PC Game News

Microsoft today revealed "Age of Empires Online" at GamesCom, a new addition to the strategy series.

"With more than 20 million copies sold worldwide, the “Age of Empires” series redefined real-time strategy games for Windows-based PC players. Now, the timeless franchise once again invites players to experience its rich storyline in new ways. Developed by Robot Entertainment, “Age of Empires Online” will invite players to create a living, growing online world, shared with Page 2 of 4  friends and friendly rivals around the globe. Begin the journey with your own Greek civilization, and watch as it progresses from a village to an empire. Embark on quests along the way, alone or with friends, and immerse yourself in epic tales, quirky characters, adventure, history, and  strategy. Together with the Games for Windows – LIVE service, “Age of Empires Online” delivers a rich, social experience that lets you play however you want — anywhere, anytime.

Marrying fresh features with iconic gameplay, “Age of Empires Online” offers something for long-time fans, newcomers, and everyone in between. “Age of Empires Online” will feature:

• A persistent online capital city that lives and grows even when you’re offline
• Cooperative multiplayer quests, trading, and a level-based system that lets you
• progress at your own pace
• Fun, approachable style and storylines
• Free-to-play experiences via Games for Windows – LIVE 

More information, news, and chances to join the beta program are available at https://www.ageofempiresonline.com."

THQ today announced "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution", an upcoming expansion in the real-time strategy series that is scheduled to be released in Q1 of 2011.

"Taking place years after the events in Dawn of War II: Chaos RisingTM, this title allows players to choose their perspective with the first multiple-race single player campaign in the Dawn of War II series. The first race to be revealed is the savage Orks, but no matter which race is chosen players will be taken on an epic journey through each story arc, revealing the answers to many questions left open in previous Dawn of War titles.

As well as the single player campaign, RetributionTM will feature new multiplayer units, maps and an entire new playable faction when it ships.

Jeff Lydell, Producer of Dawn of War II – Retribution commented: “We all love the Blood Ravens here at Relic Entertainment, but there are also a lot of fans of the other races and armies out there so we decided that Retribution should allow the player the freedom to experience the campaign from the perspective they select.”

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution is scheduled to be released for Windows PC in the first quarter of 2011."

New screenshots from "Fable III" were released today, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming sequel by Lionhead Studios.

"Fable III sets the stage for an unparalleled action and adventure experience, in which you will be called upon to rise from revolutionary to ruler of Albion. The choices and sacrifices you make while fanning the flames of revolution, and then as you rule as King or Queen, will lead to an ever evolving world of consequences that will be felt across your entire land."

A trailer for "Patrician IV" has been released, giving viewers a look at the upcoming simulation sequel by Gaming Minds Studios.

"This new video demonstrates key gameplay elements, including the game’s deep yet accessible trading system, stunning graphics and exciting naval battles. For more information about Patrician IV, which will release in September for Windows PC, please visit www.patrician4.com .

Originally released in 1992 for the Amiga and Atari ST, the Patrician brand has sold over 2 million units worldwide, and has earned the respect of strategy gamers the world over. Patrician IV will build upon the already solid reputation of its predecessors with a whole new art style combined with a redesigned and newcomer-friendly trading simulation engine.

In Patrician IV, the player takes on the role of a young merchant in the area of the Baltic and North Sea during the late Middle Ages, the zenith of the Hanseatic League and its naval trading empire.

Starting from meager beginnings as a small stall trader, players must use every skill at their disposal to rise through the merchant ranks and become the most powerful merchant in Europe. The authentic supply and demand-based trading system allows players to grow their business and head out to the high seas to form trading routes with other Hanseatic cities negotiating better prices for the buying and selling of goods.

Patrician IV is being developed by Gaming Minds Studios GmbH, a studio created with members of the original Patrician development team, and will be available on Windows PC across Europe from 10th September."

Capcom released new DirectX 11 screenshots of "Lost Planet 2" at GamesCon, giving viewers a look at the high quality graphics in the upcoming sequel.

"Lost Planet 2 picks up 10 years since the events of the original adventure and the landscape has evolved dramatically. With the success of terraforming activities, the planet's ice has begun to melt, giving way to lush tropical jungles and other new environments. The story has advanced beyond Wayne Holden as players will now follow the exploits of their own customized snow pirates on their quest to seize control of E.D.N III. Players will move their heroes through different stories creating a truly unique and interactive experience. With this concept, gamers will have the opportunity to engage in the story in a more dynamic way as plot threads evolve from various perspectives."

Kalypso today announced "Tropico 4", a new upcoming sequel in the strategy series by Haemimont Games.

"Tropico 4 sees you return as El Presidente, the tyrannical (or benevolent) dictator of the island paradise of Tropico. The world is changing and Tropico is moving with the times – geographical powers rise and fall and the world market is dominated by new players with new demands and offers – and you, as El Presidente, face a whole new set of challenges. If you are to triumph over your naysayers you will need to gain as much support from your people as possible. Your decisions will shape the future of your nation, and more importantly, the size of your Swiss bank account.

Tropico 4 features all new missions across new maps and includes exciting and fun new features to keep the action fresh and challenging. You can even elect ministers into power to help get your more controversial decisions passed through the government. But remember to keep your friends close and your enemies closer as everyone has an agenda!

Tropico 4 also brings a new level of social interaction with the addition of Facebook and Twitter integration (PC version only). Post comments on Twitter direct from the game and have updates go out when you complete missions or unlock new achievements. You can even take screenshots of your island and post them on your Tropico 4 Facebook page and compare your interactive Dictator ranking on the online leaderboards. Every little bit helps when you are bringing your island into the 21st Century!

Features:

• New campaign consisting of 20 missions on 10 new maps
• 20 new buildings including Stock Exchange, Shopping mall, Aqua Park and a Mausoleum to El Presidente
• Six new Interactive disasters including volcanoes, droughts and tornadoes
• Council of Ministers – appoint selected citizens to ministerial posts in the government to help push through your more controversial decisions
• National Agenda – receive objectives from Tropican factions, foreign geopolitical powers or opportunities relating to current island events such as ongoing disasters
• Facebook and Twitter integration – post live Tweets directly from the game or create posts automatically upon completion of missions, unlocking achievements, etc. Store and display achievements on a Tropico 4 Facebook page and see their how your Dictator rankings fare against other players (PC only feature)
• Screenshot gallery – take screenshots of your tropical paradise and share on your Facebook page (PC only feature)
• Trading system – import and export goods to/from other nations to boost your economy or production

Tropico 4 is currently in development by Haemimont Games and is scheduled for release in Q2 2011. For more information please visit https://www.kalypsomedia.com"

The GSC Games World website has been updated with the announcement of "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2".

"GSC Game World announces S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 – the official sequel to best-selling game series – in development now. A completely new multi-platform technology developed by GSC will make the core of the game.

"After the official sales of the series exceeded 4 million copies worldwide, we had no doubts left to start creating a new big game in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe. This will be the next chapter of the mega-popular game players expect from us" – said Sergiy Grygorovych, CEO of GSC Game World.

The game is scheduled for release in 2012."

Paradox Interactive today released "Victoria 2", a new strategy game set during the colonial era of the 19th century.

"Created by the developers of Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron, Victoria 2 is set during the colonial era of the 19th century featuring historical gameplay on a map of the entire world. Guide your nation from the era of absolute monarchies in the early 19th century, through expansion and colonization in hopes of becoming a truly great power by the dawn of the 20th century.

“The pre-order exceeded our expectations, but we should have seen that coming,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “Victoria 2 provides the right combination of history, simulation and strategy—exposing a game meant to challenge and excite the ultimate gamer.”

Victoria 2 is available today for digital download on all leading digital distribution platforms and European stores. Visit https://www.victoria2.com/game-info/buy-the-game for a complete list of places to purchase the game.

For more information, join the community on https://www.facebook.com/victoria2game, visit https://www.victoria2.com, https://www.paradoxplaza.com or follow on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/victoria2game"

2K Games and Irrational Games announced "BioShock Infinite", a new upcoming sequel in the series.

"Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky. BioShock Infinite is currently planned for release during calendar 2012.

Originally conceived as a floating symbol of American ideals at a time when the United States was emerging as a world power, Columbia is dispatched to distant shores with great fanfare by a captivated public. What begins as a brand new endeavor of hope turns drastically wrong as the city soon disappears into the clouds to whereabouts unknown.

The player assumes the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the lost city to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned there since childhood. He develops a relationship with Elizabeth, augmenting his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities.

“We are excited to expand the world of BioShock, which is one of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and beloved franchises,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “We believe that Irrational Games will lend their meticulous attention to detail and unique storytelling expertise to make BioShock Infinite an incredible entertainment experience that will immerse new and diehard fans of BioShock alike.”

With the original BioShock, Irrational Games won “Game of the Year” awards from Game Informer, IGN, G4’s X-Play, and BAFTA and redefined what players expect from a first-person shooter. “But when it came to begin work on BioShock Infinite," said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, "we only had one rule: No sacred cows. This game is both true to what people love about the series and unafraid to question every assumption."

Levine continued, "In order to explore the floating city of Columbia, we needed an entirely new engine. To bring Elizabeth to life, we had to build brand-new animation and AI systems. To create wide-ranging indoor and outdoor firefights at 30,000 feet, we had to rethink, rebuild and expand the BioShock arsenal. The only thing gamers can be certain of is this: the rules of the BioShock universe are about to change."

BioShock Infinite is in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®, and is not yet rated by the ESRB.

For more information on BioShock Infinite please visit www.bioshockinfinite.com. "

Microsoft released 5 new screenshot from "Fable III", giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming RPG sequel.

"Fable III sets the stage for an unparalleled action and adventure experience, in which you will be called upon to rise from revolutionary to ruler of Albion. The choices and sacrifices you make while fanning the flames of revolution, and then as you rule as King or Queen, will lead to an ever evolving world of consequences that will be felt across your entire land."

Wargaming.net released a new trailer for "World of Tanks", showing off the tank destroyer class of vehicles.

"The trailer showcases the whole new class of combat vehicles available in the game – tank destroyers – pointing out both their strengths and weaknesses. The video touches upon tactics and strategies the! players driving these monstrous tank-crackers can use to contribute to their side’s win.

Tank destroyers play a crucial part in World of Tanks team-based gameplay. Efficient usage of their enormous firepower and long shooting range supported by smart positioning on the battlefield is the factor that decides the final outcome of almost every fight.

“Operating a Ferdinand or SU-152 is like safari hunting, “says Nick Katselapov, producer of World of Tanks.” Everything is under control as long as your targets stay at long range and nothing will stop you from picking off a tiger or panther. But as soon as the “kitties” approach your positions there’s hardly a way to survive.”

Join the beta at: https://game.worldoftanks.com/registration/cbt/

For more information on World of Tanks, visit https://www.worldoftanks.com/.https://www.worldoftanks.com/."

2K Games and Gearbox today announced "Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution", an upcoming DLC pack that will be released next month.

"Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution invites single-player and co-op fans back to try to suppress a deadly Claptrap revolution using one of four infamous vault hunters. The foursome find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a deadly civil war between the Hyperion Corporation’s well-armed armadas and the ever-amassing army of homicidal Claptraps led by one of the most eagerly awaited characters in the franchise’s history – the cunning Ninja Assassin. As vault hunters, players must put aside their past differences with the Hyperion Corporation, namely the organization’s repeated attempts to wipe them from existence. For a hefty payday, they will join forces to help beat down the mechanical uprising and thwart the dastardly kung-fu expert, the Claptrap known only as Ninja Assassin.

“A year ago Borderlands was an untested brand that through hard work and a lot of passion, turned out to be one of the best-selling, claptastic and skagtacular games we have ever created,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “A year later, we are releasing our fourth DLC installment, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution, which illustrates our enthusiasm for creating highly entertaining content that enhances a franchise. In addition to serving as the perfect bookend to the original game, what gamer doesn’t love a kung-fu-wielding Ninja Assassin Claptrap with nunchuck skills?”

Like its add-on predecessors, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution offers extensive co-op integration that seamlessly melds single and multiplayer experiences, and incorporates the most explosive role-playing shooter fun imaginable. Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution will provide more than 20 new missions to loot and tons of fresh enemies to blast through, including original boss battles, waves of homicidal Claptraps, well-armed Hyperion soldiers, and local creatures that have been Claptrap-ified – including crab-traps, rakk-traps and skag-trapps. Fans can earn an additional 10 skill points for a total of 71 available skill tree points, and three more backpack slots for additional blood-yielding weapons and many hours of enjoyment.

For more information, please visit www.borderlandsthegame.com."

The list of new PC game releases, DVD and Blu-ray releases, and movies opening the week of August 9, 2010.

PC Games:

• Victoria II

Movies Opening This Week:

• Animal Kingdom (limited LA/NY)
• Eat Pray Love
• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
• Tales from Earthsea
• The Expendables

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases:

• Adam 12: Season Five
• Beverly Hills Cop Collection
• Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinaire
• Crumb [Criterion Collection Blu-Ray]
• Daffy Duck: Frustrated Fowl
• Date Night [Blu-Ray]
• Death at a Funeral [Blu-Ray]
• Death in Venice
• Helen
• Horror High Anniversary Ed.
• In the Shadow of the Moon [Blu-Ray]
• Letters to God
• Loui Bluie [Criterion Collection]
• Max Headroom: The Complete Series
• National Lampoon's European Vacation [Blu-Ray]
• National Lampoon's Vacation [Blu-Ray]
• Numb3rs: The Complete Series
• Raw, The Beginning – The Best of Season 1 and 2
• The Diplomat [Blu-Ray]
• The Joneses [Blu-Ray]
• The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan
• Titan Maximum: Season One
• Trauma: Season One
• Triage
• Under the Mountain
• What's Up Doc? [Blu-Ray]

A "Mafia II" demo has been released on Steam, giving players a chance to try out the upcoming sequel by Illusion Softworks.

"Vito Scaletta has started to make a name for himself on the streets of Empire Bay as someone who can be trusted to get a job done. Together with his buddy Joe, he is working to prove himself to the Mafia, quickly escalating up the family ladder with crimes of larger reward, status and consequence… the life as a wise guy isn’t quite as untouchable as it seems."

Activision today released a new multiplayer teaser trailer for "Call of Duty: Black Ops", the upcoming sequel by Treyarch.

"The follow up to the Best Selling Game of All Time, Call of Duty: Black Ops is an entertainment experience that will take you to conflicts across the globe, as elite Black Ops forces fight in the deniable operations and secret wars that occurred under the veil of the Cold War."