into this changeover today and as always, we are happy to hear what you have to say; feel free to contact us anytime with feedback.

All of the old 2404.org URLs will automatically forward to the new site but we suggest that you update your bookmarks. Thanks for your support and welcome to CPUGamer.