StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty released
Jul 27th
That's right people, after over 12 years, Actizzard (nee Blizzard) have pumped out the next instalment of e-sporting RTS & sci-fi epic StarCraft II (well, part of it anyway).
In related news, nobody in South Korea turned up for work today! Officials are currently investigating whether the two items are linked...
Kinect to retail for £130, new Arcade unit revealed.
Jul 20th
Microsoft have announced that the Kinect will launch in November for a RRP of £129.99.
It comes bundled with Kinect Adventures - so the initial hit isn't too bad but it's still about £30 more than it really should have been.
Microsoft also confirmed that the new Arcade equivalent will go on sale on the 20th August and will again feature no hard drive and will come with 4GB of internal memory. It will retail for £149.99. There will also be a £250 Kinect bundle of the new 4GB Model and Kinect when Kinect launches.
Cecil-icious: Doctor Who: The Adventure Games Episode 1 Released **UPDATED**
Jun 2nd
The first episode of 'Doctor Who : The Adventure Games' (ugh) has arrived for PC (the Mac version is due on the 15th).
If you're in the UK, you can get it now, whilst everyone else will have to wait for some sort of retail release - details of which might well be forthcoming in July. In the mean time, some words from Charles Cecil can be read here, including...
So, here we are, with a week to go before release of 'City of the Daleks'. This week I played through the game many times, looking for minor tweaks that could be made - and then agreeing with the teams at the BBC and Sumo what could and what could not be changed. Clearly nothing could be done which could threaten the release date. And on Wednesday I had to stop, to let the final testing and master preparation conclude without my interference. I had to let go. And now I wait nervously.
We'll bring some thoughts once we play it!
**UPDATE**
MCV carries word from Auntie Beeb that the current release is essentially beta, with tweaks still being made ahead of the 'official' release on Saturday after this weekends TV episode.
“We’re testing the system with an almost-final version of ‘City of the Daleks’ ahead of the official release date,” Anwen Aspden, executive producer at BBC Wales, told MCV.
“The reaction so far has been overwhelming, but we’re still investigating whether we should tweak certain elements up to release on 5th June. So whilst those who’ve downloaded and enjoyed it in its current iteration have the advantage of playing through it early, there may be some minor tweaks coming.
"We’re running a launch trailer for the game immediately after Saturday’s episode of Doctor Who, that’s when we expect the servers to come under the most strain – we’ll let everyone know if the finished article is available ahead of then.”
Also, CNS can bring you Charles Cecil's response when asked whether he had any comment on the early release.
Not Really
“A Note from Aperture Science” – Portal 2 E3 event cancelled
Jun 2nd
Dear Subject Name Here,
Aperture Science is pleased to inform you that we have partnered with Valve to announce the gala CANCELLATION of the June 14 Portal 2 event at the Regal Theater. The event will be replaced by a surprise. And even though the cancellation of the event certainly counts as a surprise, we are pleased to further announce that the cancellation of the event is not THE surprise. However, per International treaties regarding the definition of the word “surprise”, of which both Aperture Science and Valve are signatories, the time, date and content of the actual surprise will only become available as you experience the surprise.
If you’d like to ask fruitless questions about the E3 Portal 2 surprise or, more fruitfully, schedule an appointment to attend a Portal 2 screening at the Valve booth during E3, please contact Valve’s Special Envoy to Surprises, Doug Lombardi.
Thank you for < RECORD SCRATCH!!! >
PS: The surprising record scratch is also not the surprise.
What could it mean?
Thanks RPS
Incase you missed it, the Steam for Mac/Free Portal/Portal 2 teaser is after the cut.
F.E.A.R. 3 Co-Op First Look – **Live Action Video Warning**
Jun 2nd
We know F.E.A.R. 3 is coming, the promotional box art is stupid, John Carpenter is directing live-action cutscenes and Point Man still has no name, but compensates... with a beard!
Obvious we will have to wait until release to see if the problems of F.E.A.R. 2 have been stamped out, but in the mean time, here's some footage of Data from Star Trek... ON FIRE!
No, seriously, it's the third trailer for F.E.A.R. 3, this time starring Paxton Fettel, which outlines how the two halves of the co-op experience combine - Whilst Fettel lines them up with telekinetic powers and possession, Point Man mows them down with bullets.
Fun!
Good Not Really That Old Games – Kings Bounty on GOG.com
Jun 2nd
Whilst GOG.com have generally stuck to their fantastic remit (old, frequently out-of-print games minus all DRM), they have offered up the odd stinker that really stretches the definition of the term Good Old Games.
Now, not content to rest on their laurels, they've taken it to the next level by offering Kings Bounty : The Legend, (the interesting Real-Time/Turn-Based Strategy Game pseudo-sequel to the precursor to the HOM&M series).
My point, you ask? Simple - The game itself is a mere 3 months older than GOG.com itself!
Get it now for $9.99!
Retrospective – F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
May 16th
On the eve of F.E.A.R. 3’s release, Andrew Bryant sinks his teeth into the previous entry into Alma’s world.
M0th3r = Exp3ct1ng – F.3.A.R. 4nn0unc3d 4 PS3, PC n Xb0x
May 3rd
Don't worry... It's actually officially F.E.A.R. 3... F.3.A.R. is just on the box art.
Still, when will 'marketing' learn that putting txtsp34k in our titles doesn't make the game more 'hip' or 'cool'... It just makes the people who made the decision look like fucking tools!
Anyway, F.E.A.R. 3 has been announced for Xbox 360, PS3 and Windows, due to hit towards the end of the year. Under development at Day 1 Studios (MechAssault, Fracture, the console ports of the original F.E.A.R.) with supervision by series creators Monolith and, curiously, John Carpenter.
Featuring co-op play starring Fettel and *sigh* the nameless Point Man, the game will propel games from 'generative scare' to 'generative scare' (which basically sounds like procedural generated scary quick time events too me) as they try and do something about the pregnant Alma and the impending birth of another token anti-christ.
Trailer and thoughts after the break.
More >
Vietnam(?) Black – Call of Duty: Black Ops announced, teased
May 2nd
Despite the debacle at Infinity Ward (26 employees and counting), Activision have pushed on with Call of Duty: Black Ops, in development at Treyarch.
The seventh entry in the astronomic series 'could' be set in Vietnam, the Cold War or somewhere else - We're honestly not sure and the trailer doesn't really give enough away to make a informed decision.
Judge for yourself in the teaser after the cut...
