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#Non-RPG General News - All News

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Wednesday - April 24, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Lost Legions announced for 2025

by Hiddenx, 17:34

The survival game Lost Legions has been announced for 2025:

Lost Legions - Official Announcement Trailer

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Source: IGN

Wednesday - April 10, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Eternal Strands Preview

by Hiddenx, 16:05

IGN and Yellow Brick Games present the action adventure Eternal Strands:

Eternal Strands: Unreal Engine 5 Dev Diary - IGN First

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - April 05, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Stygian: Outer Gods announced

by Hiddenx, 16:04

Yemeth spotted the horror survival game Stygian: Outer Gods on Steam:

Stygian: Outer Gods - Official Announcement Trailer

Dive into a hostile world that challenges your very existence, in this survival horror game with RPG elements. Unravel a thousand-year-old mystery, risk your sanity and face the Outer Gods with your skills. Every bullet and the decision counts now, are you up to the task?

 

Wednesday - April 03, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Eternal Strands announced

by Hiddenx, 18:52

PC Gamer reports that Mike Laidlaw revrealed his next game called Eternal Strands:

Former Dragon Age creative director Mike Laidlaw finally reveals his next game: A physics-based action-adventure 'in which the world becomes your weapon'

In 2020, former Dragon Age creative director Mike Laidlaw joined with Ubisoft veterans Jeff Skalski, Frédéric St-Laurent B, and Thomas Giroux to launch a new studio called Yellow Brick Games. Today, three and a half years later, they've finally revealed what they're getting up to: A new action-adventure called Eternal Strands.

Eternal Strands follows the tale of Brynn, a young Weaver - presumably magic, not basket - who's on a quest to restore the cultural home of her people by uncovering the mysteries of a once-powerful nation called the Enclave. That's a process that will of course involve throwing down with all sorts of enemies including 25-foot-tall monstrosities called Arks, which she can actually climb onto in order to deliver a proper walloping.

[...]

Thanks Soola!

Wednesday - March 20, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Nightingale Update Plans

by Hiddenx, 20:02

GamingBolt reports that the devs of Nightingale want to enhance the game:

Nightingale Developer “Not Happy” with Current State of the Game, Reveals Update Plans

The studio behind Nightingale is now working on updates to fix what it sees as big pain points in playing the game.

Developer Inflexion Games has released a new video for its open-world survival crafting title Nightingale, detailing its plans for the future of the game. In the video, studio CEO Aaryn Flynn has said that the studio is not happy with the current state of the game. Check out the developer update video below.

After a short intro by community manager Steph Herdman, the video kicks things off with a message from Flynn, where he talks about not being satisfied with the current state of the game.

“We’ve been spending a lot of our time reading your impressions online, going through Discord, watching your streams and building our plans for the next phase of the game,” Flynn said in the video. “Now that being said, there are some things we are not happy with about the game. Whether it’s network disconnects, some missing quality-of-life improvements that we want to get done, or other things in the game that are missing or not quite where we want them to be, we’re working hard to address those things right now and to make sure that you get the best playable experience possible.”

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - March 19, 2024

Non-RPG General News - About Publishing

by Hiddenx, 18:11

Noclip talks about publishing:

2023 was a Terrible Year to Look for a Publisher.... (and 2024 is Worse)

0:00 - Intro
0:56 - The Mission
1:47 - Who Has the Money?
5:20 - Pitch Deck 101
8:06 - Our Unfair Advantage
9:19 - Pitch Deck Continued
12:10 - Pitching
13:04 - 2023 
16:12 - 2 Cancelled Deals
19:05 - Talking About the Year with Alex
28:04 - What next...?

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - March 13, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Nobody Wants to Die announced

by Hiddenx, 16:23

The detective game Nobody Wants to Die has been announced for 2024:

Nobody Wants to Die

Lose yourself in the dystopian world of New York in the year 2329 in Nobody Wants to Die, a new detective noir adventure where immortality comes at a price that someone has to pay. As Detective James Karra, you'll lead the investigation using advanced technology, risking it all in pursuit of a serial killer targeting the city’s elite. Nobody Wants to Die is Coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in 2024.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - March 10, 2024

Non-RPG General News - 25 best Video Game Villains

by Hiddenx, 18:46

Den of the Geek made a top villain list:

25 Best Video Game Villains Ever

They're the characters you love to hate, but which video game villain is the best of the best?

Villains are more often than not the difference between a good game and a great game. They represent everything the protagonist is fighting against, and when they’re done really well, they’re the special sauce in an otherwise merely serviceable gaming experience.

All of the characters on this list are fun to hate in their own way, and truth be told, most of them completely steal the show from their do-gooder counterparts.

Before we reveal the best (worst?) of those villains, keep in mind that we are utilizing a “one character per franchise” rule for this list in order to discuss and celebrate as wide of a collection of evildoers as possible.

[...]

Thanks Soola!

 

Friday - March 08, 2024

Non-RPG General News - BAFTA Game Awards 2024 Nominations

by Hiddenx, 18:25

Couchpotato spotted the nominations for the BAFTA Game Awards:

Nominations Announced: BAFTA Games Awards 2024

BAFTA today announces the nominations for the 20th BAFTA Games Awards, highlighting an outstanding level of creative excellence from a broad range of UK and international development teams. A total of 40 games across 17 categories were nominated today. View the full list of nominated games here.

The 20th BAFTA Games Awards take place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London on Thursday 11 April 2024 and will be streamed live around the world at 19.00 BST / 14.00 ET / 11.00 PT on BAFTA’s YouTube, Twitch and X channels.

The highlights of today’s nominations are:

  • 10 nominations for Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Nine nominations for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
  • Eight nominations for Alan Wake 2  
  • Six nominations each for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
  • Five nominations for  Dave the Diver and Hi-Fi Rush
  • Four nominations each for Cocoon, Dredge, Final Fantasy XVI, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Viewfinder
  • Nominations in the Game Beyond Entertainment category: Chants of Sennaar, Goodbye Volcano High, Tchia, Terra Nil, Thirsty Suitors and Venba
  • Other games receiving nominations: Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Cassette Beasts, Cyberpunk 2077, Dead Island 2, Diablo IV, Disney Illusion Island, Final Fantasy XIV Online, Football Manager 2024, Forza Horizon 5, Forza Motorsport, Genshin Impact, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Call of the Mountain, Jusant, No Man’s Sky, Party Animals, Starfield, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

[...]

Thursday - March 07, 2024

Non-RPG General News - The Sinking City 2 - Announce Trailer

by Hiddenx, 20:11

The 3rd person shooter The Sinking City 2 has been announced:

The Sinking City 2 - Announce Trailer

Thanks Couchpotato!

Source: IGN

Wednesday - March 06, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Ghost of Tsushima Release Date: May 16

by Hiddenx, 17:25

The action stealth adventure Ghost of Tsushima will be released for the PC on May 16:

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut - Features Trailer | PC Games

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Non-RPG General News - Classified: France '44 Overview

by Hiddenx, 17:02

Mortismal Gaming checked out the strategy game Classified: France '44:

Classified: France '44 - Overview, Systems, Combat & More

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - March 04, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Nightingale Preview

by Hiddenx, 16:03

Skill Up checked out the survival game Nightingale:

Austin does not recommend: Nightingale (Early Access Review)

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - March 03, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Dwarf Fortress Adventure Mode

by Hiddenx, 09:22

The colony sim Dwarf Fortress got an adventure mode:

Dwarf Fortress Adventure Mode Combat Demo

10 minutes of Adventure Mode presented by Tarn Adams of Bay12 Games! You will see combat, the new dialogue system and a few menus in action.

Thanks Soola!

 

Friday - March 01, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Returning to Monkey Island

by Hiddenx, 18:04

Noclip looks back at Monkey Island:

Returning to Monkey Island - Noclip Documentary

Thanks Couchpotato!

Non-RPG General News - Gord: The Alliance DLC

by Hiddenx, 16:47

Farflame spotted a new trailer for the colony sim DLC Gord: The Alliance:

Gord The Alliance DLC - Launch Trailer

Thursday - February 22, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Nightingale Interview

by Hiddenx, 20:10

Wccftech asked Aarynn Flynn about the survival game Nightingale:

Nightingale Q&A – Aaryn Flynn Talks About the Survival Game’s Future on the Eve of the Early Access Debut

[...]

It's been a long road for the team founded by BioWare veteran and former General Manager Aaryn Flynn. After more than fifteen years and credits on masterpieces such as Baldur's Gate II, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Dragon Age: Origins, and the first two Mass Effect installments, Flynn left in 2017 and joined Improbable in September 2018. A few months later, it was announced that he would lead Improbable's internal studio, back when the company was still trying to promote its SpatialOS technology through game development.

[...]

You've confirmed there are two Fae Courts, Summer and Winter. According to traditional Fae lore, they are eternally locked in a power struggle, each faction trying to overcome the other. Is that also true in Nightingale? Will Summer and Winter ask players to help their faction against the other?

It’s great that you picked up on that. That’s certainly in the background of Nightingale’s world and story, but not something we’re exploring immediately when we launch into Early Access. We want to lay the breadcrumbs of where the story will go as we look to expand the narrative over the next year, heading into updates and, ultimately, 1.0. The Fae play a big part of that both in their relationships with humanity and each other. There’s a deep well of inspiration to draw from there, and we want players who engage with the narrative to be rewarded as the story continues to unfold.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - February 21, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Nightingale Overview

by Hiddenx, 19:24

GameSpot checked out the survival game Nightingale:

Nightingale Everything To Know

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - February 20, 2024

Non-RPG General News - City 20 Trailer

by Hiddenx, 19:30

Couchpotato spotted a trailer for the survival adventure City 20:

City 20 - Official Announcement Trailer

Saturday - February 17, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Metro Exodus: 10 Million Copies sold

by Hiddenx, 10:34

Couchpotato spotted on Gamedeveloper that Metro Exodus is still successful.

Friday - February 16, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior Preview

by Hiddenx, 18:46

Mortismal Gaming checked out the Hack'n'Slash game Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior:

Check Out - Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior

Non-RPG General News - Nightingale Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 18:39

IGN gives an overview of the survival game Nightingale:

Nightingale - Official Extended Gameplay Overview

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Wednesday - February 14, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Tortuga - A Pirate's Tale released

by Hiddenx, 21:06

The naval sim Tortuga - A Pirate's Tale has been released:

Tortuga – A Pirate's Tale | Steam Release Trailer (US)

Tortuga - A Pirate’s Tale tells the journey of a pirate captain with a lust for gold and glory who assumes command of a fleet of pirate ships to strike the Caribbean.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - February 10, 2024

Non-RPG General News - The "Live Service" Model is all played out

by Hiddenx, 11:06

Couchpotato spotted an opinion piece about live-service-models for games on Gamesindustry:

The "live service" model is all played out | Opinion

Players are voting with their wallets – like any other industry trend or fad, live service games have seen their moment pass; companies able to pivot away should do so fast

We all have a pretty intuitive understanding of the anatomy of a trend in game design. A very successful title is followed by a wave of games which copy key aspects of its design – some taking inspiration while innovating successfully on the formula, others rather more shamelessly seeking to cash in by copying anything that's not nailed down (or protected by intellectual copyright law).

[...]

That's what's happening right now with "live service" games, a slightly nebulous term that's come to be understood as encompassing a specific set of monetisation models (battle passes, cosmetic microtransactions, etc.) applied to a loosely defined set of online multiplayer games (either competitive or cooperative) with a match-based structure.

Loot shooters, extraction shooters, battle royale games: there are a variety of game design paradigms at play in the "live service" arena, but the monetisation design paradigm across them remains relatively consistent.

In the space of just a few years, that's a paradigm that's gone from being on top of the world – incredibly successful and broadly welcomed by players as a way to ensure ongoing support for their favourite titles, as well as being more transparent and player-friendly (in theory) than the "pay-to-win" style microtransactions that were public enemy number one at the time – to being for all intents and purposes an epithet.

In 2024, calling your game "live service" might as well be tantamount to telling players it's going to creep into their house at night and kill their dog. The online response to stylish, promising-looking game trailers at awards shows and announcement livestreams notably tanks at the point when players figure out that it's going to be a live service title. Tastes have shifted dramatically, and many publishers and developers have been caught on the hop.

[...]

Tuesday - February 06, 2024

Non-RPG General News - About Doom

by Hiddenx, 20:30

PC Gamer looks back at Doom:

Doom is eternal: The immeasurable impact of gaming's greatest FPS

"As long as the solution to every problem involves the player being aggressive somehow, it feels like Doom."

The history of Doom is more than just the tale of how John Romero and John Carmack came together to create a PC gaming phenomenon. The history of Doom is the history of id Software and the history of the FPS itself. From the 1993 original to 2020's Doom Eternal, each new Doom game developed by id Software has both reflected the culture of the studio at the time, and moved the needle of the FPS in some manner.

The development of 1993's Doom is one of the most well documented projects in the medium's history. After John Carmack discovered a way to mimic the side-scrolling effect of Super Mario Bros 3 on PC, Carmack worked with John Romero, alongside game designer Tom Hall, to create their own game, Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vortigauns.

After receiving their first royalty cheque from publisher Apogee, Romero and Carmack founded their own company with artist Adrian Carmack (no relation), while also hiring Hall. Through 1991 they made three more Commander Keen games, then released the first true FPS, Wolfenstein 3D, in 1992. After Wolfenstein's success, id began making a follow-up shooter, this time inspired by a D&D campaign the four founders had played together at weekends. Nineteen months after Wolfenstein, a legend was born.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Non-RPG General News - Nightingale Release Date: February 20

by Hiddenx, 18:45

The open-world survival game Nightingale will now launch into Early Access on February 20, 2024:

Nightingale: Releasing Earlier!

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - January 31, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Alliance of the Sacred Suns Update

by Hiddenx, 18:53

Henriquejr spotted a development update for the strategy title Alliance of the Sacred Suns:

January 2024 Dev Blog: Military Matters

When diplomacy requires other means.

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a good holiday and are ready for the new year! We’re so excited for what the new year will bring Alliance, and we wanted to focus on the revised and updated military system - this will describe the updated system that we will be testing in preparation for our next public beta!

Please note: All development blogs that discuss systems in progress are snapshots of the game at a moment in its development process. Depending on feedback, those systems, including the military, may change further before release. These blogs are a nice way for you to get ‘under the hood’ with us to understand why systems are designed a certain way, and why certain changes were/are being made! TLDR: This system as described may or may not represent the final 1.0 release system!

ALL IMAGES in this blog are APPROVED DESIGN MOCKUPS that represent the look of the final UI. They are NOT screenshots.

[...]

Monday - January 22, 2024

Non-RPG General News - PC Games of 2024

by Hiddenx, 16:40

GamingBolt presents upcoming PC games:

20 NEW PC Games of 2024 And Beyond [4K]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - January 19, 2024

Non-RPG General News - PC: Dominant Gaming Platform

by Hiddenx, 20:46

PC Gamer reports: The PC is the main gaming platform:

PC is the most 'dominant' it's been this decade as two-thirds of devs say they're targeting the platform

Sometimes, it's nice to hear the things you know in your heart said out loud. Such is the case with the Game Developers' Conference State of the Games Industry 2024 report, the latest edition of GDC's annual look at just what devs are doing.

One of the many, many questions GDC has put to devs over the years is asking which platform they're targeting with their current projects. The answers always range from the obvious (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo's console du jour) and the obscure (Playdate, Luna, something called "Google Stadia"), but one platform has been the focus for over half of devs for years: PC.

When asked to select every platform their current projects were in development for, 66% of the over 3,000 devs surveyed by GDC selected PC, far and away ahead of the next most-popular platform: PS5 at 35%. GDC calls the humble personal computer "the dominant platform" even as strange new entrants—like the "Nintendo Switch successor" and "UGC platforms (Roblox, Minecraft)"—begin to appear on the list of responses.

[...]

Thanks Soola!

 

 

Monday - January 15, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Best Indie Games of 2023

by Hiddenx, 11:27

The Indie Game Cloud presents some of the best indie games of 2023:

The Absolute BEST Indie Games of 2023

00:46 Jusant
01:48 Planet of Lana
02:48 Chants of Sennaar
03:31 COCOON
04:15 DAVE THE DIVER
05:10 Pizza Tower
05:58 Sea of Stars
06:51 Teslagrad 2
07:55 DREDGE
09:02 Cassette Beasts
09:57 OXENFREE II: Lost Signals
11:09 Lethal Company (Early Access Release)
12:21 Viewfinder
13:18 HUMANITY
14:05 Amnesia: The Bunker
15:21 BZZZT
16:17 BIT.TRIP RERUNNER
17:07 Bramble: The Mountain King

Non-RPG General News - Dominions 6 Trailer

by Hiddenx, 11:17

The turn-based-strategy game Dominions 6 - Rise of the Pantokrator will be released on January 17:

Dominions 6 - Trailer

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - January 10, 2024

Non-RPG General News - PC Gaming

by Hiddenx, 16:27

Techspot shows how the PC compares to the other gaming platforms:

Infographic shows how the PC has fared against other platforms over 50+ years of gaming

Beating consoles for the last decade, but mobile rules supreme

Infographic shows how the PC has fared against other platforms over 50+ years of gaming

Bottom line: Video games, no matter what platform they're on, are big business. The amount of money they generate has increased enormously over the last 50+ years. And while the PC may have outperformed consoles for the last decade, their combined income still can't match the behemoth that is mobile gaming.

Visual Capitalist's infographic of the video games market since 1970 highlights how much the industry has grown and evolved over the years. From 1971 when arcades made $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) through the likes of Pong, to 2022, when games generated $180 billion. With some of the greatest and most popular titles launching last year, that number will likely be even higher for 2023.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Non-RPG General News - A Golden Age of 4X Games

by Hiddenx, 16:06

Explorminate thinks 4X games are more popular than ever:

2024X: A Golden Age of 4X

Many fans of the 4X genre refer back to the 90s as “the Golden Age of 4X”. It makes sense, as some of the greatest games ever made in the genre, such as Civilization 2, Master of Orion 1 and 2, Master of Magic, Colonization, and more, were released in the 1990s.

Those games are the pillars of the genre. They’ve influenced every single 4X game released since.

Then, about a decade ago, many started asking if we were on the verge of yet another 4X golden age, but Oliver argued against it (eXplorminate eXposition). Looking back, I’d disagree with Oliver, as some games of the 2010s were outstanding and have significantly affected the genre.

For example, games like Endless Legend, Endless Space 2, Stellaris, Civilization 6, and even the Stardrives have certainly influenced the future generations of 4X games. A few of them are still being updated and played today.

But now, in 2024X – yes, I’m coining this term and proud of it – I can’t help but consider that too many quality 4X games are being released not to revisit this Golden Age question. In the past few years, we’ve seen Age of Wonders 4, Old World, Distant Worlds 2 (getting better), Dune: Spice Wars, Master of Magic Reboot, Galactic Civilizations 4 (Supernova), Interstellar Space: Genesis, Imperiums: Greek Wars, Revival: Recolonization, Spellforce: Conquest of Eo, and even the hot and cold HUMANKIND, along the many expansions that have improved their base games.

With games like Ara: History Untold, Alliance of the Sacred Suns, Revival: Recolonization, Millennia, ZEPHON, Sins of a Solar Empire 2, and even more indie endeavors, like the revived Dominus Galaxia, Ataxia, or even the prehistoric 4X, Folk Emerging, are all likely to at least attempt new spins on the genre.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Thursday - January 04, 2024

Non-RPG General News - eXputer's GotY 2023

by Hiddenx, 09:26

Couchpotato spotted eXputer's GotY 2023 list:

eXputer’s Game Of The Year 2023

A predictable yet difficult race that concluded with an unpredictable winner.

The year has come to an end, bringing the curtains down on one of, if not the most, bittersweet times in gaming. Before we crown eXputer’s Game of the Year for 2023, it must be acknowledged that these last twelve months have graced us with several phenomenal titles. However, at the end of the day, there can only be one winner.

We took the biggest releases of 2023 and conducted an internal voting process to determine the victor via majority opinion. While the results came close to being predictable, they ultimately ended up surprising even the people tallying all those votes. 

With that out of the way, here are the runner-ups for eXputer’s Game of the Year 2023.

Runner Ups:
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
Hi-Fi Rush
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Alan Wake 2
Baldur’s Gate 3

GotY:
Game Of The Year – Resident Evil 4 (2023)

Honorable Mentions:
Hogwarts Legacy
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Lies of P
Final Fantasy XVI
Street Fighter 6

[...]

Wednesday - January 03, 2024

Non-RPG General News - Star Wars Outlaws: Launch late 2024

by Hiddenx, 09:56

MP1st reports that Star Wars Outlaws will be released in late 2024:

Star Wars Outlaws Release Targeting Late 2024

While we’ve known from the initial announcement that Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws is planned for 2024 when exactly has remained a mystery, that is, until now, as Disney has seemingly confirmed that the title is due for release late this year.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - December 30, 2023

Non-RPG General News - 2023: Great Games and Layoffs

by Hiddenx, 08:11

Dualshockers reports that 2023 had some great game releases but at the same time many devs loosed their jobs:

2023 Was The Best Year For Games And The Worst Year For Gaming

Industry layoffs have plagued the hard-working developers who bring us our amazing games. During the boom of 2023, thousands are now without jobs.

It’s heartbreaking to see so many people suddenly out of work in their fields of expertise while major companies boom with resounding success. In a year that has gone gangbusters with highly rated games and huge sales numbers, it also feels pretty confusing. The last thing a worker would expect is to be laid off in the middle of a successful run. It also creates a culture of fear. If you're one of the people who just witnessed a long-time coworker let go in the middle of one of gaming's biggest years, you'd have to wonder if you're next. After all, who's safe aside from the people at the very top?

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Thursday - December 28, 2023

Non-RPG General News - The current State of Master of Magic (2022)

by Hiddenx, 09:52

Couchpotato spotted a blog-post about the current state of the Master of Magic remake:

The state of Master of Magic (2022) after 12 months.

Master of Magic (2022) developed by Muha games and developed by Slitherine Software was launched in Dec 2022. Given a mandate to modernize the base game with quality of life features followed by an expansion of the game via DLC how has the game progressed in the last 12 months?

To anticipate the conclusion, Master of Magic (2022) has improved tremendously since it's shaky start at launch in Dec 2022. As such, if you were eyeing this game for a while or bounced off initially but am waiting to come back, this might be the right time....

A troubled launch - Dec 2022

Many of you may have heard it had a troubled launch, but in its defense a lot of flak came from fans from other fandoms who disliked that it was not Age of Wonders X or Caster of Magic, groups that would not have realistically liked the game no matter what.

To be fair, even among fans of Master of Magic classic who wanted the game to succeed, there were reasons to pan the game at launch in Dec 2022. While views on aesthetics could be subjective (some players preferred the charm of 2d pixels) there was no doubt the state of the game at launch was bad.

During the first few iterations, the game was extremely slow to load and had serious memory leaks. Moreover, the game lacked many standards expected of "modern" features like customizable hot-keys, full screen and window mode and had many serious UI missteps including extremely poor pathfinding. Even features that were newly added like build queues were somewhat disappointing as they did not allow you to add items that had prerequisites.

Muha goes to work - Roadmap (April 2023) and extended Roadmap (May 2023)

Fortunately, Muha did not abandon the game but steadily worked at it.

They announced two separate roadmaps to address all the problems I mentioned and more. For details, see roadmap 1 and roadmap 2.

As a beta tester from the earliest days, I was impressed by how Muha addressed practically every reasonable feedback given and then some. Here are IMHO some of the big improvements....

  1. Address city spamming with various settings to both control frequency of neutrals and rules that control minimum distance between cities
  2. Quick load/save
  3. Steam workshop (there is one major mod and several minor ones and a active modding community on the discords but most people are waiting for all the official DLCs to be out I think)
  4. City lists are sortable by multi-criteria
  5. Improved display of information both in city screens and combat logs
  6. Remappable hot-keys, edge scrolling
  7. Build queues now allow items with prerequisites
  8. Spellbook save spots
  9. Additional options for combat simulator (e.g. turn on/off Wizard spell casting but allow other spellcasting units)
  10. Cartographer , remastered og song tracks and even better new ones.
  11. and many more I take for granted now ...

[...]

Saturday - December 23, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Cygnus Enterprises released

by Hiddenx, 09:53

The Looter Shooter Cygnus Enterprises has been released:

Cygnus Enterprises - Release Trailer | NetEase Games

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - December 22, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Retrospective Review: Frontier: Elite 2

by Hiddenx, 13:55

ObsidianAnt looks back at Frontier: Elite 2 from 1993:

Best Space Game Ever - Frontier: Elite 2?

Thursday - December 21, 2023

Non-RPG General News - The Year In Numbers 2023

by Hiddenx, 07:16

GamesIndustry.biz presents some infographics about the games of 2023:

GamesIndustry.biz presents... The Year In Numbers 2023

Our annual infographic returns to reveal the best-selling games, biggest mobile markets, global revenue and more

Data by James Batchelor Editor-in-chief

As the holidays draw near, it's the time for us to indulge and feast upon pie… charts. And bar graphs, tables, and other statistics.

I refer to, of course, the annual GamesIndustry.biz Year In Numbers infographic, providing you with a snapshot of where the video games business stands as the year ends (perfect for sounding knowledgeable in any remaining meeting you unfortunately have coming up in the last couple of days before the break).

As always, a huge thank you to the experts that share their data and help us compile this together. In the image below, you will find:

  • The global games market value (courtesy of Newzoo)
  • Total boxed vs digital revenues (also via Newzoo)
    The biggest mobile games, publishers and countries, both by revenue and downloads (thank you, Sensor Tower)
  • The best-selling games in the UK (from GfK), US (from Circana) and Japan (from Famitsu)
  • The most covered games and companies, in terms of number of articles (provided by ICO via Footprints, based on data from over 18,000 websites)
  • The biggest influencers on YouTube, most watched trailers and game promo videos, and the most popular video games on TikTok (courtesy of Fancensus)

With that, GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year In Numbers 2023:

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - December 04, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Phil Spencer Interview

by Hiddenx, 18:42

Mari Palma interviewed Phil Spencer at CCXP23 in Brazil:

#CCXP23 Phil Spencer Interview

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - November 19, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Don't Ignore these Games

by Hiddenx, 10:08

AngryCentaurGaming thinks you should not ignore these games of 2023:

THESE Games Can't Be Ignored

List:
0:50 Bramble: The Mountain King
2:02 Mythforce
3:17 Sponge Bob Square Pants: The Cosmic Shake
4:21 Remnant 2
5:29 Hi-Fi Rush
7:10 Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
8:46 Age of Wonders 4
9:49 Dredge
11:45 Viewfinder
13:00 Trepang2
14:52 The Crew Motorfest

Thanks Couchpotato!

Thursday - November 16, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master released

by Hiddenx, 18:36

Couchpotato spotted that the management game Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master has been released:

NAHEULBEUK'S DUNGEON MASTER - Launch trailer

Tuesday - November 14, 2023

Non-RPG General News - The Game Awards 2023: Nomination

by Hiddenx, 07:53

Couchpotato spotted the game nomination for the Game Awards 2023:

The Game Awards 2023: Live Nomination Announcement

Friday - November 10, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Sengoku Dynasty Update

by Hiddenx, 16:48

Couchpotato spotted update 0.2.0.0 for Sengoku Dynasty:

Major update! Farming basics and optimization

Update 0.2.0.0

Youkoso!

It’s been roughly three months since we launched Sengoku Dynasty on Steam. We've worked hard on bug fixes, quality of life improvements, and gameplay balance.
Now it’s time to move to version 0.2.0.0. We're thrilled to introduce two major updates to our game:

Farming

Delve into Aratani, the new NPC farming village, complete with a new storyline, new unique NPCs, and a new side quest. Explore the basics of the farming system - with two different field types (land and water) and various crops. And, as a bonus, trees and other resources now regrow. We are in the process of expanding that feature by adding a permanent removal of interactive resources with a shovel. Dynasty management for farming is coming in the next update. What more would you like to see in the future? Let us know!

Performance Optimization

  • Experience a smoother Sengoku Dynasty with our performance tweaks:
  • Reduced RAM usage by nearly 33%
  • Faster loading times, with an improvement of around 33%
  • Optimized GPU Load and VRAM usage, leading to higher FPS and fewer DirectX crashes.
  • Optimized heavy UI elements, that will improve overload of CPU and allow for higher max FPS.

PC performance can vary based on individual hardware configurations, but all players should notice a performance boost. Let us know if you see the difference and if not, send us your DxDiag so we can study your case. While we aren't adjusting the game's minimal requirements just yet, it's a goal on our horizon. Stay tuned for even bigger performance enhancements in Q1 of 2024.

[...]

Tuesday - October 17, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Galactic Civilizations IV leaves Early Access on October 19

by Hiddenx, 10:36

Henriquejr spotted that Galactic Civilizations IV leaves Early Access on October 19:

Release Day Livestream for Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova

Join us to celebrate the release of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova and 30 years of Stardock!

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova releases on October 19th, 2023 at 1PM Est. Join us for a release day livestream event where we will play the game; talk about what's new, create a new civilization with AlienGPT, provide tips on managing Core Worlds, navigate the tech tree, create a custom ship and tap into some additional midgame content.

See you on October 19th!

Tuesday - September 26, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Demeo Battles

by Hiddenx, 07:09

The turn-based tactics game Demeo Battles will be released on November 9:

Demeo Battles | Full Match Reveal Featuring Penny Arcade

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Thursday - September 14, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Unity's new Pricing Scheme

by Hiddenx, 11:49

PC Gamer explains why many game developers are mad right now:

Why every game developer is mad right now, explained

Unity's new pricing scheme has brought developers together in a remarkable show of... well, you know.

John Riccitiello, chief executive officer of Unity Technologies SF, sits before the start of a Bloomberg Technology television interview in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Monday, March 18, 2019. Riccitiello discussed the latest trends in the global gaming market. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images 
Unity CEO John Riccitiello, Bloomberg Tech interview, March 2019 (Image credit: Getty Images)
Yesterday, game engine company Unity announced changes to its pricing plan that will see developers charged each time someone installs their game after certain revenue and installation thresholds are met. Unity has been around since 2005 and is one of the most popular platforms for game creation, used for big-budget titans like Genshin Impact as well as games like Vampire Survivors, Pokémon Go, Cuphead, Among Us, Subnautica, RimWorld, BattleTech (2018), and Hollow Knight.

The reaction to the change, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2024, has truly been something to behold: Everyone is mad. And I mean everyone, with that classic Gary Oldman emphasis: Everyone!!!

[...]

Tuesday - August 29, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Master of Magic: Rise of the Soultrapped is out now

by Hiddenx, 15:23

Couchpotato spotted that the expansion Master of Magic: Rise of the Soultrapped has been released:

Master of Magic: Rise of the Soultrapped || Trailer

Rise of the Soultrapped invites both veterans and newcomers to immerse themselves in a universe rich with magic, strategy, and untold secrets.

Prepare for an enthralling world where arcane forces and mystical beings collide and unlock the full potential of Techmagic, command powerful heroes, and conquer the realms of Arcanus and Myrror.

 

Wednesday - August 16, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Gord Review @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 15:40

The strategy game Gord will be released tomorrow - IGN reviewed it:

Gord Review

"Any way you look at it, whether it’s an RPG, a real-time strategy game, or a colony sim, Gord is  as miserable as its downtrodden villagers. Other games are bad because they aim too high, attempt too much, and fall down on their own merits. They are at the very least hoisted on their own petard, doing us the favor of digging their own grave or being entertaining in their failures. Gord does not; it simply falls flat and rots where it lies, surrounded by monotonous micromanagement, a poor interface, and by-the-numbers combat. I am content to leave it there, but you may bury it if you like."

Thanks Couchpotato!

Thursday - July 27, 2023

Non-RPG General News - About Star Wars Outlaws

by Hiddenx, 16:24

The devs talk about their space adventure Star Wars Outlaws:

Star Wars Outlaws Devs On Making The Franchise's First Open-World Game | SDCC 2023

Thanks Couchpotato!

Source: GameSpot

Friday - July 21, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Shadows of Forbidden Gods

by Hiddenx, 16:28

The strategy game Shadows of Forbidden Gods has been released:

Shadows of Forbidden Gods

A strategy game in which you attempt to bring about the apocalypse, by moving covert agents through a complex fantasy world to accomplish a wide range of schemes, plots and rituals. You start the game by bribing guards and infiltrating minor farming communities and slowly build up your forces until you are bringing about ice ages, eradicating entire nations with plague, summoning volcanoes and commanding city-devouring snake-gods.

You play a set of agents and corrupted heroes against the forces of good, the rulers and heroes of humanity, lead by the Chosen One. They may be stronger than you, and could eliminate your agents with ease, but you have the advantage of secrecy, and humans are easily turned one against each other. Why fight a war against a unified empire when you could shatter in into civil war and clean up the pieces with orcish hordes?

Complex AIs power the forces of good, and you can, if the mood takes you, play on their minds. Rulers can be driven to gold-obsessed lunatics, who will cause their people to rise up in anger at the insane taxations, dukes can be tricked into turning on their Kings by a carefully placed personal item which implies a court scandal, heroes can be driven insane by the maddening tales read in The Laughing King's Tome and the shadow can corrupt your enemies to the point where they start funding your agents instead of their own people.

Designed as a very flexible apocalypse simulator, Shadows of Forbidden Gods allows you to mix and match your toolsets with unique agents and varied effects, with the human forces responding dynamtically, levelling up their heroes to face what they believe to be the major threats.

Wednesday - July 05, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Gord Hands On

by Hiddenx, 15:29

Gamepressure checked out the survival strategy game Gord:

Gord Hands-on. In Mouth of Madness in Witcher vs. Settlers Crossover

Gord should appeal to fans of The Settlers, Northgard and.... The Witcher! It's a Polish city builder in Slavic climates and with an engaging storyline that will surprise you weighty moral choices.

I openly admit that I had no idea what Gord was and that such a game was being created at all. After reading the short description, my interest didn’t increase above moderate, but everything changed when I started playing the demo. The atmosphere and gameplay were engrossing, although the whole thing was not perfect. However, the show ended for me with such a huge moral dilemma that I don't know how much more time I would need to resolve it. I don't think there are many developers today that would opt for such unobvious plot twists.

In simple words, Gord is probably most similar to Settlers, or perhaps Northgard, except that everything here is much more Slavic, bearing a lot of similarities to the Witcher series! There’s nothing surprising about that, because Gord is created by new, small Polish studio, and the project itself is led by the producer of Wild Hunt. So we have elements of a city builder, or rather a village builder, a plot with specific characters and quests, a dose of survival, spells, and a whole lot of dark fantasy. Thanks to the well-written story, there’s no anonymous crowd of citizens here like typical workers and soldiers. Every member of the community has a name and personality, which entails slightly more micromanagement, but also some interesting mechanics.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - July 01, 2023

Non-RPG General News - ZERO Sievert Update

by Hiddenx, 12:34

Henriquejr spotted an upcoming update for the survival game ZERO Sievert:

Developer Update 2023 Vol.5

0.31 Delay & Poetry Competition Coming to a Close

Hello Hunters,

We trust you're battle-ready and have your bunker prepared for the exciting challenges ahead. As we lay the foundations for new features, we've encountered a minor setback, which has caused a slight delay to patch 0.31.

In light of this delay, we now anticipate the patch release in July. As a reminder, this patch will bring a save wipe. But don't worry, as mentioned in our previous devblog, Hunters keen to continue their current journey through Zakov can do so on a Beta branch we'll set up.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this bump. Our aim is always to provide you with the best gaming experience and ensure each new patch arrives in the strongest possible state.

[...]

 

Friday - June 30, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth

by Hiddenx, 17:22

PC Gamer presents a new Bladerunner game:

It took 25 years but we're finally getting a new Blade Runner game

Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth is the first game to be developed in-house by Annapurna Interactive.

It's been quite a while since we had a Blade Runner game on PC—roughly 25 years, in fact, since Westwood Studio's 1997 action adventure Blade Runner arrived. Prior to that, there was only the Blade Runner side-scroller from 1985 for the Commodore 64. 

Weird that there are a zillion Star Wars and Aliens games, but only two Blade Runner games, isn't it?

Well, we're finally going to get another Blade Runner game, as announced by publisher Annapurna Interactive today. It's called Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth, and as you can tell by the date it's set between the events of the original film (which took place in 2019) and Blade Runner 2049. Interestingly, it'll be the first game to be developed in-house by Annapurna, too. You can check out the reveal trailer above.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - June 23, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Steam Next Fest

by Hiddenx, 17:37

PC Gamer presents 16 demos of the Steam Next Fest:

16 demos from Steam Next Fest that you need to play right now

Drowning in a sea of Steam demos? We're here with the recommendations rafter to keep you afloat.

The summer showcase season may be over, but I hope you've still got some room left in your brain to saturate with a metric ton of cool-ass games. The latest Steam Next Fest has landed, bringing hundreds of demos, gameplay livestreams and developer chats until June 26.

It's a great time to dive in and discover something new, or maybe check something out that caught your eye during showcases like Wholesome Games, Day of the Devs or our own PC Gaming Show. With hundreds of demos all vying for your attention, it can be tough to know which games to give your attention and hard drive space to. Thankfully, the team at PC Gamer have delved into a whole bunch of 'em, and here are 16 of our favourites that we think you should check out. 

  • Laysara: Summit Kingdom
  • Sticky Business
  • Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
  • Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles
  • Viewfinder
  • SteamWorld Build
  • Gord
  • Little Kitty, Big City
  • Hammerwatch 2
  • Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
  • Moonstone Island
  • The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
  • Battle Shapers
  • Lies of P
  • Home Safety Hotline
  • Thronefall

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Friday - June 16, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Aliens Dark Descent - Trailer

by Hiddenx, 17:27

Couchpotato spotted a trailer for Aliens Dark Descent:

Aliens Dark Descent - Story Trailer

Today, Focus Entertainment and Tindalos Interactive, in collaboration with 20th Century Games, revealed a gripping Story Trailer for Aliens: Dark Descent. The strategic, real-time, squad-based, tactical action game set in the iconic Alien universe lands June 20 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. Pre-orders are available on all platforms and grant the Lethe Recon Pack as a reward. Discover the unbearable tension and horrific action of the game’s cinematic narrative campaign now with the Story Trailer.

 

Monday - May 29, 2023

Non-RPG General News - The Entire History of Video Games

by Hiddenx, 10:12

NeverKnowsBest has released a long video that is the first part (!) of a series, The Entire History of Video Games. It's a 6-hour documentary, so as he puts it in his tweet, 'Maybe watch it in more than one sitting. Also the second channel was deleted but hopefully it will be undeleted. Maybe.'. Timestamps are in the video description:

The Entire History of Video Games

Thanks Redglyph!

 

Saturday - May 27, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Alliance of the Sacred Suns: Spring Update

by Hiddenx, 17:08

Henriqurjr spotted the spring update for the strategy game Alliance of the Sacred Suns:

Spring Update - Lots of Awesomeness to tell!

Greetings, presumptive rulers of the Celestial Empire! I know it’s been a while since we’ve updated the game status, but don’t worry - we’ve been very busy, and although there’s a lot of news, don’t stop reading - we come bearing gifts.

First of all, we have spent a lot of time reworking the UI and UX to be… well, more fun to use, cleaner, and more visual. We have two recent examples of this. First is the Rank Map, which is selectable from the Nexus Bar on the main UI. This screen shows graphically the entire hierarchy of the Empire - viceroys, governors, and Primes can now be seen clearly where they fit into the Empire. And it gets better!! No more cumbersome ‘fire’ Actions or begging a House Leader to allow you to fill one of their Holdings - you can make all of your changes on this screen, through the magic of drag and drop! Fire a Viceroy, and drag a Courtier into their place. Promote someone to the Celestial Council from another House, and that House Leader may let you put your choice into their old slot! You’ll be able to see House reactions to all of your moves before you confirm them, and it will be obvious which positions are open and which are not (House Leaders have the final say on their Holdings!).

[...]

 

Thursday - May 18, 2023

Non-RPG General News - LOTR: Gollum Preview

by Hiddenx, 15:00

Nerd of the Rings gives his first impression of LOTR: Gollum, an adventure game that will be released on May 25:

LOTR: Gollum Hands-on Preview - My First Impressions

Thanks Redglyph!

Monday - May 15, 2023

Non-RPG General News - STASIS: BONE TOTEM - Launch May 31

by Hiddenx, 10:24

The Adventure game STASIS: BONE TOTEM  will be released on May 31:

STASIS Bone Totem - Coming 31 MAY 2023

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Monday - May 08, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew Preview

by Hiddenx, 18:19

Mortismal Gaming checked out the stealth game Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew:

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew - Initial Details

Tuesday - May 02, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Gobliiins 5 Released

by Silver, 23:09

Adventure game Gobliiins 5 is now available for the legendary series. The game was funded on Kickstarter but is not yet available on Steam or GOG.

Gobliiins5 is an an adventure game, full of details, animations, sounds and music. There are many characters, and the background is full of details. There are many things to do in each level. The level of difficulty is not too high, so you can’t get stuck very long in the same area. The main concern is to favor the discovery of the game world and the pleasure of participating in a big adventure.

[...]

... Sorry, I wanted to put the news in English, I was wrong. Of course there is an English version!

 The Gobliiins5 game is over.

It will be released in a few days, a priori on the download platform Itch.io.

Contributors of crowdfunding will receive a direct link per imail to download the game.

The game will not be on Steam, or on GOG, at least for the moment. Maybe later if I find a partnership later.

No physical version either.

There is an integrated French and English version. No other languages at this time. I made the mistake of putting too much text, which makes translations very expensive. I hope to be able to make other languages in a second time.

The game is separated into 4 independent executables. 4 parts of 4 levels each.

I made this decision because of problems with my programming software, I wouldn’t do that for the next one, if I did. You will have direct access to the 4 parts of the game, but I advise you to move on to the next part after completely finishing the previous one.

Each party will have to be decomposed into different files.

I hope you enjoy the game. I do my utmost to make it happen quickly.

Pierre Gilhodes

Saturday - March 25, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Fort Solis Trailer

by Hiddenx, 09:01

IGN presents a new trailer for the Sci-fi Adventure Fort Solis:

Fort Solis - Official Gameplay Trailer

 

Wednesday - March 22, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Redfall Preview @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 16:51

IGN checked out the Vampire first person shooter Redfall:

Redfall Hands-On Preview

Tuesday - March 21, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Jake Solomon to Start New Studio

by Silver, 22:04

Eurogamer reports that Jake Solomon of XCOM acclaim is looking to start a new studio, but it won't be focusing on turn-based strategy.

Jake Solomon, best known for his work on the XCOM series and Marvel's Midnight Suns, is looking to fund a fresh studio in order to "make a new kind of game".

Earlier this year, Solomon announced he was leaving Firaxis after more than two decades to "[embark] on a new chapter".

At this point, the XCOM designer did not go into specifics about what this new chapter would look like, only saying that his brain was "on fire with a new dream" and this was the "time to go chase it".

[...]

 When asked further about the sort of game that would excite him, Solomon said he would probably make "more of a life simulator or a simulation-style game".

"My intention... if anybody gives me the funding for it, is to open my own studio locally. I'm going make a new kind of game," the Midnight Suns director shared, saying he wanted to stay in Baltimore. 

Thursday - March 16, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Redfall Story Trailer

by Hiddenx, 18:01

IGN presents the story trailer for the first person shooter Redfall:

Redfall - Official Story Trailer

Wednesday - March 15, 2023

Non-RPG General News - The Last of Us Part I

by Hiddenx, 11:53

Redglyph spotted two previews for the upcoming action adventure remake The Last of Us Part I:

Re-Making The Last of Us Part I - Noclip Documentary

The Last of Us Part 1 PC - 15 Things You Should Know Before You Buy

Thursday - February 23, 2023

Non-RPG General News - The Pale Beyond Review

by Hiddenx, 19:14

I Dream of Indie Games reviewed the survival sim The Pale Beyond:

The Pale Beyond Review

Sunday - January 29, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Colossal Cave Review

by Hiddenx, 07:57

Gaming Trend checked out the Adventure Colossal Cave:

Colossal Cave review — Back to basics

Colossal Cave Adventure was a 1976 text-based adventure game developed by Will Crowther then later expanded by Don Woods. In the game, players would type in commands to explore a massive cave system and find treasure. It’s the first widely known adventure game, with its only predecessor achieving nowhere near as much renown. This adventure has quite the legacy, and was even the title to inspire industry legend Roberta Williams, to get into game development. Now, she and her husband Ken are making their grand return with a full 3D remake of the game that started it all.

Colossal Cave begins by placing you next to a small shed in a forest. There are a few items to grab inside, and your goal is to bring all 15 treasures in the cave back here for a full score of 350 points. In lieu of a text parser, you have two actions you can cycle through by right clicking: look and use. You can look at both specific items and objects as well as your general environment. Whatever you look at will trigger a pleasing narration describing the situation just like the original text adventure would. The narrator will also chime in occasionally to warn you of dangers like a dragon or a long fall. The use action, represented by a hand, covers any interactions with the environment like climbing a ladder, picking up items, and more. It’s a great way to simplify everything you could do in the original game, while keeping the breadth of abilities for puzzle solving.

[...]

Colossal Cave is a fascinating game, and this modern remake brings the wonder of a text adventure to life in full 3D. It’s streamlined with a few updates, while still keeping the spirit of the original. The game has more than a few issues, but is well worth playing for a magical adventure.

Score: 80/100

Tuesday - January 24, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Colossal Cave released

by Hiddenx, 11:17

The point & click adventure Colossal Cave has been released:

Colossal Cave

Colossal Cave is an exciting point & click adventure into a mysterious cavern - a re-imagining of the celebrated text adventure by Will Crowther & Don Woods. Acclaimed game designer Roberta Williams brings you her vision of the game that inspired her to create her own legendary games.

Friday - January 13, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Denuvo Games Steam Curator

by Hiddenx, 11:47

The Denuvo Games Steam Curator tracks all games that come with the Denuvo Anti-Temper Software, that uses kernel-level drivers.

Some current RPG examples:

  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Immortals Fenyx Rising
  • Assassins Creed Valhalla
  • Triangle Strategy
  • Valkyrie Elysium
  • The Diofield Chronicle

 

Monday - January 09, 2023

Non-RPG General News - Redfall Preview @ ACG

by Hiddenx, 14:44

ACG checked out the co-op shooter Redfall:

Redfall May Be The Hit Arkane and Xbox Need - Ultimate Preview

Saturday - December 24, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Update 4.5 for Galactic Civilizations III

by Hiddenx, 13:54

Henriquejr spotted an update for Galactic Civilizations III:

NOW AVAILABLE: v4.5 Update for Galactic Civilizations III

Galactic Civilizations III v4.5 Update Improves AI, Early Game, Diplomatic Trades, and More

Full changelog here

v4.5 makes some updates that help get your early game moving just a little bit faster. You now start with 2 scouts and all starting worlds have 4 more tiles and additional currency on them. Diplomatic trades have also been tweaked so that you can get a little more bang for your buck – or your Elerium, if credits simply aren’t enticing enough.

We’ve also updated several of the art assets for events so that you can enjoy a fresh new look. Updates to the AI improve game pacing and support further immersion with things like better tax handling, choosing what technology to research, and aborting trades with the player if it determines the trade is truly unreasonable.

Thank you for all your loyal years of dominating the galaxy.

Tuesday - December 20, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Gray Zone released

by Hiddenx, 18:43

The RTS Gray Zone has left Early Access:

Gray Zone Leaving Early Access/Launch Trailer

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - December 14, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Master of Magic Review

by Hiddenx, 16:51

Wizard Worm checked out the new Master of Magic:

Master of Magic Review - Legendary Remake! (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)

Tuesday - December 13, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Master of Magic Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 18:30

SplatterCatGaming checked out Master of Magic:

Master of Magic - Sandbox Sorcerous Wizard Strategy

Saturday - December 10, 2022

Non-RPG General News - History of Video Games

by Hiddenx, 15:58

Andrea Contato wants to translate the first book of his series Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies to English via crowdfunding:

Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies

Stage 1: 1979 and Before

From the author of Through the Moongate: the story of Richard Garriott, Origin Systems Inc. and Ultima. (Official site here)

Another book on the general history of video games?

Yes, because this one is different from the others.


Video-Games is a work that traces the history of video games from their origins to 1999, covering computer games, console games, arcade games, and handheld devices. It focuses on the human aspect, the history of the people engaged in their creative endeavors, and their impact on the evolution of technology and design choices, Video-Games is based on decades of extensive research of direct and indirect sources and dozens of never-before-seen and specially crafted interviews to accompany the work with new and detailed information.

The Video-Games series consists of five volumes: the first two - Stage 1 and 2 - were published in Italian in October 2021 and 2022. The remaining three volumes are scheduled to be released annually between 2023 and 2025.

Digital rendering of Video-Games Stage 1 (center) with Stage 2 and 3
This crowdfunding campaign aims to finance the translation and printing in English of the first volume of the series, Stage 1.

[...]

Friday - November 25, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Evil West Review

by Hiddenx, 16:55

Mortismal Gaming checked out the action adventure Evil West:

Evil West - Review After 100%

Wednesday - November 09, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Alliance of the Sacred Suns Update

by Hiddenx, 19:35

Henriquejr spotted the October dev update for the strategy game Alliance of the Sacred Suns:

October Dev Update, AKA All The Cool Stuff

...and there's been a LOT of cool stuff
Hello everyone! Steve here again with another exciting update - we’ve had a busy month, so let’s get right down to what’s improved and changed in Alliance since we last spoke!

MASSIVE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS

We took a hard look this month after the last demo feedback at the memory and storage systems of Alliance. Some people who were running 8 GB of RAM were unable to play, or the game would partially load before timing out. We want the game to run on no more than 4-6 GB of RAM, with an integrated graphics card, and we want a consistent 60 FPS target on all facets of the game, including the UI.

So we went back to the drawing board, and Brandon, our lead UI programmer, was able to use and integrate Unity’s Addressables system, along with intelligent resource pooling, to dramatically improve load times, game generation times, and most importantly, memory usage! The game should now run on at least a 6 GB machine, and we continue to work towards 4 GB machines as well.

In addition, load and game generation times have been cut by 60-70%. This is the most significant performance update we have ever done.

[...]

Thursday - November 03, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Warhammer: Vermintide 2 free on Steam

by Hiddenx, 21:12

You can get Warhammer: Vermintide 2 for free on Steam until November 7.

Thanks for the info Pappy!

Monday - October 03, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Terra Invicta: Patch 3

by Hiddenx, 13:04

The Strategy game Terra Invicta got a new patch:

Patch 3 (many fixes and balance improvements)

Day 7 update

Hi everyone! The development team has been hard at work and we have a ton of new fixes and balance adjustments in today's update, which brings the game to version 0.3.20. Check out the list below!

And a big note of thanks to all the players -- Terra Invicta reached the top 100 most played games on Steam, exceeding 9,000 concurrent players today, a new peak on its 7th day! All the feedback you are providing is of enormous help to allow the dev team to keep improving the game. We'll keep at the critical issues for a bit, then begin working through all the feedback, improvements, and additions planned.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Wednesday - September 21, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Return to Monkey Island is available now

by Hiddenx, 18:56

Alrik spotted that the adventure game Return to Monkey Island has been released:

Well, after thirty years, here it is at last.

Return to Monkey Island! The game we honestly never thought we'd get to make.

Ron, Dave, and the rest of the dedicated team at Terrible Toybox have poured their hearts into creating this new story, a tale of unfinished business, unlikely alliances, and the consequences of digging at the spot marked X.

We've really enjoyed making it, reconnecting with characters that are dear to us, and meeting new ones, and it is with joy and pride that we share the game with you now. Hope you enjoy it!

Ron Gilbert & Dave Grossman

Friday - August 19, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Nobody's Left Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 10:31

Team Farflame published a gameplay overview for the post-apocalyptic adventure Nobody's Left:

Nobody's Left

Gameplay from story-driven post-apo action game inspired by The Last of Us and Get Even.

Non-RPG General News - A Plague Tale: Requiem Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 10:24

Team Farflame published a gameplay overview for A Plague Tale: Requiem:

Plague Tale Requiem

Gameplay overview of medieval action adventure Plague Tale Requiem where brave girl Amicia and her brother Hugo are trying to survive in world plagued by rats and plague.

Saturday - August 13, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Alone in the Dark Coming Back

by Silver, 01:19

Twisted Voxel reports on a leak, courtesy of a French retailer, of survival horror game Alone in the Dark which includes box art, screenshots, and a description.

The updated version of the survival horror classic brings a psychological horror experience featured in a Southern Gothic setting. According to the game’s description in the retailer listing, players will experience a story that is both memorable and sinister through the eyes of one of the two protagonists in this ode to the cult video game of the 1990s.

In Alone in the Dark, you’ll have the opportunity to explore various environments as Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood, fend off monsters, solve puzzles, and learn the horrible truth about Derceto’s mansion. In the 1920s, Emily Hartwood’s uncle vanished in the heart of the American South. She searches for him in the Derceto mansion, a psychiatric facility where something prowls, with the assistance of private investigator Edward Carnby. According to the description, you will encounter strange occupiers, nightmare kingdoms, terrifying creatures, and work towards uncovering a malicious plot. The adventure that awaits you is at the junction of reality, mystery, and madness.

[...]

Tuesday - July 26, 2022

Non-RPG General News - The Lord of the Rings: Gollum: Release delayed

by Hiddenx, 18:09

Redglyph spotted that the release date of the Action Adventure The Lord of the Rings: Gollum has been delayed:

Important release date announcement

Dear community,

First of all, we would like to thank all of you for your patience and support so far. Over the last years, our team has been working hard to bring you a remarkable story in a breathtaking world, filled with magic and wonder.

We are dedicated to meeting our community's expectations and uncovering the untold story of Gollum in a way that honours the vision of J. R. R. Tolkien.

That being said, in order to deliver the best possible experience, we have decided to push the release of The Lord of The Rings: Gollum™ by a few months. We will update you with an exact timing in the near future.

We are grateful for our passionate community and we cannot wait to share this unique adventure with you soon!

Daedalic Entertainment

 

Monday - July 18, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Stray Review

by Hiddenx, 20:18

The Escapist has reviewed the action adventure Stray - the game will be released tomorrow:

Stray | Review in 3 Minutes

Thursday - June 23, 2022

Non-RPG General News - A Plague Tale: Requiem - Official Extended Gameplay Trailer

by Hiddenx, 17:19

IGN presents a new trailer for A Plague Tale: Requiem:

A Plague Tale: Requiem - Official Extended Gameplay Trailer

Monday - June 20, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Dark Mod 2.10 released

by Hiddenx, 17:19

The free first person stealth game Dark Mod got an update:

The Dark Mod 2.10 has been Released!

We are proud to announce the release of The Dark Mod 2.10!

The Dark Mod 2.10 comes with considerable improvements to loading times as well as a slew of new visual and gameplay features for mappers to experiment with, such as volumetric lighting (“god rays”) and more advanced security cameras!

Many of these new features are prominently on display in the six new missions released for the 2.10 Connections Contest that are now officially available in the mission downloader!
A full changelog can be viewed here, but some highlights include:

For Players

Loading Times
Considerable effort has gone into streamlining how textures are loaded, making more effective use of multiple CPU cores, and removing artificial delays. This even includes new handwritten algorithms for normalmap compression and mipmap generation so that TDM no longer relies on graphics card drivers.

Performance Improvements
As part of ongoing performance improvements, soft stencil shadows with anti-alising will be faster to render.

Object Handling
Afraid to grab a candle near a sleeping guard? Handling objects will now produce less noise, or none at all if holding down the “creep” button. You can also now control how far an item is thrown based on how long you hold down the “throw” button. Lastly, dragging unconscious bodies should feel better now (even if rats did their best to spoil the fun a little).

Main Menu Interactions
Tooltips have been added for many of the items found in the settings menu: a long-awaited feature! We’ve also reorganized the procedure for switching between missions to make it more intuitive for newcomers.

Window / Input Changes
The Linux build now relies on the GLFW library to create windows and handle the keyboard & mouse, eliminating many of the issues with OS integration on Linux.
On the Windows side, some minor changes were made to fullscreen/borderless modes.

For Mappers

Entity limit is no more!
What was once the bane of TDM’s most ambitious mappers, the entity limit has now been raised eight-fold to 65,536. No longer will mappers need to spend long hours merging entities.

Compilation Times
To complement the faster loading times, compilation times have been brought down too. Optimizations were made all over the dmap code, adding new algorithms and data structures to improve both speed and precision.

Advanced Security Cameras
Security cameras have been reworked from the ground up with the aim of bringing them to the same level of polish as TDM’s AIs, both in stealth gameplay and customizability. Most importantly, security cameras in new FMs will track the player or AIs and react to bodies. Wiki

Volumetric Lights ("God Rays")
Unlike adding fake translucent geometry around lights, volumetric lights automatically match their source light, including light volume geometry, projection & falloff textures, and even shadows. Note that shadowcasting currently only works in “shadow maps” mode.

Xray Screens
Xrays are a Doom 3 feature that has been reintroduced to TDM and developed further. The screens are able to change the appearance of entities seen through them, even making them appear or disappear if desired. Look out for them in future Inventor’s Guild or magical-themed FMs.

Subtitles
Subtitles can now be assigned to sound files and have been added to the pre-bundled mission "Tears of St. Lucia". Note that we did not consider localization of subtitles yet.

Tracking Secrets
Secrets are now easy to designate, with no custom scripts required. They’ll also be shown on the mission statistics screen at the end of the mission if the FM uses the new system.

Main Menu GUI Customisation
Mappers can change much of the main menu from a single purpose-built "customisation" .gui file instead of having to replace core files. You can find more details in guis/mainmenu_custom_defs.gui inside tdm_gui01.pk4.
Since several missions had to be updated to this new system, their customisations will no longer work in 2.09 or earlier versions.

Location Diagnostics During dmap
Location overlaps should now be much easier to find and fix thanks to new console output and pointfiles created during compilation.

Image Formats
As a compact alternative to TGA for uncompressed images, PNG images can now be used in materials. Note that loading PNG images may be slower than TGA.
DDS images can now be used in image programs, although doing so is discouraged because of the additional quality loss due to compression.

New Script Events
The mapper’s scripting repertoire has been expanded by new script events for dealing with vectors and bounds, setting solidity, detecting surface type via trace, and reading more properties about entities and the player, such as “notarget” or the calibrated light gem value.
New Assets

Fancy Wooden Furniture
A whole new suite of fancy wooden furniture pieces including prefabs has been contributed by Wellingtoncrab. They can be viewed in the release thread.

Automaton AI
The semi-robotic AIs from Sotha’s Ulysses mission have been added to the core mod, together with new prefabs for cosmetic recharging stations to include in patrol routes as well as a camera screen showing what the automaton sees.
Programming

Tracy Profiling
TDM’s rudimentary GL profiling has been replaced with the Tracy profiler, which has its own cool viewer. It has already greatly helped the TDM development team in their optimization efforts.

Mission Database
The mission database has been moved to an SVN repository which automatically synchronizes all mirrors and makes backup copies of old versions of missions.

More Technical Stuff
A generic hash table has been added. “Clear” in the idlib method now works as most programmers expect and unit test integration has been improved.

To update, simply run the tdm_installer.exe file in your darkmod folder. Note that tdm_update.exe is no longer supported, but you can download the new installer from the Downloads page if you don’t have it yet.
Please be aware that old saved games will not be compatible with 2.10, so finish any missions you might be in the middle of first!

Farewell to Grayman

We have lost one of the most talented members to ever join the TDM team.

Rand Phares "grayman" has lost his long battle with cancer and is no longer with us.

Before joining the TDM team and rising to become the lead developer, grayman was making mods for Doom, Quake, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein (including the excellent “Stolen Artifact” mod). Grayman used his deep knowledge of id Tech AI and scripting to repair and improve TDM AI from versions 1.02 to 2.08.

Grayman’s “William Steele” series missions were always filled with complicated sequences and had a cinematic quality that few authors achieved. Grayman often recorded his own voice-acting and his stories often were tinged with a little of his unmistakable humor.

It is impossible to fathom all the things grayman has done for TDM over the years and he will missed as both a developer and mentor for team members, mappers, and players alike.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - June 14, 2022

Non-RPG General News - A Plague Tale: Requiem - Exclusive Hands-On Preview @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 14:31

IGN checked out the Action-Adventure A Plague Tale: Requiem:

A Plague Tale: Requiem - Exclusive Hands-On Preview

After extended hands-on time with A Plague Tale: Requiem - including a never-before-seen chapter - we're left very impressed with the rat-filled sequel.

Thursday - June 09, 2022

Non-RPG General News - The Last of Us - in development for PC

by Hiddenx, 20:55

The Last of Us Remake will be released for the PC, too:

The Last of Us Part I - Announce Trailer

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Revisit the game that set a new bar for single-player narrative storytelling with The Last of Us and explore a ravaged and hardened world, where every action has a brutal consequence for Joel and Ellie. Available on PS5 September 2, 2022.

In development for PC.

Saturday - May 28, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

by Hiddenx, 11:46

A sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order called Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been announced:

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Teaser Trailer

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Thanks Redglyph!

Thursday - May 19, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Old World available on Steam and GOG

by Hiddenx, 15:37

The 4X game Old World is now available on Steam and GOG:

Old World - Official Release Trailer

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Monday - May 09, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Hooded Horse Publisher Showcase

by Hiddenx, 22:25

Henriquejr spotted the upcoming games from indie publisher Hooded Horse:

Hooded Horse Publisher Showcase | PAX East 2022

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Video Timestamps: 
0:00:00 - Intro
0:01:22 - Old World
0:06:05 - Sons of Valhalla (New Game)
0:07:35 - Falling Frontier
0:16:11 - Espiocracy (New Game)
0:18:20 - Fragile Existence
0:24:14 - Capital Command (New Game)
0:26:13 - The Way of Wrath
0:28:53 - Fata Deum
0:32:29 - Alliance of the Sacred Suns
0:36:25 - Terra Invicta
0:42:46 - Conclusion and beginning of post-show trailers

 

Thursday - April 14, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Return to Monkey Island Interview @Adventure Gamers

by Silver, 23:37

Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman have been interviewed by Adventure Gamers about the making of Return to Monkey Island.

Back to the game development, I’m curious about the two of you working together after all these years. What is that process like? You’re both designing and both writing?

Dave: We’re kind of doing the design and story stuff all together. We’re talking every week about this stuff, and things come up and we knock them out. We’re both doing writing; I’m doing a little more of the actual words, Ron’s doing a little more of the direction and managing the engine people and stuff like that.

Is it similar to how you worked together on the other Monkey Island games you made together?

Ron: Yeah, it is very similar. I spent a lot of time during Monkey 1 and Monkey 2 doing design work, but I also spent a lot of time working on the SCUMM engine, and working with Aric [Wilmunder] on all of that stuff, and that’s the same here. I spend a lot of my time, probably at least half my time, working on the engine, doing the programming, and all that kind of stuff. Dave is taking on the bulk of the writing. There are sections that I’m doing, characters that are my characters, that I’m taking control of.

Dave: I’m going to be interested, when the game comes out, to see whether people pick out, like, “Ah, that’s a Ron part! And I hate it!” Or “And I love it!”

Ron: The grumpy [characters].

What’s been the most fun thing about working on this game?

Ron: I think working on anything is a lot of fun. There’s Thimbleweed Park, any of this stuff—it’s fun to create things. I like making things up. Dave and I have these standing meetings when we get together for one or two hours every single week on a Slack call, and we just kind of go over everything that’s come up in the game, feedback from testers and feedback from playtesters and stuff, and I really enjoy those. I really enjoy that time of hashing through all of the details with Dave.

Dave: We get to play “What if?” with that a lot. “Oh, this isn’t quite working. Oh, I know! What if…” That’s very creatively satisfying. And I also like the part where I get to go off by myself and invent things for people to say. I personally really enjoy that part.

[...]

Wednesday - April 06, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Next Tomb Raider Game announced

by Hiddenx, 15:47

Wccftech reports that the next Tomb Raider game will use the Unreal 5 engine:

Tomb Raider Series’ Next Entry in Development at Crystal Dynamics Using Unreal Engine 5

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Lara Croft, with 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider being the last entry in her series, but obviously, the franchise was going to return one way or another. Well, today during Epic Games’ State of Unreal Keynote livestream, it was officially announced that the next entry in the Tomb Raider series is in the works and is being developed using Unreal Engine 5. Not a lot of specific information was shared, but here’s what Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider general manager had to say about the new UE5-powered project…

[...]

Thanks Redglyph!

 

 

Tuesday - April 05, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Brigandine The Legend of Runersia Launch on May 11

by Hiddenx, 17:50

The tun-based strategy title Brigandine The Legend of Runersia will be released for the PC on May 11:

Brigandine The Legend of Runersia

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Monday - April 04, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Return to Monkey Island Announced

by Silver, 22:34

Ron Gilbert has been secretly working on Return to Monkey Island which is expected to release 2022.

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Announcing Return to Monkey Island, the long-awaited follow-up to the legendary Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge by Ron Gilbert's Terrible Toybox in collaboration with Devolver Digital and Lucasfilm Games, coming 2022.

Saturday - April 02, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Doom Classic Ray Traced

by Silver, 21:30

Doom Classic has been ray traced with PrBoom.

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Real-time path tracing support for the PrBoom sourceport. The first three episodes of Doom (1993) are available.

Source code and the playable build:

https://github.com/sultim-t/prboom-plus-rt/releases

Monday - March 28, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Ghostwire: Tokyo released

by Hiddenx, 20:24

The action adventure Ghostwire: Tokyo has been released:

Ghostwire: Tokyo – Official Accolades Trailer

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Review by Mortismal Gaming:

Ghostwire: Tokyo - Review After 100%

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Thanks Redglyph!

 

Monday - March 21, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Amiga 500 Mini Review

by Hiddenx, 18:02

The Amiga 500 Mini will be available soon - MetalJesusRocks reviewed it:

The AMIGA A500 mini review - Is it worth $140?!

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Non-RPG General News - Tunic Review @ Destructoid

by Hiddenx, 15:21

Destructoid checked out the puzzle-adventure game TUNIC:

Review: Tunic

Ow, my brain

I’m of the opinion that no era of video games is really better than the rest. You’ll find some argue that it peaked around the 16-bit era and others who insist that video games get better and better. My thoughts on this are that certain aspects of design have fallen out of fashion as the market has diversified. However, that only makes them different; not worse.

One such aspect of design that has changed is leaving it up to the player to plumb a game for its secrets. Think The Legend of Zelda, which was packed with secrets both optional and required for you to complete the game. The sub-genre that sprung up around Metroid was very much about chipping away through exploration, and not all of it was communicated in an obvious manner. Sometimes, sometimes you had to crack open the instruction manual to discover information that the game itself wasn’t going to tell you. Castlevania never told you that you have to hold Up and press the B button to throw your secondary weapon.

Tunic doesn’t just include this antiquated slice of design, it’s actually about it. Forget that it looks like Zelda and plays like Dark Souls, what it really is underneath is a celebration of long-forgotten design practices.

[...]

What’s amazing about Tunic is that I can’t count any misstep. I fell into the world a few times, big deal. The penalty for death is paltry and they’re bugs that can be squashed. Once, a sound queue got stuck playing continuously, and I found myself pondering its significance in futility. I only noticed it wasn’t supposed to be happening when it continued through to the main menu. Sometimes things get in the way of the camera. There was nothing major enough to drag down the experience.

I don’t really care about any of that, because Tunic stroked my ego from start to finish. I frequently found myself muttering, “you devious bastard.” It speaks the language of games gone by while injecting both modernity and its own personal twist. It’s brilliant enough to stand apart, and this is one garment I recommend you slip into. Maybe with some leggings. It would look nice!

Score: 9/10

RPS: 7 Reasons Why You'll Fall In Love With Tunic

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Thanks Redglyph!

 

Thursday - March 17, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Alliance of the Sacred Suns delayed

by Hiddenx, 11:26

The strategy game Alliance of the Sacred Suns will be released in Q2 2022:

Alliance releasing in Q2

Slight delay to release, but a chance to playtest the game

Hey everyone!

We’ve got a slight delay to announce for the early access release–from Q1 to Q2 of this year. The game is almost ready, but we’ve made the decision to take a couple extra months to really ensure Alliance lives up to your expectations.

However, if you are eager to start playing right away, we also have some good news–we will be holding a final playtest in April, to iron out any final feedback before release.

There’s no need to sign up in advance for this one–we want as much feedback as possible, so we’ll be posting it for all to download as a demo on Steam.

This final playtest includes:

  • All the reported issues fixed from the last playtest
  • Several updated Nexus windows
  • The entire Emperor System complete for Early Access (392 skills, 42 Emperor Personality Effects, 77 Oratory Moves, 81 Emperor Actions, new Guilt System)
  • Many more Events
  • A whole new main UI and Galaxy/Province/System view with seamless zooming and panning
  • Streamlined updates to the Trade and Outpost systems
  • Significant performance improvements
  • House AI improvements
  • New culture-specific music
  • More House and Ruler art
  • And more!

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Wednesday - March 16, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Black Mesa: The 16 Year Project to Remake Half-Life

by Hiddenx, 16:18

Redglyph spotted an interesting Noclip documentary:

Black Mesa: The 16 Year Project to Remake Half-Life | Noclip Documentary

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Friday - March 11, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Elite Dangerous focus on PC

by Hiddenx, 17:18

RPS reports that Elite Dangerous console development will be canceled:

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey cancels console development to focus on PC

Because it still needs fixing

Space sim Elite Dangerous has gone to the dogs since its latest expansion, Odyssey. It launched in May 2021 in a sorry state and, while developers Frontier have been fixing it up, it's still a mess now. This week Frontier announced that to help focus their efforts on fixing Odyssey, they're cancelling the yet-unreleased console version. Good news for us on PC, I suppose, but oof! "This was not an easy decision to make, but it was made with the long-term future of Elite Dangerous in mind," Frontier frontman David Braben said.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Tuesday - March 08, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Songs of Conquest

by Hiddenx, 15:56

CBR checked out the upcoming strategy game Songs of Conquest:

Songs of Conquest Is a Delightful Throwback to '90s Turn-Based Strategy Games

Taking its inspiration from classic '90s strategy games, Songs of Conquest will invite players to build their kingdoms in a unique fantasy world.

Modern strategy games have become massively grand experiences that tend to involve some pretty wide-scale scenarios. Titles like Crusader Kings III let players plot their way through an entire historical era, while others like Hearts of Iron IV task players with guiding a country through the global conflict of World War II. However, there's no doubt that even the grandest of 4X titles take heavy inspiration from the classic turn-based titles of the past.

Classic franchises like Age of Empires and Heroes of Might and Magic helped define the turn-based strategy genre back in the day. Not only did many of these games feature some truly unique worlds to explore, but each franchise tended to have unique mechanics to help them stand out from others. While many of these classic turn-based titles remain available through websites like GOG.com, there hasn't really been a new strategy game that really captured the nostalgic spirit of those older franchises -- until now.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Non-RPG General News - Little Big Adventure 1&2 Being Refreshed

by Silver, 02:20

Eurogamer reports on some improvements coming to Action Adventures Little Big Adventure 1 & 2 by developer 2.21.

The original Little Big Adventure - an evocative blend of platforming, puzzling, and exploration that charted the story of young hero Twinsen, on the run from evil dictator Dr. FunFrock - released back in 1994 and was followed by a sequel three years later. With both titles now over a quarter of a century old, they are, understandably, rather lacking in terms of modern day polish, and 2.21 is looking to remedy that as it seeks to bring the games to more players ahead of its planned third instalment in the Little Big Adventure series.

To that end, as detailed in a new blog post, 2.21 has been working on new 'Classic +' versions of Little Big Adventures 1 & 2 (recently renamed Twinsen's Little Big Adventure Classic 1 & 2 to avoid confusion with Sony's Little Big Planet series) that will bring controller support, UI changes including in-game language selection, unspecified "gameplay improvements", and various platform-specific features, including cloud saves and achievements.

[...]

Friday - March 04, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Master of Magic Dev Diary #8

by Hiddenx, 15:40

Farflame spotted the newest dev diary for Master of Magic:

Master of Magic Dev Diary #8 February 2022

The Magic of Master of Magic

This month we decided to go back to the beginning as it were and talk about what exactly makes Master of Magic magical? And the answer of course is spellcasting.

Over 200 Spells

Firstly, there are so many different types of spells. There are resistance spells, buffing spells, battle spells and global spells that can affect the whole world, terrain changing spells, curses, damage dealing blasts, crowd control, transforming spells, creating objects, summoning creatures and/or heroes, buffing the Wizards themselves, making your towns more efficient/or making your enemies towns suffer – the list goes on. And even within these types of spells, there are unique characteristics and effects. For example, while some spells share a simple and common mechanic, like summoning spells – they pretty much do what they say on the can, they summon things, but even they can sometimes surprise you. 

Summoning spells call upon a creature of magic to serve your will.  Those creatures are governed by their own set of rules, and are typically split into two types: battle only summons and world summons: that become part of your army both overland and in combat. But then, even here, you get Torin, the extra special champion that can only be recruited via a Life summoning spell. He is an exception to the summoned units and to heroes because his ‘tags’ are both “fantastic units” and “hero”. For the purpose of game mechanics then, Torin is classified as fantastic (mostly… ), so that all spells and skills that affect fantastic units can also affect him – although he has kick ass immunities, so you are not likely to affect him at all!. But, as a hero he becomes a more complex and unique case. He is presented in-game as a hero – so he is listed as one in our army, and so gets the hero equipment screen where he can be equipped with items. His presence in a town will stop it from rebelling and so on. But, he cannot be resurrected, only summoned again, and none of the spells that work on normal units (therefore also on other heroes) will work on Torin. 

Monday - February 07, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Launch Now, Fix Later

by Redglyph, 15:56

Mortismal Gaming talks about the tendency of publishers to launch games in a bad state.

The Growing Trend Of Launch Now, Fix It Later In Gaming

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Friday - February 04, 2022

Non-RPG General News - GTA6 Well Underway

by Redglyph, 19:04

Rockstar Games have posted a community update and a tweet in which they mention GTA6 is well underway, in response to fan requests.

[...]

What’s Next

With the unprecedented longevity of GTAV, we know many of you have been asking us about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series. With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered — and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway. We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for official details.

On behalf of our entire team, we thank you all for your support and cannot wait to step into the future with you!

Ghostwire Tokyo - Release Date & Gameplay

by Redglyph, 18:27

COG takes a look at Ghostwire Tokyo, Tango Gameworks' next action-adventure game.

GHOSTWIRE TOKYO RELEASES GAMEPLAY DEEP-DIVE ALONGSIDE RELEASE DATE

A Look at Ghostwire’s Tokyo

It’s time to visit a Tokyo far different from the one we know in this world. Today Tango Gameworks and Bethesda share their upcoming action adventure game, Ghostwire Tokyo, and unveil a deep-dive of the gameplay. The in-depth gameplay provides players with more information about the story and action of Ghostwire Tokyo. In addition, the gameplay deep dive confirms a March release date.

Ghostwire Tokyo places the player in an eerie version of Tokyo. In this Tokyo most of the population is vanished, gone into thin air. Instead the streets of the city are home to supernatural creatures, Visitors, deriving their images from Japanese folklore. The Visitors are terrifying and dangerous yet you are not alone or without defense. Joining the player is a dark spirit that provides you with magical powers known Ethereal Weaving. 

In addition to revealing the overarching story to players, the deep-dive gives a great glimpse at Ethereal Weaving. Using a variety of powers from fire blasts to mystic energy shots, there is a host of ways to dispatch supernatural threats. Additionally, the deep-dive makes it clear that multiple traditional weapons, such as a bow, are available to fight your way through the foggy streets of Tokyo.

Despite the supernatural elements Tango Gameworks still aims to give the Tokyo of the game a true reminiscent feel of Tokyo. From the ultra-modern cityscape, to the exploration of the alleyways, Ghostwire reflects Tokyo in its design. Additionally, players who aim to adventure a little off the normal path will get rewards ranging from strange new characters, to further storylines to explore. 

Ghostwire Tokyo will be available on PS5 and PC March 25th, 2022. Additionally, players who digitally pre-order the Deluxe Edition of Ghostwire: Tokyo gain early access to the game and cosmetic items.

Gameplay video

Saturday - January 29, 2022

Non-RPG General News - 10 Best 2022 Horror Games

by Redglyph, 16:17

To change the mood, COG shared their most anticipated horror games.

10 BEST HORROR VIDEO GAMES ARRVING IN 2022

Sometimes, You Just Need a Bit of Horror

Everyone has a favorite genre when it comes to video games. Some people like to play games that let you build things; some people like to challenge themselves with puzzles and teasers. And some people like to have their pants scared off when it comes to the horror genre.

Honestly, there are a lot more games that we missed and should be highlighted here. These are just ten games that we know of that we’re extremely excited about. Some games are about monsters, and some are far more about horror. We hope that soon we can tell you more about these particular ten games, when they come out, and a whole lot of juicy details besides.

[...]

Thursday - January 27, 2022

Non-RPG General News - New Trailer for Clash II

by Hiddenx, 19:15

Clash II is a turn-based strategy game, where players will get the chance to immerse themselves as a commander of one of the quarreled fractions. The game will be released on April 7:

Clash II | Official Cinematic Trailer

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The story will take place almost fifty years after the events of Clash.

Wednesday - January 26, 2022

Crysis 4 - Confirmed

by Redglyph, 13:16

VGC reported a possible confirmation of Crysis 4 on Chinese medias.

Crytek has seemingly confirmed Crysis 4 on Chinese social media

THE FIRST IMAGE OF THE GAME HAS BEEN SHARED ON BILIBILI

As spotted by Eurogamer, the message appeared on Crytek’s official account on Chinese site BiliBili and shows a helmet lying on the ground.

The Chinese text on the image roughly translates to “Crysis series part 4”.

The accompanying message also confirms that the image is from Crysis 4.

It reads: “Xiao C delivers a big New Year’s gift for the Year of the Tiger: making a comeback, the tiger will grow stronger! Project Crysis 4 confirmed, opening up a new nano battlefield!

“Follow @Crytek_official to keep up with the latest news, and tell us what you’re looking forward to in your lifetime in the comments section!”

[...]

This is the mentioned photo:

(UPDATE) Later this morning, an official trailer was released by Crytek, along with an announcement:

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CRYSIS IS COMING BACK!

It's finally time to reveal what we're working on. We're excited to announce the 4th instalment in the Crysis series is in development! We've a long road ahead of us but we want heroes to join us today to shape the next chapter in the Crysis franchise.

Watch the teaser and read the blog post for more information on the journey ahead.

https://www.crysis.com/blog/new-crysi...

Tuesday - January 25, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Three Star Wars Games in Development

by Silver, 21:38

Bluesnews reports that the recently formed Bit Reactor is working on a Star Wars strategy game. In addition a FPS and a new Jedi game are in development by Respawn Entertainment. The Star Wars Battlefront series seems to have been discontinued.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and Lucasfilm Games  are joining forces to continue delivering all-new, world-class gaming experiences set within the beloved Star Wars galaxy.  

Respawn Entertainment, best known for their work on Apex Legends™, Titanfall™ and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™, is leading the development and production of these new projects.  Vince Zampella, Group GM and Founder of Respawn, will oversee this new phase of EA’s relationship with Lucasfilm, building on Respawn’s award-winning history in game development and expertise in telling compelling Star Wars stories.  

Game Director Stig Asmussen and his team at the studio are already working on the next game in the action adventure Star Wars Jedi series, and are joined by two new teams working to deliver additional unique Star Wars gameplay experiences across multiple genres. Leading the development of Respawn’s all-new Star Wars first-person shooter game is Peter Hirschmann, Game Director at Respawn, who has a long and accomplished history with the Star Wars franchise. The third title is a Star Wars strategy game developed through a production collaboration with the newly formed studio Bit Reactor, helmed by games industry veteran Greg Foerstch. Respawn will produce the new Star Wars strategy game while Bit Reactor leads on the development of the title.  

[...]

Hidden Deep - Enters Early Access

by Redglyph, 12:50

COG reported that adventure thriller Hidden Deep had entered Early Access.

HIDDEN DEEP EMERGES ON STEAM EARLY ACCESS TODAY

Deep dark horror is out on early access. Cogwheel Software’s 2D horror game, Hidden Deep, has come to Steam Early Access. The side-scrolling deep sea horror’s earl access follows a December 2021 Beta that saw play by over 50,000 Steam users. A press release about the announcement provides more details about the Early Access, as well as, the game itself.

Hidden Deep brings the player to a massive research facility deep beneath the ocean. Inspired by 1980’s horror themes, the game, allows players to unravel the mystery of what is going on in the research facility. As a member of the Security and Scouting team it will be the players job to map out underground tunnels, and keep the scientists safe from any threats. 

The press release explains that, “The story pays homage to many classic movies of the 1980s such as Aliens, The Thing, Virus and The Blob.” An early access trailer, that came out today, shows off the gameplay of Hidden Deep. 

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[...]

Monday - January 24, 2022

Non-RPG General News - The Problem with NFTs

by Hiddenx, 16:53

Folding Ideas explains the problems of NFTs (non-fungible tokens). These data objects can be used in games, too:

The Problem With NFTs

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 More info from Johnny Harris:

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Saturday - January 22, 2022

Days Gone - Review After 100%

by Redglyph, 12:07

After giving his first impressions, Mortismal Gaming does a full review of Days Gone.

Days Gone - Review After 100%

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Wednesday - January 19, 2022

Rainbow 6 Extraction - Review @ IGN

by Redglyph, 12:22

IGN has reviewed the PC version of Rainbow Six Extraction.

Rainbow Six Extraction Review

[...]

Verdict

Rainbow Six Extraction is one of the boldest games in recent Ubisoft history. Not only does it exchange the series' staid military realism for a wonderfully grotesque universe of oozing, parasitic incursion, it also introduces a slew of mechanics determined to make us fear death. Returning to the scene of a failed mission in a desperate attempt to pry a friend's body from the festering horde is legitimately one of the most exhilarating operations I've ever attempted in a co-op video game. But Extraction's premise wore on me quickly, and its set of recurring objectives, while well designed, didn't offer quite enough intrigue to keep me excited about coming back for as long as some other similar games. As a result, Extraction resembles a generous, well-executed expansion pack rather than a brand-new game.

Score: 7 (good) Rainbow Six Extraction brings some great new ideas to the venerable first-person shooter as it morphs to a sci-fi co-op game, but it doesn't distinguish itself quite enough to stand out on its own merits.

 

Tuesday - January 18, 2022

Noclip - Hotline Miami

by Redglyph, 18:51

Noclip interviewed Dennaton Games about Hotline Miami.

Hotline Miami Creators Break Down its Design & Legacy

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We talk to Dennaton Games about the design and legacy of Hotline Miami.

Sunday - January 16, 2022

Days Gone - First Impressions @ MG

by Redglyph, 12:14

Mortismal Gaming shares his first impressions about Days Gone, a post-apocalyptic adventure/action game.

Days Gone - First Impressions

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Saturday - January 15, 2022

Dying Light - Review @ MG

by Redglyph, 13:40

Mortismal Gaming reviewed Dying Light in anticipation of the sequel.

Dying Light - Review After 100%

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Friday - January 14, 2022

Hitman Trilogy - Coming to Xbox/PC Game Pass

by Redglyph, 12:35

PC Invasion reports that the Hitman Trilogy was coming to PC Game Pass on January 20th.

The Hitman Trilogy is coming to PC Game Pass next week

The Hitman Trilogy will be coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass on January 20. This was announced as part of an update from IO Interactive regarding the future of the game. The developer also announced that the Hitman Trilogy is finally coming to Steam on the same day. It’s great news for anyone who’s been wanting to try out the Hitman series but hasn’t yet for whatever reason.

Hitman Trilogy‘s arrival on Xbox and PC Game Pass coincides with the start of Hitman 3‘s Year 2 content update. The update brings a new mode in the form of Elusive Target Arcade, as well as VR, and graphical enhancements to the PC version.

The entire Hitman Trilogy for incredible value

Xbox Game Pass has been the saving grace for patient gamers everywhere, as it brings a plethora of games to players for a very decent price. Now, with the arrival of Hitman Trilogy, players can take the reins of Agent 47 as he navigates the World of Assassination. There are around 20 different maps in total included in the trilogy, and each one is filled to the brim with content. So, if you need something to kill some time with, this is the perfect game to do just that.

[...]

Thursday - January 13, 2022

Non-RPG General News - Hitman 3 Year 2

by Redglyph, 18:28

Wccf Tech summarized the 13-minute reveal video released by IO.

Hitman 3 Year 2 Offers Roguelike Mode, Ray Tracing/XeSS on PC, Trilogy Hitting Game Pass

[...] Arguably the biggest addition to Hitman 3 Year 2 is Freelancer mode, a new way that play that tasks players with completing a series of missions with randomized elements. The mode also gives you a new Safehouse base, where you can store favorite items and prepare for missions. In addition to Freelancer mode, IO is also making some changes to Elusive Targets – get the lowdown on all the new ways to play, below. [...]

IO is also teasing a full new map, codenamed “Rocky.” Not a lot of details have been revealed, but based on the following screenshot, it looks like a tropical island playground.

As mentioned, the PC version of is getting an array of technical improvements, including ray tracing, XeSS support, and Variable Rate Shading. For those wondering, Hitman 3 already features ray tracing on both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The full Hitman Trilogy will also soon be playable in VR on PC (it was a PSVR exclusive previously).

Finally, you’ll soon have new ways to get your hands on Agent 47’s latest adventures. IO Interactive has announced a new Hitman Trilogy bundle, which will be available to purchase on all platforms (including Steam this time around) and will be available on Xbox Game Pass on Day 1. [...]

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Tuesday - January 11, 2022

Gaming Industry - Top 10 Fails of 2021

by Redglyph, 18:31

Just when you thought it'd be the end of top lists, COG came up with the top game company fails of 2021.

10 OF THE BIGGEST VIDEO GAME COMPANY FAILS OF 2021

Sometimes, Companies Mess Up. Sometimes Video Game Companies REALLY Mess Up

We all love video games here. No matter if we’re playing them on phones, multiple monitors, or on a giant television. With friends in person, online, or by ourselves, we love playing games. That’s something that we can all agree on. However, there is something unfortunate, and that is how bad the video gaming industry can be.

There has been a shift, in the past few years at least, towards the support of employees and the gaming community, but some of the major players have not been looking out for their own. Some companies apologize and actively work to get better. Sometimes there are some trip-ups when it comes to supply and demand.

Then again, there are some companies that just keep getting worse and worse, despite all the opportunities to be better.

[...]

Non-RPG General News - Best Games of the 2010's decade

by Redglyph, 12:27

Ye Old Entertainment closes his series on the best games of the 2000's with this video.

Best Games of the 2010's decade. Mass effect 2, Sekiro, Fallout New Vegas, which is your favorite?

This is the last video on this series. This time we ware going over my favorite video games of the last decade.

The 80's was the decade when big platformers like Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden, Super Mario, Metroid, Contra and Mega Man emerged.

The 90's were famous for first person shooters like Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein 3D, Hexxen and Heretic and one on one fighting games like Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct.

The 2000's were the decade of those immortal RPG titles Like Baldur's Gate 2, the Icewind Dale series, Vampire the masquerade bloodlines and Arcanum and 3D action games like Ninja Gaiden, God of War and the First Batman Arkham Game.

The 2010's were big and all genres! and it was a joy to see it through to the end. There were Pillars of Eternity, Pillars of Eternity 2, Deadfire Archipielago, Divinity Original Sin II, Pathfinder Kingmaker, Disco Elysium and many others in the isometric CRPG league, there were the Mass Effect, Red Dead Redemption and Witcher sagas in the action games with rpg elements ballpark, the batman arkham games, From Software's Soulsborne games: Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro and many others.

But herein lie... my very favorites.

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Saturday - January 01, 2022

Gaming Industry - Did 2021 make any Sense?

by Redglyph, 10:37

GamesIndustry.biz and Destructoid look back at the events in the gaming industry last year. Pick your preferred format.

2021: The Year of Living Ridiculously | This Year in Business

From GameStop's rally to Wolf Enhanced Pants NFTs, this year was the poorly considered gag gift that kept on giving

It's been a bad year for fans of things that make sense, in the world at large and in games specifically.

Granted, every year in this industry is rife with absurdity, but gaming really outdid itself in 2021.

Meme stocks.

Blockchain.

The Metaverse.

Bobby Kotick still having a job.

You know how some people saw The Matrix too many times and are now convinced we're all living in an incredibly complex simulation rather than any kind of real world? I thought about that a lot this year, because so much of what's happened has felt like one of Jon Bois' old Breaking Madden videos where the simulation is pushed to extremes and Weird Stuff begins to happen.

Like, for real, Sony released a game on Xbox in 2021. The most hotly anticipated new systems are dedicated handhelds: SteamDeck, Analogue Pocket, and Playdate. (That's right PSVR 2, I said it.) Square Enix had to pull Final Fantasy 14 from sale because it was too popular.

Nothing makes sense any more! [...]

 

The biggest gaming stories of 2021

From Activision Blizzard to NFTs, it’s been a long year

The year 2021 is finally coming to a close, and it sure has been a long one. It marked the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the gaming industry first full year of next-gen consoles, and another year of online events and showcases—at least, for most of the year.

There were cloudy spots and rays of sunshine amongst the headlines. Amid all of it, this has certainly been a time for reflection and examination. As shortages and a shift to remote work put pressure on both the software and hardware sides of the industry, everything was in flux. Yet still, there were a few heartwarming tales that, even if they didn’t rock the world, did keep us moving forward.

With all that in mind, here are some of the biggest gaming stories that dominated the headlines in 2021. [...]

Tuesday - December 28, 2021

Noclip - GTA, Lemmings & DMA Design

by Redglyph, 21:44

Noclip released a new episode in their Greatest Hits series, this time unveiling the story of DMA Design Ltd, which became Rockstar North, and the games they made.

The History of Grand Theft Auto, Lemmings & DMA Design | Noclip Greatest Hits

Danny talk to the people behind Grand Theft Auto & Lemmings about the history of DMA Design and their lasting impact on the world of development.

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Monday - December 27, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Best-Looking Games of 2021

by Redglyph, 18:42

COG Connected presents the most eye-candy games of this year. Some of them are good, too.

RANKING THE BEST LOOKING VIDEO GAMES OF 2021

We Can’t Look Away…the Best Looking Games of 2021

I can remember the days when we used to argue about graphics. "It doesn’t matter what a game looks like," people said. "I just care how it plays." I never bought that. I think how a game looks is pretty important. However, there’s more to visuals than ray tracing, photorealism, and motion capture. There’s also art direction and the overall concept behind the way a game looks. A game can have low-tech graphics and still be a winner if the art is great.

All that said, games continue to push the boundaries of visual excellence. High-end video cards and the new console generation are making jaw-dropping images commonplace. The uncanny valley is becoming less deep. If you need proof, just look at our list of Best Looking Games.

[...]

Sunday - December 26, 2021

Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice - Review

by Redglyph, 15:32

Wccf Tech reviewed the standalone expansion Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun – Aiko’s Choice Review

[...] As a small standalone expansion to Shadow Tactics, Aiko's Choice looks to carry on the greatness and take you back to a place you likely haven't visited in a while, and it does it admirably. Even better is that if somebody who hasn't played Shadow Tactics feels like playing this expansion, this makes an effort to bring them in - even if it's likely to remind people of what happened five years ago.

So what exactly does Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice bring? First, let's talk price. It costs £16.99, roughly half the price of the base title. For that, you get six levels. There are three larger, full-fledged areas, three smaller and more focused areas (interludes), which occur roughly three-quarters through the original game. Consequently, it throws you into the deep end. As a standalone, it does offer a sort of introduction, but even this presumes you have played the original.

[...]

Score: 7.5

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice is more of the original, which means it's more of one of the best real-time tactics games around. The few issues that you could have with the original, such as the difficulty curve, are made worse due to the location of these missions within the larger story - and with it being standalone - which could make it inaccessible. The lack of introduction to characters, presuming foreknowledge, also means new players will find it hard to get into. Even with these flaws, I could only recommend it as it looks great, sounds great, and plays even better.

Pros

  • More of the same outstanding tactical gameplay.
  • Still looks and sounds brilliant, with outstanding art and audio direction.
  • More time, and good character development, for those familiar with the game.

Cons

  • Poor attempts to engage new players or re-engage older ones who could have forgotten many aspects in both characters and gameplay.
  • High difficulty curve due to the location of the missions in the wider title.

Non-RPG General News - Early Access by Mortismal Gaming

by Redglyph, 12:33

Mortismal Gaming tackles the sensitive subject of Early Access.

The Double-Edged Sword Of Early Access

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Talking about the favorable and unfavorable consequences of Early Access

Thank You Members!

Friday - December 24, 2021

Non-RPG General News - 2021 Gaming in Numbers

by Redglyph, 10:29

GamesIndustry.biz presented infographics with some interesting numbers on the global game market of the last 12 months.

GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year in Numbers 2021

Check out the biggest selling games, most covered companies, top influencers, the global games market value and more

2021 draws to a close and, as has become tradition, we try to condense the past 12 months of this fast-paced, ever-changing business into a single infographic.

Yes, it's Year In Numbers time, so scroll down for a selection of graphs, charts and stats that aim to offer a summary of where the games industry stands after another eventful year.

We have the usual update on the global games market value, as well as insight into the top selling games from key territories, the big winners in mobile, the balance between new and established IP at the big six publishers and platform holders, plus some assorted figures we hope will be of interest.

[...]

Saturday - December 18, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Upcoming Survival Sandbox Games

by Hiddenx, 10:11

WolfheartFPS takes a look at the upcoming survival sandbox games:

Top 12 New Upcoming Survival Sandbox Games ☠ 2022 & Beyond

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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:27 Nightingale
02:13 Ark 2
04:26 Voidtrain
06:09 Sons of the Forest
07:27 Valheim
09:01 The Day Before
09:58 Bitcraft
11:14 Retreat To Enem
13:00 Wizard With a Gun
14:14 Starsand
15:04 Grounded
16:02 Smalland

Wednesday - December 15, 2021

Alliance of the Sacred Suns - Release Q1 2022

by Hiddenx, 19:54

The strategy title Alliance of the Sacred Suns will be released early next year:

Alliance of the Sacred Suns Playtest and Release Plans

January playtest, Q1 2022 release

Hey, everyone! Steve here, and it’s December. Here in Texas, it’s not really cold yet, but we’re still busy with moving full speed ahead in getting Alliance ready for release! Since it’s been a little while since I posted an update, I wanted to tell you in our own words what we’re working on, the state of the team, and some of the new game systems to look forward to upon release!

First of all, we are delaying the game until Q1 2022. I know that seems to be a common thing nowadays, but I can assure you that we’re doing it for the right reasons. Now that we have a complete team of seven working on the game essentially full-time, we’ve made more progress in the last 3 or 4 months than we have since the end of 2020, and we’re moving faster every week! The game is fully playable and at this point quite stable (I routinely play 40-50 turn games every evening now as a quality check to check longer-term trends and systems) and much of what we’re doing involves things like optimizing the graphics and the UI (a major area where Unity has really helped us), adding some amazing universe art, balancing out the economy and costs of things, and especially the tooltips/help system, and we are completely rewriting the tutorial to just have a tutorial campaign that utilizes very little ‘hand hold’ as our previous version, and uses a guided campaign with goals, subgoals, and an overarching plot to keep players interested while they learn by doing- rather than by watching! Basically – we want to get the game right on release, and it is our full intention to do so!

If you'd like to signup for the playtest we will be holding in January, you can do so here: 
https://allianceofthesacredsuns.com/alliance-of-the-sacred-suns-playtest/

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Tuesday - December 14, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Top Ten Games from the 2000's

by Redglyph, 14:35

December is the month of "top" lists. Ye Old Entertainment continues his series with the top games of the 2000's.

top ten games from the 2000s: Baldur's Gate 2, World of Warcraft, God of War. What's your favorite?

The 2000's was the decade of fully 3d action games like Batman Arkham Asylum, God of War, Shadow of the Colossus and the golden age of Classic and Action RPGs: Baldur's Gate 2 and Diablo 2 no less came out in the year 2000. But it was also the year of MMORPGs like World of Warcraft.

Also Troika was around at the time with its cult classics Arcanum and Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines.

I couldn't fit all my favorites here. Most notable the first Witcher game and Mass Effect are missing. But there will be time for those in upcoming videos.

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Sunday - December 12, 2021

Jedi Fallen Order - Review/Retro @ TheOzzyJedi

by Redglyph, 12:04

TheOzzyJedi reviews Jedi Fallen Order in 2021. Warning: contains spoilers towards the end.

Jedi Fallen Order: Two Years Later - The Story of EA's Best Star Wars Game

Two years ago Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released, it was met with mass amounts of praise and was the most important Star Wars Game yet. We take a look back at the game when it was just a thought, to where it is now in 2021. We also touch on it's sequel which is surely, soon to be announced.

Are you looking forward to Jedi Fallen Order 2? Let me know!

Do you think Fallen Order or Battlefront 2 is EA's Best Star Wars Game?

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Timecodes

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 1:34 - The Journey to Fallen Order's Release
  • 3:11 - Characters
  • 6:08 - Gameplay
  • 7:21 - Cut Scenes, Tone, Atmosphere
  • 10:24 - Planets and Locations
  • 12:40 - Outro

Friday - December 03, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Aftermath Announced

by Redglyph, 12:42

Blue's News reports that META Publishing and One O One Games announced Aftermath, a psychological survival thriller planned for 2022.

Aftermath Announced

META Publishing and Italian developer One O One Games announce Aftermath, a psychological thriller coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The Steam Listing doesn't show a release date, and revelations about the game are promised "throughout 2022," so this one is still off in the future. For the moment we have a cinematic Reveal Trailer that shows what seems to be the beforemath. Here's word:

Aftermath strives to throw players into a narrative driven world beyond the unimaginable. Designed to make you wonder: what would humanity do when faced with a situation like this?

The game follows Charlie Gray, a former European astronaut, as she struggles through the remnants of society, in search for her daughter. Driven by its gut wrenching narrative, Aftermath delves deeply into philosophy and psychology, drawing from the One O One team’s previous experience from games like “The Suicide of Rachel Foster”.

Players will find themselves in new territory when it comes to systems like crafting and combat, things that they will need to get familiar with fast if they are to survive against the threat occupying the world - and hunting them down. This otherworldly threat is born from the mind of Italian visual arts master, Alessandro Bavari, the creator behind works like Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant and Suspiria. Players will be forced to think outside of the box when it comes to survival.

With an original soundtrack featuring music from the likes of UNKLE and Planet Funk, every facet of the game's creation aims to draw players into the hellish, desolate world of Aftermath.

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Wednesday - December 01, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Kingdom Two Crowns @ WolfheartFPS

by Redglyph, 10:19

WolfheartFPS takes a look at Kingdom Two Crowns, a single-player / cooperative exploration / strategy game.

Kingdom Two Crowns - Co-op Viking Exploration Strategy Game

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Thursday - November 25, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Men of War II

by Redglyph, 12:11

DSOGaming reports that Men of War 2 has been announced and is due 2022.

Men of War II has been officially announced, coming to PC in 2022

1C Entertainment and Best Way have announced Men of War II; the next entry in the widely acclaimed real-time strategy franchise Men of War. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team has released the game’s reveal trailer that you can find below.

As the press release reads, Men Of War II will return to the series’ roots to rebuild and redefine real-time strategy gameplay. The new Front Line mechanic is the bedrock of exciting dynamic encounters, where the push-and-pull of each skirmish directly affects territory borders. Players will manage attritional battles and break through undefended lines to advance the areas of maps under control, digging trenches and supporting troops in newly won territory.

"Assume greater command of the battlefield with the enhanced Direct Vision feature to focus solely on one unit at any time and upgrade, change, or repair equipment on the fly. Level the theater of war with powerful armor and artillery capable of destroying buildings and weapon emplacements, while choosing from an arsenal including 45 battalions and more than 300 vehicles, all painstakingly designed with complete historical accuracy."

[...]

Tuesday - November 23, 2021

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Adeptus Mechanicus DLC Released

by Redglyph, 12:11

Blue's News reports that Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Adeptus Mechanicus has been released.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Adeptus Mechanicus Released

Adeptus Mechanicus is now available as new DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, the 4X Warhammer 40K strategy game. This is available through the Epic Games StoreGOG.comSlitherine, and Steam. The release is celebrated by this video, which features Ken Burns-style animation. Here's the big picture:

After the Tyranids, Chaos Space Marines, T’au and Craftworld Aeldari, it’s time to conquer the forsaken planet of Gladius Prime with the new Adeptus Mechanicus faction.

The Adeptus Mechanicus are an empire within the Imperium, with their own fanatical purpose - in the name of the Omnissiah they seek to rediscover ancient and powerful technologies. Jealous guardians of the knowledge required to maintain and construct the Imperium's technology, they also possess their own elite armies of bionically-augmented soldiers and terrifying weapons of war. Xenos or man, stand in their way and they will annihilate you.

The faction has a full new roster of units, including Sicarian Infiltrator, Skorpius Dunerider and Knight Crusader, and unique abilities as Canticles of the Omnissiah and Monolithic Buildings.

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Non-RPG General News - Hitman 3, Year 2

by Redglyph, 08:51

Wccf Tech checks the content of Hitman 3 for 2022.

Hitman 3 Year Two Content Announced by IO Interactive; Ray Tracing and VR Coming in 2022

As Hitman 3 is currently enjoying its massive success on PC and next-generation platforms, the game's developer IO Interactive announced a new year of content. The success of Hitman 3 is not the only achievement that IO Interactive is currently enjoying, however. In fact, it's part of a bigger achievement which is the milestone that the World of Assassination trilogy reached over 50 million players across all platforms.

So, what's going to be added to Hitman 3? IO Interactive confirmed that they are working on new modes, storylines, ways to play, and surprises that “the community has been asking for a very very long time.” Hitman III is going to enjoy its second year of content and it's going to start in January 2022.

You can watch a teaser trailer below.

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Besides the teaser of new content for Year Two, the development team of Hitman III has confirmed that they are going to add the following enhancements and modes in the early period of 2022:

  • Hitman 3 VR on PC (January 2022)
  • Elusive Target Arcade (January 2022)
  • Ray Tracing on PC (2022)

[...]

Sunday - November 21, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Detective Video Games

by Redglyph, 16:23

Tauriq Moosa (The Guardian) ponders on why detective video games bring a good experience.

Why detective video games are the perfect way to experience a mystery

Detective fiction tells a story pieced together by some clever person – and in a video game, that’s you

In one of her best books, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie puts these words into the mouth of her least favourite character, Hercule Poirot: “Understand this, I mean to arrive at the truth. The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it.”

All detective stories are an attempt to reflect this. Uncovering the truth through clever reasoning, observation and logic is wondrous. You are forced to look at the world anew: a misplaced chair is no longer just a chair, but indicative of a killer’s escape; a removed lightbulb tells us the killer did not want to be seen. In the eyes of a detective (or a great detective writer), everyday objects are imbued with alien significance. They no longer fit where we think they fit and when we find their proper place, a clear picture emerges. Poirot was a great detective because he obsessed over order and was more sensitive to misplacement. Sherlock Holmes could see tiny stains on a hat and understand the entire life of its wearer.

Whether portrayed through literature, films, TV shows or video games, detective stories ideally invite us to participate in a grand puzzle, allowing us to slot the pieces into place alongside the characters. But sometimes, TV writers deprive us of the opportunity to do so. A classic example is when our detective flourishes some evidence he obtained from his almost magical sources. In the Sherlock Holmes TV adaptation Elementary, for example, Sherlock has access to a hacker group who can simply “obtain” necessary info. There is no way for the audience to have done that – we are held at bay, as though we were a magician’s audience rather than the detective’s companion.

In video games, though, the player has to solve the mystery themselves; there are no cheap parlour tricks here, and that necessitates some especially clever techniques when it comes to design. Detective games are sometimes sourced from the greats of literature, such as The ABC Murders, based on the book of the same name by Christie – but not always. The Bafta-winning Return of the Obra Dinn is a self-contained black-and-white mystery set on a merchant ship whose crew is long dead, and is one of the best detective stories around. Since Gabriel Knight in the 1990s – an endearingly trashy series of adventure games about supernatural investigators fighting evil – games have been refining the art of a great mystery story.

[...]

Saturday - November 20, 2021

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - Now enhanced on PC

by Hiddenx, 15:01

Henriquejr spotted some enhancements for the PC version of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice:

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice – Now Enhanced On PC!

Relive Senua’s journey with improved visuals, DirectX Raytracing, NVIDIA DLSS / AMD FSR support, and more.
Just over four years since launch we’re happy to introduce a huge new update to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Starting with visuals, we’ve integrated the enhancements we made to the recent Xbox Series X|S release of Hellblade, including updated materials, particles, level of detail and Ray Tracing.

This new build includes Ray Tracing presets (Low, Medium, High), with Ray Traced reflections, plus Ray Traced shadows exclusive to the High preset. We think this brings a new depth to Helheim never seen before, so we’re excited for people to retread Senua’s steps in an even more immersive environment.
Hellblade on PC now also supports both DirectX 11 and 12, with support for NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR upscaling for an optimised experience.

[...]

Deathloop - Video Review

by Redglyph, 13:18

Mortismal Gaming reviews Deathloop.

Deathloop - Review After 100%

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Friday - November 19, 2021

Rise of Humanity - Hands On @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 16:25

The Turn Based Lovers checked out Rise of Humanity:

Rise of Humanity - Hands-On

“It’s the end of the world as we know it
and I feel fine”

– R.E.M.

INTRODUCTION (OR A SORT OF…)

Rise of Humanity Preview

When I was young (I mean REALLY young and not “young” like now), Terminator was one of the most iconic movies of my childhood. Made at a time when James Cameron was still able to produce great movies but with poor special effects. A feat that he managed to reverse with a spate of poor movies made with great special effects. But that’s another story.

Back then when I just a teen the idea of humanity on the run in a world dominated by sentient robots was so damned cool. A notion that made it possible to imagine oneself as the muscled chosen one. Even though at that time, I had far more bone mass than muscles. Perhaps the cornerstone of that success was the need to demonstrate that we, the humans, could always be superior to our creations. The difference being humanity’s courage and heart. Whatever the reason, Terminator became a clique of a dichotomic way of thinking: machines against muscles, heart against binary thinking.

Anyone wondering how this introduction and chit-chat relate to Rise of Humanity (RoH) will find clarity the first time the game they launch the game. For it almost impossible not to think to Sarah Connor and her “beloved” T-800. You can almost hear Schwarzenegger saying those immortal words “I’LL BE BACK” (maybe the best line he delivered from his eighteen movies!)

[...]

Thursday - November 18, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Game Awards 2021 Nominees

by Redglyph, 17:32

Kotaku comments on the Game Awards 2021 nominee list.

The Game Awards Nominees Have Been Announced And Deathloop Is Killing It

The Game Awards nominations for 2021 are in.

Every year, The Game Awards are an exciting moment to celebrate the best releases of the past year. Host and creator Geoff Keighley will be broadcasting live from Los Angeles for the annual event in December. Game Awards nomination day is usually a source of much discourse on the socials. Who was venerated? Who was snubbed? The discourse rages.

Game Awards nomination day for 2021 began bright and early this morning. The nominees for each category were announced. Arkane Studios’ Deathloop leads the way with nine nominations including Game of the Year and Best Game Direction. It was followed by Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart with 6 nominations. It Takes Two and Psychonauts 2 tied with 5 nominations each. The total combined nominations of Deathloop and Psychonauts 2 are a huge deal for the Xbox/Bethesda alliance, leading the publishers race with 20 nods overall. Deathloop was, of course, Bethesda’s final PlayStation exclusive as a stand-alone company. Housemarque’s PS5 exclusive Returnal missed out on a GOTY nom, but did pick up a Best Direction nod.

The full list of nominees is as follows: [...]

Deathloop - OST and Update 2

by Redglyph, 17:26

Bethesda informs us that the OST of Deathloop is now available on streaming platforms. Incidentally, the 2nd major update has just been released.

Game of the Year nominee DEATHLOOP’s Original Soundtrack is available now on streaming platforms worldwide. Featuring 59 tracks from composers Tom Salta, Erich Talaba, Ross Tregenza and the team at Arkane Lyon, DEATHLOOP’s OST blends musical styles such as psychedelic rock, country and blues to help define Blackreef island’s distinct, 60’s inspired sound.   

The soundtrack release also includes three original songs from Sencit - Déjà Vu feat. FJØRA, Pitch Black feat. Lady Blackbird, and Down the Rabbit Hole feat Samantha Howard and Haqq. 

You can find the soundtrack now on SpotifySteamEpic Game Store and iTunes

DEATHLOOP received over 60 perfect scores and has been nominated for nine awards at this year’s Game Awards, including: 

  • Game of the Year 
  • Best Game Direction 
  • Best Narrative 
  • Best Art Direction 
  • Best Score and Music 
  • Best Audio Design 
  • Best Action 
  • Best Performance for Jason E Kelley 
  • Best Performance for Ozioma Akagha 

Monday - November 15, 2021

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One - Review @ Wccf Tech

by Redglyph, 19:23

Wccf Tech reviews Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One ahead of tomorrow's release.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One Review – Truth is in the Eye of the Beholder

Developer Frogwares has been doing justice to Sherlock Holmes for quite some time now with a series of adventure games that manage to faithfully represent one of the most famous detectives in literature. That said, some of these games, like The Devil's Daughter, stumbled due to design choices that didn't fit well with the rest of the experience, such as an abundance of Quick Time Events and flawed action sequences.

On paper, Sherlock Holmes Chapter One did not sound too different from its predecessor.  The prospect of having combat in a Sherlock Holmes game didn't seem very exciting either and the more open-ended nature of the experience, now close to an open-world game, could have resulted in the entire experience feeling unfocused and dispersive. This time around, however, the seemingly unusual design choices did pay off, as Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is an excellent adventure game and a genuine step forward for the entire series.

[...]

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is one of the very best series installments, thanks to a great story powered by solid writing, charming characters, varied cases, and new open-world gameplay mechanics that fit incredibly well. While some of these mechanics do require a little tweaking, such as combat, Chapter One is a very solid game that no fan of the series or adventure games should pass on.

Pros

  • Engaging story
  • Charming characters
  • Huge variety of cases
  • Masterfully crafted investigation mechanics
  • Fitting open-world mechanics

Cons

  • Collectibles and Bandit Lairs feel a little too "gamey"
  • Combat is not particularly deep

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Saturday - November 13, 2021

Terra Invicta - Delayed to Q2 2022

by Redglyph, 20:37

@henriquejr spotted that Terra Invicta would be delayed. Thanks!

Terra Invicta delayed to Q2 2022

Delay announcement trailer shows new ship set

Terra Invicta is coming along great and in late beta testing, but we’ve made the decision to delay the release until Q2 2022.

All major features are in, but for strategy games especially, late-game balancing, AI work, and similar final tasks are critical to player enjoyment and have unpredictable time requirements. This delay will ensure there is no pressure to rush the game before it is fully ready, and we can take the time needed to ensure the game lives up to your expectations.

If you are interested in learning more and seeing some things we've been working on, we've got a delay announcement trailer showing a new set of human ships, as well as alien megafauna, to share:

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There are also some articles discussing the delay, if you'd like to read more here's a few from this morning:

Rock, Paper, Shotgun: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/xcom-long-war-creators-delay-their-own-alien-invasion-strategy-game

TechRaptor: https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/terra-invicta-delayed-until-q2-2022

Friday - November 12, 2021

Non-RPG General News - GTA Trilogy Pulled from Sale

by Redglyph, 15:30

ScreenRant reports that Rockstar Games has decided to pull GTA: The Trilogy after a number of PC issues.

GTA Trilogy PC Pulled From Sale By Rockstar Games

Following a messy PC launch via the Rockstar Games Launcher, GTA Trilogy has been removed from sale on PC with no word on when it'll return.

Several issues plagued the PC version of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, which launched exclusively on the Rockstar Games Launcher; as such, this iteration of the remastered collection is no longer available to purchase. Rockstar and publisher Take-Two Interactive released the trilogy yesterday, November 11, across consoles and PC, offering players a new way to experience the seminal sandbox games.

The collection packs in remastered versions of GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas, each of which originally hit store shelves during the PS2 era. These three games later resurfaced as digital-only versions for more modern platforms on storefronts such as PSN; however, within days of the GTA Trilogy announcement, Rockstar and Take-Two removed these classic builds from sale. Now, the newly released trilogy counts as the only way in which to purchase the generations-old adventures.

[...]

Thursday - November 11, 2021

Non-RPG General News - SteamWorld Dig 2 Free on Steam and GOG

by Silver, 03:37

SteamWorld Dig 2 is currently free on Steam and GOG.

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Adventure waits below the surface...

SteamWorld Dig 2 takes you on a platform mining adventure forged in Metroidvania flames. When an old trading town is struck by mysterious earthquakes, it’s up to a lone steambot and her unlikely companion to uncover what trembling terrors lie beneath.

Dig your way underground and explore vivid worlds riddled with treasure, secrets and traps.

Combat dangerous enemies at every turn of the underworld’s twisted paths, including shadowy creatures and the haunted remains of an ancient electrical threat.

Upgrade your gear to forge deeper into the earth and take on bigger challenges.

Swing across large chasms with your Hookshot and fly through caves with the Jet Engine!

And finally, learn the truth about your long lost friend… 

Wednesday - November 10, 2021

Castlevania Advance Collection - Review @ RPG Fan

by Redglyph, 12:59

RPG Fan has reviewed Castlevania Advance Collection.

Castlevania Advance Collection

Few video game genres have developed quite like Metroidvanias.

[...]

I had a fun, nostalgic, and surprisingly challenging time replaying Circle of the Moon, and it’s as good as, or better, than I remember. A few bosses and areas took me multiple tries before I could get past them, the visual presentation hasn’t aged perfectly, and obtaining cards to unlock more spells is still a frustrating but optional (but not for a skill collector like me) loot grind. But those are nitpicks. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is a rock-solid action RPG that’s perfect for series veterans, the Castlevania-curious, or anyone who, when a problem comes along, must whip it.

[...]

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is an entertaining, solid game improved by small quality of life enhancements for this version. I had fun diving in and exploring to my heart’s content and found myself pushing to go that much farther every time I loaded a save file. As this is my first Castlevania experience, I can’t say how it compares to other titles in the series, but I did find that it is a great starting point for those curious!

[...]

People dabbling in the Metroidvania genre will find in Aria of Sorrow an enticing title that—even at its most challenging—can be overcome in a manner that is wholly unique to the person playing. Discovering synergistic skill combinations or unexpected exploits results in a strong sense of satisfaction that propels players forward, an intrinsic incentivization that sees them through to the end. The call of Dracula’s Castle is a strong one, and Aria of Sorrow gives players of all stripes the tools they’ll not only need but want to use to answer it.

Overall Score: 87/100

Friday - November 05, 2021

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One - Behind the Scenes

by Redglyph, 13:32

GamesPress reports that Frogwares has released a behind-the-scenes video of their upcoming game.

You should smile for the camera more Sherry

Frogwares release behind-the-scenes video detailing the story and cinematic techniques used in Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

The team also put out a statement to respond to the comparisons they are seeing to AAA titles

04 November  2021 - Kyiv, Ukraine + Dublin, Ireland | Frogwares have released a behind-the-scenes video detailing more about the cinematics and the making of the story in Sherlock Holmes Chapter One.

The main story in SHCO presents events and ideas that could paint a picture of how a young Sherlock became such a flawed and destructive genius in his later years. Thus much of the narrative puts some very harrowing concepts -  trauma, loss, and mental health - front and center.  In order to portray these moments with the right feel and emphasis, the cinematic team was set out to use a variety of film and photography techniques.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/8Y7nT-vx7uc
[...]

Note that the video is actually dated Nov 5th, here it is:

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Monday - November 01, 2021

Valve's Cancelled Stars Of Blood - Concept Art Online

by Redglyph, 08:44

TheGamer reports that concept art for Valve's cancelled game Stars of Blood is shared online.

Concept Art For Cancelled Valve Game, Stars Of Blood, Shared Online

Fans have found concept art for the Valve game that got away.

Stars of Blood was cancelled before it had even been publicly mentioned. Valve's Gabe Newell nonchalantly alluded to it in a 2012 Q&A, and given the lack of information, it failed to capture the gaming community's imagination in a way that other canned projects have. That has all changed today, however, as Twitter account Obscure Game Aesthetics came across an archive full of eyecatching concept art.

The archives are public, so you can check them out for yourself. What we see is absolutely fascinating - with unique character designs, completely original creatures that roam the planets, and intricately detailed space crafts all created for the unfinished project. Whatever it was for, this was clearly a world that a lot of creatives put a great deal of effort into crafting.

The art we see is incredibly varied. Some are almost retro-futuristic in nature, even crossing over into fantasy. Whereas other pieces come across as more dystopian, as we more often see in contemporary sci-fi. It appears that the world of Stars of Blood would have been full of different human cultures, as the character designs can be wildly different, particularly in terms of clothing. The settlements are all unique from one another too, as some are the grand, grey spaceports you'd see in Star Wars, and others seem built upon sand and rock. There's even a medieval castle in one image, juxtaposed with a starship flying over it.

[...]

Thursday - October 28, 2021

Guardians of the Galaxy - Review Round-Up

by Redglyph, 14:25

RPG Fan: 87/100, Marvel has a new champion in the video game realm, so make mine Guardians of the Galaxy

  • (+) Story is hilarious even when it's heart-wrenching; player choice impresses; frantic combat is fun; visuals are out of this world.
  • (-) Enemy AI needs work; combat not as deep as it looks.

GamesRadar: 4/5, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy tells an utterly memorable story, with brilliant takes on the Guardians themselves, even if the gameplay could be more adventurous at times.

  • (+) MCU level storytelling; fantastic world-building; great take on the beloved Guardians cast.
  • (-) Puzzle repetition; some decisions feel out of your hands.

PCInvasion: 8.5/10, The plot meanders and the game is somewhat too long, but it's still a great time and well worth experiencing for Guardians fans.

GamesIndustry.biz: Critics suggest that much like the space-faring super heroes involved, Eidos-Montréal's is basically good but a little rough around the edges

Wccf Tech: 8/10, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a highly enjoyable action/adventure romp that never strays from the beaten path. You won't find any major experiments or innovations here, but you will experience a great adaptation of the beloved dysfunctional team of galactic superheroes. The story and characters are well written, the combat is fun (if perhaps a bit too easy), and the audio is excellent.

  • (+) The Guardians of the Galaxy spirit is perfectly captured; well-written characters and story; amazing audio (both music and VA); fun combat...
  • (-) ...although it is too easy, diminishing the need for Huddle; there's no real innovations, and the exploration is ordinary stuff.

GameRant: 4/5, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy features an emotional and hilarious story, immersive decisions, and combat that's exciting if a bit bloated.

RPG Site: 8/10

Destructoid: 6.5/10

TechRadar: 4/5

  • (+) Laugh-out loud moments; brilliant, witty writing; great use of ‘80s licensed music; fleshed-out universe.
  • (-) Story feels drawn out; combat is boring and repetitive; environments lack depth.

TheGamer: 4/5

  • (+) Perfect soundtrack; best Guardians story so far; funny, short and not just Marvel funny
  • (-) Dated conventions like eagle vision; can feel repetitive; combat is rubbish when everything is in cooldown.

 

Tuesday - October 26, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Tomb Raider has 25 Years

by Redglyph, 11:12

@Xian spotted the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider, as reported by Eurogamer and VGC (quoting the latter below since I have a problem accessing the former).

Tomb Raider is 25-years-old today

LARA CROFT MADE HER DEBUT ON OCTOBER 25, 1996; SQUARE ENIX SAYS NEXT ENTRY WILL UNIFY TIMELINES

Although the adventures of Lara Croft didn’t begin on PlayStation or PC (the formats she was most commonly associated with) until mid-November, it was October 25, 1996 when she first set foot on gaming soil.

On that date, the first Tomb Raider was released on the Sega Saturn in Europe, roughly a month before it came to other formats and regions.

The classic action adventure game had Lara travelling to Peru, Greece, Egypt and Atlantis in search of an ancient artefact called the Scion.

Reaction to Tomb Raider was extremely positive at the time, mainly thanks to its genre-defining gameplay and its impressive polygonal visuals.

The real star, however, was Lara, who was an all-guns blazing hero in an era where female protagonists were few and far between.

Lara became a gaming icon almost overnight, appearing on the covers of non-gaming magazines and appearing in sponsorship deals for products like energy drink Lucozade.

The success of Tomb Raider led to an inevitable slew of sequels, the first few of which were similarly well-received. The likes of Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III and Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation were praised for continuing to push the technology of the time while adding to Lara’s lore. [...]

Thanks! :)

Saturday - October 23, 2021

Non-RPG General News - GTA Definitive Edition in November

by Redglyph, 11:02

VGC spotted that the remastered Definitive Edition of the game trilogy was to be released on November 11th.

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition remasters will launch digitally on November 11, 2021.

The release date was revealed via developer Rockstar’s online marketplace, where the game is now available to pre-order for $59.99 / £54.99, ahead of an official announcement expected imminently.

The game is also set for a physical release on selected platforms in December, according to the store listings, although the specifics are a little unclear as the website may still be in the process of being updated.

UPDATE: Rockstar has officially announced release plans for the collection, which has been adapted to modern platforms by Grove Street Games using Unreal Engine. [...]

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Wednesday - October 20, 2021

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One - Investigation System

by Redglyph, 11:32

A new trailer showcases the investigation system of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One | Detective Gameplay Trailer

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is coming to Xbox Series X|S and on November 16th! Preorder now for bonus content! More info on the Xbox One releases are expected at a later date.

In this story-driven detective thriller, a young Sherlock Holmes struggles to prove himself as he navigates an exotic, dangerous island of Cordona in the Mediterranean to investigate the mystery of his mother’s death.

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Monday - October 18, 2021

The Good Life - Review @ Ars Technica

by Redglyph, 15:42

Ars Technica reviews The Good Life, the newly released detective / adventure / life sim game made by White Owls Inc.

The Good Life review: A messy RPG as unique as it is ridiculous

The Good Life throws you into its offbeat little tale without much preamble.

After a cute storybook introduction, New Yorker and photojournalist Naomi Hayward is dropped off in an Untitled Goose Game-caliber sleepy British hamlet called Rainy Woods, the self-proclaimed "happiest town in the world." Why is it the happiest town in the world? Nobody knows, but that's what Naomi is there to find out. The place supposedly has an earth-shattering secret that her employers at the Morning Bell want her to uncover—though because she's drowning in debt it's less of a request than a mandate.

[...]

There are things about The Good Life I wish were fleshed out or improved. Naomi moves too slowly, for one, and controller inputs can be hit or miss. I hope to see some much-needed quality-of-life additions patched in, particularly in overhauling the UI. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a toggle to turn off the always-on objectives that take up a sizable chunk of the screen and being able to skip inconsequential cutscenes that occur when you, say, fail a minigame segment and have to replay it.

But these issues shouldn't really be too much of a deterrent. While it won't win any awards for its moment-to-moment rhythms and its patchy execution, The Good Life's ludicrous turns and the central mysteries of Rainy Woods are reasons enough to stick with this adventure. It's a reasonably sized jaunt that doesn't wear out its welcome.

[...]

Verdict: Though technically rough and uneven, The Good Life is memorable and anything but predictable.

Thursday - October 14, 2021

Mech Armada - In Early Access

by Silver, 11:20

Mech Armada is a post apocalyptic turn-based game where you can command and design your own Mechs.

TURN BASED TACTICS

The world as we knew it ended when the Swarm came. Hordes of terrifying creatures out of our worst nightmares ravaged the Earth, destroying every living thing in sight.

We few survivors fled underground, desperately searching for the tech and resources to survive - and fight back. To battle the monsters we created an armada of war machines called Mechs.

Thanks to ground-breaking replicator tech these Mechs could be generated almost instantly in the battlefield, turning the tide of what seemed to be an unwinnable war. As we pushed back, we used every resource to power our way forward to destroy the Swarm.

BUILD CUSTOM MECHS

Mech Armada puts you in command of a team of custom-built Mechs. Push your strategic skills to the limit in this fresh combination of turn-based tactics, roguelikes and deckbuilding, as you save what's left of the Earth from the Swarm.

You'll need to plan carefully if you want to overpower the invading Swarm in a series of small tactical battles. Upgrade and build your deck of available Mechs, manage your resources and leverage your territory wisely. Get it wrong and it's game over. Start again with a whole new experience as monsters, maps, resources and rewards are all randomly generated.

DIFFERENT EVERY TIME

Key Features

  • Turn-Based combat: You can move into position and attack with each of your mechs, in any order. Then it's the Swarm's turn...
  • Design your own mech: With 70+ available Mech parts, you can create thousands of unique combinations. Each part has its own strengths and weaknesses, giving you an enormous range of possibilities.
  • Deep strategic combat: There are no perfect solutions. Create your own strategy by cleverly making the most out of your resources and the situation.
  • Procedurally generated: All the gameplay elements (monsters, maps, resources and rewards) are randomly combined and balanced ensuring no two battles are the same.
  • Rogue-like campaign: Death means game over. Try again with an entirely new run, with new random parts and encounters. You'll have to make do with what you get!
  • Environment variety: From the outskirts of destroyed cities, to desert wastelands, the battle for survival rages on.
  • Epic bosses: They're massive, ugly and ridiculously tough. Are you up to the task?
  • Auto-save: Never worry about saving again. Leave your game at any point and return exactly where you left off.

Wednesday - October 13, 2021

Guardians of the Galaxy - Launch Trailer

by Redglyph, 11:51

Wccf Tech looks at the launch trailer, which is ahead of the game's release planned for October 26th.

Guardians of the Galaxy Launch Trailer Delivers Action and a Major New Character Tease

The release of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is still a couple weeks away, but we’ve already got a launch trailer for the Eidos-Montreal-developed adventure. Most of the trailer focuses on the game’s action, all set to a Motley Crue classic, but the final moments will be the most interesting to fans, as they seem to tease Adam Warlock will be playing a role in the game. One of the Marvel Universe’s major “cosmic” characters, Adam Warlock will also be appearing in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie, as played by Will Poulter. You can check out the Guardians of the Galaxy launch trailer, below.

[...]

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Non-RPG General News - Tips for Game Designers

by Redglyph, 11:39

Alconost wrote an article for GamesIndustry.biz to share their experience with demo trailers, giving some tips that could be useful for game developers. The article is mainly targeting video content, but gives good insights at the reflexion process that should be made when presenting a product in that industry.

Creating game videos: best practices and pitfalls to avoid

Alconost is a localization company, but we also create videos for games.

We've been creating game videos since 2013, and in that time we've amassed considerable production experience that I think you'll find useful. In this demo reel you can see what our experience is based on.

Videos vary considerably. But to produce any video, be it a trailer for a marketplace or a teaser for an advertising campaign, we use the same video production workflow for each project. You can easily follow the same process when creating a video on your own.

[...]

Monday - October 11, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Old World Review

by Hiddenx, 21:42

Henriquejr spotted Explorminate's review of the strategy title Old World:

Old World Review

Ashurbanipal had been ruling the Assyrian Empire through discipline and an iron fist. His son and only heir was a deviant and a miscreant, cast away from family and throne. For 20 years, Ashurbanipal had no heir, despite having outlived four wives. A long war with the Greeks was exhausting him and while he enjoyed initial victories, the Assyrian king hit a quagmire as his men were falling by the day trying to capture the Greek capital of Pella. Eventually, the opportunity presented itself to add a member to the family, an orphan who he saw himself in. And not a moment too soon, as Ashurbanipal passed from this world. Unfortunately, the cowardly Carthaginians took advantage and declared war on an embattled Assyria. Soon the Assyrian Empire would not be more than a memory…

And that is how my first game of Old World went, a game created by the excellent team at Mohawk Games. Led by renowned game designer Soren Johnson and talented CEO and writer Leyla Johnson, Old World is [spoiler alert] one of the finest and most innovative 4X games to be produced in this era. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical despite Soren’s previous work on Civilization IV, another great title and one of my favorite genre-defining 4X games. My concern was the limited scope of the Old World setting being solely in the Pre-Classical (aka the Classical Antiquity) era, whereas Civ IV covered pre-history to the near future. Old World, however, succeeds in digging deep into the era and making a remarkably interesting game in the process. As an aside, I highly recommend that you read a bit about the Classical Antiquity era, as it is a fascinating period of human history.

[...]

TL;DR
Old World pushes the boundaries of the 4X genre and does it extremely well in a fun and tight package. This is one of the best 4X games of this generation and should be at the top of your list of games to play if you are a 4X fan.

Score: 9.5/10

Sunday - October 10, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Far Cry 6 Review @ PCGamesN

by Hiddenx, 11:59

PCGamesN checked out Far Cry 6:

Far Cry 6 review – far from revolutionary

Another gorgeous open world to explore, but the format could use a revamp

Dani is a guerrilla. Or at least, that’s what they’re told throughout Far Cry 6. Despite a story that’s all about revolutionaries, an abundance of DIY superweapons, and a lush new tropical setting, this is still Far Cry as you’ve been playing it for nearly ten years now. That formula still makes a fun game, but after another 20-plus hours fending off animal attacks, liberating outposts, and making friends with the local oddballs, there’s more than a hint of irony that you’re meant to be carrying out a ‘revolution’ on the island of Yara.

Following in the footsteps of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – albeit a few years behind the curve – Ubisoft infuses its FPS series with light RPG mechanics, namely an obsession with collecting and crafting gear. Rather than leveling up and unlocking new skills, Dani’s abilities are defined by the guns and gear they equip. Initially, this feels a little limiting. Why can’t I have all the different stealth takedowns and resistances to all of the damage types? But after a while you’ll start to complete sets and settle on a build that suits the way you prefer to play, and as you get more comfortable you’ll spot new ways to enhance Dani’s arsenal so that you excel in your chosen field.

[...]

The series' foundations have been rejigged to offer an exciting and satisfying new gameplay loop. Not all of the revisions work in its favour, but unfortunately it's the complete lack of change with its approach to storytelling and structure that really holds Far Cry 6 back.

Score: 7/10

 

Saturday - October 09, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Top 10 Games from the 70's

by Redglyph, 18:31

Ye Old Entertainment revisits the top games of his youth.

Top 10 video games from the seventies. Space Invaders, Asteroids, Zork. Which one is your favorite?

Today with start with some old time favorites from the days of the Atari 2600, the amiga and the commodore 64. Some of them are definitely still a BLAST to play today. I'll love some links for you to check them out for yourselves:

[...]

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Friday - October 08, 2021

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Original Games Being Removed

by Silver, 22:07

GG Deals reports that with the release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition the original games will be removed from sale.

...

With the exciting news of upcoming Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, Rockstar Games also announced that starting next week, the original Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be no longer available for purchase.

If you wish to own the original GTA Trilogy on Steam or Rockstar Games Launcher, these are currently the best game deals available across official stores and keyshops.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Non-RPG General News - Amazon vs Valve

by Redglyph, 17:39

GamesIndustry.biz ponders on the potential of Twitch and the platform codenamed 'Vapor' to make Amazon a serious competitor of Valve Corporation.

Amazon could be Valve's only serious challenger | Opinion

With Twitch as its springboard, leaked Steam competitor Vapor could be the biggest disruption to the PC market in decades

It's been a rollercoaster few weeks for Amazon Games.

The launch of its MMORPG title New World looked like its first genuine shot at a hit title, with enormous interest in the game resulting in overloaded servers and long queues for players -- not a great look for the world's leading provider of cloud services, perhaps, but a positive sign for the game's future. That's a big deal for the division, whose previous major efforts haven't even made it to the starting line -- the most recent no-show being Crucible, which was cancelled outright after a poor reaction to its beta launch last year.

For executives in Amazon's gaming arm, however, any sense of jubilation at the strong response to New World has likely been forgotten in the week's subsequent events, as an enormous security breach saw the leak of tens of gigabytes of code and data related to the company's games division and its game streaming subsidiary, Twitch.

[...]

In light of that, the confirmation that Amazon has been working on a digital distribution platform that's designed to compete with Steam -- an objective that's even made perfectly clear by its working codename, "Vapor" -- suddenly brings quite a few things into focus, and suggests a path forward for Amazon's ambitions that could have a pretty big impact on the PC games market overall.

Vapor seems, to all intents and purposes, to be a pretty fully-featured Steam competitor that's deeply integrated with Twitch -- indeed, it wouldn't be surprising if the version of it we finally see officially is called something like the Twitch Games Store. That may not sound like anything groundbreaking, given Steam's continuing dominance of the PC digital distribution space -- but it could well be a far more disruptive move than it appears at first glance.

[...]

Wednesday - October 06, 2021

Tactical Combat Department - Early Access Gameplay Video

by Silver, 00:14

Tactical Combat Department is a SWAT like turn-based tactical game where you must co-ordinate your team to apprehend criminals. The game is currently in Early Access and there is a demo available on the Steam page.

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TACTICAL COMBAT DEPARTMENT - Tactical gameplay early access This channel is focused on tactical shooting games: here you will find tactical gameplays, roleplays, opinion videos and tips. If you play games like ARMA 3, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, Metal Gear, Insurgency Sandstorm, Escape From Tarkov and the like, then you're in the right place!

 

Monday - October 04, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Alan Wake Remastered Review

by Redglyph, 15:39

Alan Wake Remastered is reviewed by Trusted Reviews. The game is released tomorrow October 5th.

Alan Wake Remastered Review

Introduction

Alan Wake Remastered is an updated version of the classic survival from Remedy, the developer behind classic series including Max Payne and Control.

At its heart it’s a story-driven thriller that sees you take the role of best selling author Alan Wake as he attempts to find his missing wife in the mysterious town of Bright Falls.

The Remastered version is being pitched as the “ultimate” way to experience the game, which originally launched in 2010, featureing updated 4K graphics plus a number of other visual upgrades.

[...]

Should you buy it?

You should buy Alan Wake Remastered if: You’re a horror fan that hasn’t played the original. Alan Wake’s story remains one of the best seen in a horror game, offering a Stephen King-like narrative that will leave you guessing until the very end.

You shouldn’t buy Alan Wake Remastered if: You want a modern, combat-focussed horror game. Alan Wake’s combat feels undeniably dated at times, especially compared to games like Resident Evil Village or Evil Within 2. Returning fans shouldn’t expect any new content or tweaked gameplay.

Final Thoughts

Alan Wake Remastered does a decent job of updating Remedy’s classic survival horror to look like a current generation game. The only minor quibble I have is that, given its focus on light vs dark, Ray Tracing is an odd omission. This, plus its stellar writing, which has aged surprisingly well make it a great game for any player yet to experience Alan Wake.

Thursday - September 30, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Terra Invicta

by Redglyph, 17:26

PartyElite has posted a video on Terra Invicta, an upcoming sci-fi strategy game. Thanks @henriquejr!

TERRA INVICTA | NEW Sci-Fi Space Grand Strategy Gameplay & Details - Strategy Game 2021

Terra Invicta is an upcoming sci-fi grand strategy game developed by Pavonis Interactive - the folks behind the Long War mods for XCOM and XCOM2. Terra Invicta is set in the near future, pitting humanity against an extraterrestrial threat - with it's grand scale and scope, Terra Invicta feels like a video game homage to The Expanse, and as we look at some Terra Invicta gameplay and details today, it'll be clear to see how this sci-fi strategy game approaches the genre with a grounded, 'hard sci-fi' approach. Set to release in 2021, Terra Invicta is looking to shake up sci-fi strategy gaming, and I'm very excited to see it in action.

  • 00:00 - Intro
  • 00:28 - A Tense Setup - The Basic Premise
  • 02:50 - The Human Element - Aliens Aren't the Only Enemy
  • 07:50 - Space is Big and Hard - War Across the Entire Solar System
  • 10:39 - Custom Ships and Bases - Design with Strategy and Science
  • 13:23 - Epic Space Battles - Hard Sci-Fi, Long Ranges, 6DOF
  • 16:06 - The Future of Terra Invicta & Outro

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Monday - September 27, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Rise of Humanity, EA on Oct 21st

by Redglyph, 18:17

Games Press reports that Rise of Humanity is coming to Early Access on October 21st. The game combines turn-based strategy and deck building.

Rise of Humanity coming to Early Access on 21 October

Antwerp, Belgium, 27 September 2021: Cybernetic Walrus announced that their game combining turn-based strategy and deck-building will launch in Early Access on 21 October 2021. Rise of Humanity will be available on Steam for €19.99 with two game modes: one with a narrative adventure and one that gives players three new challenges to complete every day.

''The game has a unique game mechanic and a lot of content that gives players up to hours of gameplay. In addition to that, we have a second game mode that creates three new daily missions so players can come back to practice, improve their strategy and reach a higher score every day. The scores are recorded on our leaderboards so by beating these missions, players can compete with one another and become the ultimate savior of humanity!'' Mike Coeck, CEO of Cybernetic Walrus explained.

[...]

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And here are the first impressions from a gameplay video by SplatterCatGaming.

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Friday - September 24, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One

by Redglyph, 16:54

Wccftech wrote about Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, the next game of the series developed by Frogwares. It will be released on November 16th on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S (PS4 and Xbox One yet to be announced).

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One Combat and Open World Hands-On Preview – Fight Like a Detective

Back in June, I had the chance to try out the first couple of hours of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, the new entry in the series by Frogwares, and I enjoyed what I experienced quite a bit: the investigation mechanics are as solid as they were in previous entries in the series, the writing excellent, and new features like the ability to wear disguises promise to spice up the experience even more.

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, however, isn't just about investigative gameplay, which did not need much tweaking over the previous entries in the franchise. This time around, Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend Jon will be able to explore the fictional isle of Cordona at their leisure, discovering all sorts of secrets and side quests. June's preview build featured very limited open-world gameplay, but a new build that has been made available earlier this month finally allowed us to go hands-on not only with the open-world mechanics but also with what will be the most controversial feature of the game: combat.

[...]

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Thursday - September 23, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Terra Invicta playable Factions Trailer

by Hiddenx, 19:31

Henriquejr spotted a new trailer for the strategy title Terra Invicta:

Terra Invicta Playable Factions Trailer

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Wednesday - September 22, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Deathloop @ NoClip

by Redglyph, 17:45

NoClip made a short documentary on Deathloop.

Deathloop's Design Explained by Creative Director Dinga Bakaba | Noclip

We talk to Co-Creative Director Dinga Bakaba about the unique design of Deathloop. Don't worry, no spoilers.

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(Timestamps)

  • 0:00 - Introducing Deathloop
  • 2:43 - Who was Deathloop Made for?
  • 4:44 - Designing the Opening
  • 7:57 - Objectives & Cognitive Load
  • 10:26 - Visual Design of the 4 Areas
  • 12:55 - The Kick & Scrapped Melee Combat
  • 15:58 - Reacting to Players & Reviews
  • 18:29 - Credits

 

Tuesday - September 21, 2021

Non-RPG General News - The Good Life Releases on Oct 15

by Redglyph, 10:31

RPG Site reports that The Good Life detective / adventure game was set to release on October 15.

The Good Life set to release on October 15

Playism and White Owls have announced that 'debt-repayment' RPG The Good Life will release on October 15 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).

The Good Life is a game by Swery (Deadly PremonitionD4: Dark Dreams Don’t DieThe Missing), and involves paying off a debt and solving a murder mystery in a town where the inhabitants turn into cats and dogs at night.

The release date trailer can be found below. For more on the game, you can check out more than 150 screenshots.

The Good Life is a captivating adventure game in which you play as Naomi, a New York-based photographer who has just arrived in the small British town of Rainy Woods with a specific job at hand - to discover the truth behind this place known as the “happiest town in the world”. Race against the clock tracing multiple leads and solve mysteries as a human, a cat, or a dog! Getting to the bottom of this mystery will require you to cook, eat, sleep, shop, farm, and explore the town, taking on photography jobs and other more “unconventional” quests. 

Uncover the truth about Rainy Woods – the small, boring town that Naomi refers to as “Hell on Earth”

  • Explore the vast and sprawling town of Rainy Woods
  • Take photos to repay your debt
  • Unlock and try out new recipes 
  • Plant, grow and harvest your own crops
  • Discover new clothing and other items
  • Save up money and renovate your house and garden(!)
  • Investigate a murder while riding a sheep(?!)

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Wednesday - September 08, 2021

Non-RPG General News - China's Crackdown on Online Gaming

by Redglyph, 18:15

The Guardian is reflecting on the recent China's rule that forbids minors of age to play online video games on weekdays.

Why the industry should heed China’s crackdown on video game players

While the west is unlikely to follow the three-hour gaming limit for children, developers would be unwise to dismiss it too quickly

Being a parent can feel, at times, like leading an authoritarian nation of one. You control what your subject can read, who they can speak to and what they can do; you deal with periodic revolts against your rule and occasionally engage in a simulacrum of democratic decision-making while knowing that you control the outcome.

But for all that authoritarian leaders like to present themselves as a parental figure for the country at large, it’s rare that they actually get involved with the day-to-day work of, well, parenting. Which is why the news that China is taking on the job of limiting gaming time caught the attention of so many parents I know.

According to state news outlets, online gaming companies will be required to limit under-18s to just three hours of playtime a week, between the hours of eight and nine in the evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The regulation has teeth: companies will be required to ensure they put in place real-name verification systems or go further and take their cue from companies such as Tencent, which recently implemented a facial recognition system that asks users to play on camera to prove they’re over 18.

[...]

 

Tuesday - September 07, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Alan Wake Remaster Confirmed

by Redglyph, 15:29

After recent rumours, Remedy has officialy announced a remaster of Alan Wake for this year.

VGC reports:

It’s official: Alan Wake Remastered is coming to consoles and PC this year

Remedy has officially announced Alan Wake Remastered, an updated version of its 2010 cult classic.

The remaster will release in fall 2021 on PC and consoles, published by Epic Games, and include the original game and its two expansions, improved with 4K visuals and a new commentary from creative director Sam Lake.

In an open letter published on fan site Sudden Stop, Lake dedicated the remaster to the Alan Wake series’ fanbase.

“This is for you,” he wrote. “Alan Wake came out over 11 years ago, and through that time, you have told us again and again how much you love the game, the story, the characters, and the lore. And that matters a lot to us. We love this game as well. I love this game.

“The remaster is coming because of your support for Alan Wake through the years. That is why we felt it was fitting to make this announcement here, at The Sudden Stop, which has been an integral part of the Remedy community since back in 2012, when it started out as an Alan Wake fansite.”

He added: “Alan Wake Remastered is the original experience you fell in love with all those years ago. We did not want to change that. But the visuals all around, including the character model of Alan Wake himself and the cinematics, have been updated and improved with some choice next-generation upgrades.”

[...]

Friday - September 03, 2021

Non-RPG General News - The Serpent Rogue

by Redglyph, 11:58

PC Invasion looks at The Serpent Rogue. This adventure/roguelike is due 2022 but you can find a demo on Steam.

The Serpent Rogue is an open-world roguelike where you learn alchemy to defeat a growing corruption

I enjoy games where your actions cause tangible ripple effects. Games like Mass Effect show how choices create far-reaching consequences. Even in the indie space, we get introduced to games like Stray Blade, where righteously clearing out a bandit camp can cause deadlier creatures to move in. The Serpent Rogue, an open-world roguelike coming from Team17 and developer Sengi Games, was revealed recently, and promises to offer something similar. As the Warden, it’s your job to use alchemy to stop the spreading corruption. But you better bury the dead. Do you want ghouls? Because that’s how we get ghouls.

Consequences sound like they’ll keep you on your toes in The Serpent Rogue. If you gather too many resources or items in an area, you get swarmed with “plague-spreading vermin.” Did you make too many animal friends? Then it’s Reapers that feed on the living. And yes, the ghouls. If you don’t “bury the perished ones,” then ghouls arrive to feast on the corpses. Naturally, the ghouls are not your friends. The Serpent Rogue is a dark and foreboding game, so just trying to make your way through its world will attract enemies and danger.

Luckily, you don’t have to go about it alone. As the Warden, you can flop down your alchemy table anywhere to craft potions. Many of these are fairly typical, such as concoctions for health regeneration. But you can also experiment, and eventually, create recipes for potions that can help you gather allies. The gameplay trailer below shows the Warden “making” friends with a cute dog.

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[...]

Wednesday - September 01, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Freelancer: HD Edition

by Silver, 12:44

@DSOGaming An HD mod pack which includes numerous fixes and widescreen mode is now available for Freelancer.

...

Freelancer: HD Edition aims to improve every aspect of the game while keeping the look and feel as close to vanilla as possible. It also serves as an all-in-one package for players so they “don’t have to worry about installing countless patches and mods to create the perfect HD and bug-free install.”

Its latest version adds a new interface with new icons and maximizes its draw distance. It also includes an advanced widescreen HUD and packs some 16:9 planetscape fixes. Additionally, it adds NPC paths in Multiplayer, makes all planets spin slowly, and adds support for scrolling through menus.

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Thursday - August 26, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Little Nightmares 2 Enhanced Edition

by Redglyph, 12:33

TheGamer reports a free upgrade for Little Nightmares 2, a puzzle/horror adventure game.

Little Nightmares 2 Adds Ray-Tracing And More In New Enhanced Edition

Bandai Namco has rolled out a free upgrade for Little Nightmares 2.

Little Nightmares 2 Enhanced Edition has arrived for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It's a free upgrade or you can purchase it separately if you do not own the base game.

It adds ray-traced reflections, volumetric shadows, immersive spatial audio, and more. It has also been worked on in collaboration with the BAFTA award-winning studio Supermassive Games.

Little Nightmares 2 is a sidescrolling puzzle-platformer with horror elements. Both the original and second game are dystopias with scathing critiques on contemporary culture and consumption. This is evident in the second as blatantly as through the allure of the hypnotic televisions that distract enemies. Both games were developed by Tarsier Studios.

[...]

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Sunday - August 22, 2021

Non-RPG General News - How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game Developers

by Redglyph, 10:11

People Make Games investigates the Roblox phenomenon. Ars Technica further comments on the video.

Investigation: How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game Developers

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On Roblox, kids learn it’s hard to earn money making games

New report claims that the massive video game platform can exploit young developers.

Roblox has become a video game titan, in recent years dominating the world of kids’ gaming and earning $454 million in revenue last quarter alone. A new report argues that success is built on exploiting young game developers, many of them children, who are making content for the game.

As a platform, Roblox provides gamers the tools to both create and play an almost unfathomable array of “experiences,” from climbing an enormous stairway to running a restaurant to escaping a prison. Tens of millions of these games live on Roblox’s browser—hundreds of times more titles than exist on Steam. Every day, 43 million people play those games, mostly kids. Some of the most popular experiences have received billions of visits and earn their developers millions annually.

According to a new report, however, this model—which powers much of Roblox’s enormous success—may take advantage of young game developers. Published Thursday by People Make Games, a YouTube channel by independent games journalists, “How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game Developers” takes a deep dive into the promise of “making it” on Roblox and alleges that the platform actually sets kid developers up for failure.

Tuesday - August 10, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Thief: The Dark Project @ NoClip

by Hiddenx, 18:17

NoClip looks back at Thief: The Dark Project:

Thief: The Dark Project - Noclip Greatest Hits

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In our latest episode of Greatest Hits Danny peaks through the Looking Glass to remember the original Thief series and the long shadow it has cast on the world of game design.

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 2:37 - The Early Concepts
  • 13:05 - Designing Thief: The Dark Project
  • 29:28 - Tools of the Trade
  • 35:40 - Thief 2: The Metal Age
  • 40:04 - The Culture at Looking Glass
  • 49:37 - Thief: Deadly Shadows
  • 1:02:22 - Outro
  • 1:03:33 - Credits

Thanks Redglyph!

Monday - August 09, 2021

Non-RPG General News - A thorough Look at Resident Evil

by Hiddenx, 19:23

Noah Caldwell-Gervais has made a retrospective and critique of the Resident Evil games... 18 of them! It's a very long video of about 7h30.

A thorough Look at Resident Evil

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Thanks Redglyph!

Friday - July 23, 2021

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Released

by Silver, 01:56

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a tactics/strategy game that has been released on Steam to very positive reviews.

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Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a fast-paced turn-based strategy game set in the grimdark universe of the 41st Millenium. Pick your force, develop your army, field mighty heroes and fight for victory using superior strategy, awesome abilities, and devastating weaponry.

Age of Crimson Dawn

Experience an epic twenty mission single-player campaign that explores the aftermath of the Devastation of Baal. Help Sergeant Carleon and his allies purge the Tyranid infestation on Baal Secundus, and preserve the honour of the noble Blood Angels.

Skirmish Mode

Fight across the surface of Baal on maps of your choosing and select either the Blood Angels or the Tyranids in the Skirmish mode. Completely customize your army list by picking your units, heroes and their loadouts.

Forge Your Armies

Command iconic units like the Sanguinary Priest, the Librarian Dreadnought, and the Hive Tyrant to annihilate your foes. Use over 60 abilities and 50 weapons to orchestrate your opponent’s bloody demise.

Build Momentum

Each faction has a unique Momentum system that can result in a Surged unit. Units that Surge are able to string together superhuman chains of actions, or use the opportunity to further upgrade their abilities.

Call In Air Support

Use Command Points to call in faction-specific air support abilities. The Blood Angels Stormraven can obliterate xenos with a missile barrage, or deep strike a unit of veteran Assault Marines behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, the Tyranid Harpy can devastate the enemy defenses with its Sonic Screech, or scatter the battlefield with its deadly Spore Mines.

Face Your Friends On The Battlefield

With live and asynchronous multiplayer, and hotseat modes available, there’s no excuse not to take your friends to war.

Delphyq - Tactics/Strategy Game in Development

by Silver, 01:43

Delphyq is a tactics/strategy game currently in development. You can check out the Steam page here. Additionally the developers have an AMA (ask me anything) on reddit that answers a few questions.

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Delphyq is a Real-time Strategy & Tactics game that puts you in the seat of a Mastermind, requiring you to analyze the current situation, evaluate the available resources, choose the missions, plan the attack and execute the plan.

Take control of an elite combat squadron known as the Operatives and bring an end to the tyrannical corporate armistice known as The Balance.

REAL TACTICS IN REAL TIME:

In Delphyq, combat does not happen in turns. The enemy won’t wait until you’re done firing. That’s why the game provides you access to a robust waypoint and command system which allows you to perform real life military tactics and maneuvers, like Slice The Pie, Flanking, Suppressive Fire, and more.

TAKE COVER:

The battlefield is an ally to the mindful. Delphyq’s Dynamic Cover System guarantees that nearby cover is always available wherever units may be, allowing you to keep your Operatives alive as they take down the enemy, one area at a time.

BE THE MASTERMIND:

Analyze. Plan. Execute. Plan from the top and work your way to the bottom with Delphyq’s engaging Overworld and Corkboard with the Intel planning system.

WE DON’T PLAY WITH DICE:

There’s no such thing as luck in Delphyq. Every hit, miss, victory and defeat are all dictated by your strategy, not a random number generator.

NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS:

Intrigue and plot twists abound! Follow the story of the ragtag militant team - Operatives, as they commit to the daunting task of taking down the corrupt corporation called 'The Balance'. Witness as the story unfolds with one revelation after another, all culminating into an unexpected conclusion.

HIGHLIGHTS

Delphyq is a real time tactics game, one that puts you in the role of a mastermind in command of an elite group of combatants known as the Operatives. Every move, every decision, every action and reaction you make will influence and decide the outcome of each encounter you will face along the way.

One thing that separates Delphyq from the rest of the strategy and tactics crowd is the way it simulates real combat. Delphyq is not a turn-based game; despite it having a pause mechanic, combat is still handled in real-time. The game’s waypoints, look direction and dynamic cover systems open doors for intense, strategic and memorable encounters. Advanced functions such as GoCodes and Operative skills provide access to deeper tactical maneuvers to deal with the game’s extremely intelligent utility-based AI enemies.

Each AI unit functions in conjunction with its environment; depending on the situation, it will also try to coordinate with other AI in the field, and will attempt to flank the Operatives and/or engage them through the use of cover.

The game’s Permadeath feature reinforces mastery, putting more weight in every decision made throughout the course of the game. Mastery of the game’s systems is an essential element in fulfilling the mastermind role. 

Monday - July 05, 2021

Rimworld - Update 1.3 and Ideology Expansion Announced

by Silver, 23:56

TechRaptor reports on a substantial update in the works for colony sim Rimworld, as well an expansion has been announced.

What is the Rimworld Ideology expansion?

The Ideology expansion is focused around the idea of allowing players to roleplay more. In this expansion, players will be able to create a belief system and their colony will act it out. This can be as varied as tree-worshipping cannibal to dance party techno ravers, with all sorts of things in between as you can mix and match core elements of the belief system, and customize a large variety of elements including individual precepts, rituals, and special social roles.

Beyond that, there is a new quest category where you can hunt for ancient artifacts in an Indiana Jones rogue-like challenge as your colonists break into ancient structures, facing unknown dangers for a chance at that ancient treasure. There are new special trees that are symbiotically linked with dryads who can be controlled and grown in different castes. A lot more was hinted at in the announcement, but we'll need to wait for all the details.

[...]

Saturday - July 03, 2021

Non-RPG General News - VTM: Blood Hunt @ Preview

by Hiddenx, 17:34

Mortismal Gaming checked out the free-to-play Battle Royal game VTM: Blood Hunt:

Check Out - VTM: Blood Hunt (Closed Alpha)

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Showing some gameplay and whats available in Sharkmob's upcoming Vampire The Masquerade Battle Royale

Thanks Redglyph!

 

Monday - June 28, 2021

Master of Magic Remake - Dev Diary #1

by Silver, 01:46

The first dev diary for Master of Magic Remake offers a recap and outlines what to expect from the game.

Who is MuHa Games?

We’re an indie studio based in Poland. Our previous two games are called Thea: The Awakening, and Thea 2: The Shattering, and they are best described as a: gritty, dark fantasy, survival games set within a post apocalyptic world, inhabited by a combination of classical fantasy critters and an abundance of mythical and folkloric influences. So, while MoM is a very different game in its core, we certainly have experience with the 4x/strategy genre. As such, when we were approached by Slitherine about remaking such a beloved classic of the genre, we were very excited to say yes. Our design ideology is simple, we try to make games that we’d want to play ourselves and we do our best to communicate with our fans and thus make the best product we can. 

Our design philosophy is to attempt to recreate the mechanics and gameplay of MoM as faithfully as we can, while also making an awesome game for new fans. So, with that in mind, here are a few things we already have that you may recognise from the original. Now, these things may return with some changes, all the features that are visual will of course have new graphics, and some mechanics may be altered if we were unable to recreate them.  

The old and the new.

  • All of the wizards will make a return in MoM (Most however, got a strong makeover from our wonderful artist.So while we hope you will still recognise your favourites, they did change in the thirty years…)
  • All of the champions and heroes are coming back(As with the wizards, although perhaps less drastically, many of the heroes got a facelift. But they are all back with their own 2D art and 3D model and even a little back story for those who will bother reading it somewhere…)
  • All of the races and their units (Given a new lease of artistic life, but kept their core skills and attributes. Of course tweaks may be necessary once we get to balancing, but for now, we are painstakingly recreating them all)
  • All of the spells and skills (As with everything else, we are recreating them as best we can for now, then we may need to tweak them later.)
  • All traits (formerly known as retorts)
  • All basic events, and possibly some additional ones (with the option to turn them off as it was in the original) 
  • Arcanus and Myrror as playable planes
  • All building types 
  • Mana management system (so you will  be able to distribute your power to go into research/casting skill/mana points)
  • Strategy vs tactical map – battles will take place on a tactical map, like in the original
  • Familiars – they’re back, and we have an extra one for those who choose mixed magic books

This list is not an exhaustive list, but should give you an idea of where we’re going with it. 

The new: Areas that warranted some change so far.

  • Hexes (we decided they made more sense in terms of gameplay, as well as our own experience with them)
  • AI (the original was, well, you know… so yes, the AI is being built from the grounds up and will hopefully be a more robust and fun experience  – this does not mean we intend for the game to be harder, we will have difficulty settings)
  • Complex difficulty settings (we want the game to be very customizable)
  • QOL improvements, so far we’ve added things like production ques; more MP; pathfinding that doesn’t split your group when some units have MP left and others don’t (pet hate of mine in original!); starting the game with a settler unit;
  • Auto combat function that will show you the range of outcomes possible and give you the option to either auto resolve, accepting these estimates, or resolve the fight manually; 
  • Extensive modding tools
  • Tooltips
  • Fog of war

Saturday - June 26, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Chris Avellone responds to Accusations in 2020

by Hiddenx, 12:25

CRPG designer and writer Chris Avellone responds to accusations made by women named Karissa and Kelly on Twitter in 2020:

It's Come To This

I’m Chris Avellone. I’m a game writer. I’ve worked on Star Wars, Fallout, and Dying Light 2, among many other games.

In 2012, I met a woman named Karissa at a convention in Atlanta called “Dragon Con.” We met at a bar after the convention. This gathering wasn’t a sanctioned convention event. She looked my age. She had no idea who I was, acted that way, and has admitted as much. She didn’t know who I was, but she did know I was buying rounds for everyone. Like many in this story, she wasn’t a colleague, she wasn’t my employee, I wasn’t her boss, and she wasn’t in the game industry.

[...]

Fast forward six years. In June 2020, to my surprise, Karissa went on Twitter late on a Friday night and delivered a long list of accusations based on our first encounter way back in 2012. I believed she was changing the narrative of every interaction she had had with me to put me in the worst possible light. Her motivation felt petty — but the accusations were not, they were very serious.

[...]

CONSEQUENCES LOVE COMPAN(IES)

There were consequences to their accusations, of course. When Karissa and Kelly made their allegations, I was cut off from almost every studio I was working with.

None of these studios did any investigations I’m aware of. Some didn’t have time (they only had the weekend, and rarely is everyone in a company working on a weekend), or they didn’t take the time.

I say “didn’t have time” because the accusations were made late on a Friday. I believe this may have been done deliberately, since Karissa herself admitted she had delayed her accusations, and furthermore, it’s difficult for companies (especially HR or legal) to respond over a weekend. This allowed Karissa’s and Kelly’s accusations to spread and become viral. For companies overseas I was working for, like Techland (Dying Light 2) and Gato Salvaje (The Waylanders), her accusations effectively hit on a Saturday.

So when Monday morning hit, I received calls and emails, and in many of them, notably Techland and Gato Salvaje, separation agreements and statements had already been drafted before they communicated to me directly.

[...]

(Found by Yemeth)

Saturday - June 19, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice

by Hiddenx, 08:41

Porcozaur spotted some news about the popular stealth game Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun:

The game will get a standalone expansion called Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice later this year.

Here comes Lady Chiyo:

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice

Lady Chiyo – the cunning villain of Aiko's Choice revealed!

Introducing: Lady Chiyo, the notorious villain of the Shadow Tactics standalone expansion Aiko's Choice!
Konnichiwa everyone!

Today, we are very happy to reveal more juicy details about Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice!

As you might already know, Aiko's Choice is a brand-new standalone expansion to our beloved stealth tactics hit Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun – set in Japan around the Edo period. It focuses on one of the main game's protagonists: the kunoichi adept Aiko.

Aside from the official logo and release date window, we haven't shared more details about Aiko's Choice, let alone the story. In the standalone expansion Aiko is confronted with her past life: A new enemy deeply connected to Aiko's background reappears from the shadows to challenge her and her deadly assassin friends ...

An enemy that is as infamous as she is dangerous: Meet the cunning spymaster Lady Chiyo!

Lady Chiyo: Elegance in all things

Yes, this elderly lady is the main antagonist of Aiko's Choice. But don't make the frivolous mistake of underestimating her. That's what many did before you – and they all paid with their lives.

She carries her age with elegance and her unfailing wisdom as well as cunning nature define her character more than anything else. Even the strongest wills crumble in her presence!

Naturally, her name has become entwined with many legends that people whisper to each other by the fire: "I heard that she once conquered a castle with a single word!" "Oh yeah? It is whispered that she once stopped an entire army with a cup of poisoned tea!"

Indeed, defeating your enemies from the shadows is something that Lady Chiyo turned into an art form. She is one of the first who established the teachings of the Kunoichi – the female Shinobi practitioners. In fact, she is Aiko's former master and taught her everything she knows! However, Aiko eventually left her old life and her former sensei behind her. But now Lady Chiyo has stepped out of the shadows once again. And she is coming for Aiko and her companions!

Why? That is something that you are to find out yourself in Aiko's Choice!
Wishlist Aiko's Choice now!

Aiko's Choice is set to release in late 2021 for PC. Wishlist Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Aiko's Choice now and return to the beautiful world of Shadow Tactics set in Japan, early Edo period. Rejoin your favorite characters in this previously untold story centered around Aiko – and face her former sensei Lady Chiyo!

Friday - June 18, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Arkane is trying a radical new Approach

by Hiddenx, 16:10

Henriquejr spotted a PC Gamer arcticle about Arkane's new games:

With Redfall and Deathloop, Arkane is trying a radical new approach to immersive sim design

Following Prey and Dishonored 2’s underwhelming sales numbers, the studio is attempting something different.

Arkane Studios made its name as the mainstream advocate for immersive sims, the proud defender of a genre that seemed destined to fade into obscurity. The studio’s first game, Arx Fatalis, was Raphaël Colantonio’s attempt to make his own version of Ultima Underworld. Its more recent titles, Dishonored and Prey, were spiritual successors to Thief and System Shock, both lynchpin entries in the immersive sim canon.

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Yet glance at Arkane’s upcoming games Deathloop and Redfall, and you’d be forgiven for thinking the studio has abandoned its raison d'être. Structurally, Deathloop has as much in common with a roguelike as it does Dishonored, placing emphasis on repetition and randomisation, including Dark Souls-style invasion-based multiplayer. Redfall, meanwhile, barely looks like an immersive sim at all. Arkane’s description of it as a "cooperative open world shooter" makes it sound like a blend of Left 4 Dead and Destiny.

[...]

A Plague Tale: Requiem - Reveal Trailer

by Silver, 02:14

The reveal trailer for A Plague Tale: Requiem.

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THE SEQUEL TO THE AWARD-WINNING A PLAGUE TALE: INNOCENCE

https://www.xbox.com/en-NZ/games/a-plague-tale-requiem

Embark on an emotional and breathtaking journey. Follow Amicia and her brother Hugo on a perilous new quest, doing whatever it takes to survive a brutal, uncaring world. A Plague Tale: Requiem will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2022. The game will be available at launch on Xbox Game Pass for Consoles, PC and Cloud.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - June 14, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Songs of Conquest announced for 2022

by Hiddenx, 20:39

The strategy game Songs of Conquest (with some RPG elements) will be released early 2022:

Songs of Conquest - Gameplay trailer

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Songs of Conquest is a classic turn-based strategy adventure that fuses RPG, armed conflict and kingdom management. Raise mighty armies, wield ancient magic and conquer distant lands to build an empire that bards will sing about for centuries!

Thanks SSIGuy!

 

Sunday - June 13, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Alliance of the Sacred Suns Trailer

by Hiddenx, 16:37

Henriquejr spotted a trailer for the 4X Strategy game Alliance of the Sacred Suns:

 Alliance of the Sacred Suns

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Thursday - June 10, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Strategy Game ZEPHON announced for 2022

by Hiddenx, 20:27

The strategy title ZEPHON will be released in 2022:

ZEPHON

Grimdark survival strategy from the creators of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius
Humanity emerges, hesitantly, into ruination. Almost nothing is left of the world as we knew it—settlements, forests, seas, mountains - all have been blasted into unfamiliarity. Horribly mutated animals hunt in packs through deformed woodland. Decrepit military robots stumble unknowingly through the ruins, sensors and logic centres blown. Alien soldiers, once impossibly powerful, cower in the wrecks of their ships, praying to heedless gods for rescue.

On the planet Earth, that was once a cradle of life, the extinction of humanity is at hand.

What will you do to survive?

Next-generation survival wargame set on a destroyed world
Choose your past and wage war to ensure humanity’s survival between the abominations of the Voice and the automata of ZEPHON. Select a leader, gather your allies and choose your actions wisely—or suffer the consequences.

Key features:

  • Unique tactical battles. Let’s face it, 4X combat is often boring or shallow—not Proxy’s. Our complex, nuanced battle system means victory is a matter of skill, not brute numbers.
  • A complete 4X. Diplomacy, research, exploration, city-building—we’ve taken the fundamentals of 4X and shaken them up. Drop the assumptions you have from other games in the genre.
  • Post-apocalyptic horror survival. Drag your civilization through a grimdark future—survive unexpected events while eldritch horrors and cyberpunk monstrosities derail your progress. Because that’s the game we wanted to play.

Thanks Henriquejr!

Tuesday - June 08, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Old World Release Date: July 1

by Hiddenx, 20:01

Henriquejr spotted the upcoming release of the strategy game Old World on the Epic Games Store:

Old World Release Date Trailer

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Mohawk Games presents Old World, a new 4X strategy game from Soren Johnson, the lead designer of Civilization IV and Offworld Trading Company. It will launch July 1st, 2021 on the Epic Games Store.

 

Thursday - May 20, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Back 4 Blood - Meet The Cleaners

by Hiddenx, 20:29

Learn more about the Back 4 Blood characters and their abilities:

Back 4 Blood - Meet The Cleaners

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Tuesday - May 18, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Days Gone - Review @ ACG

by Hiddenx, 17:39

ACG checked out the Action-Adventure Days Gone:

Days Gone PC Review "Buy, Wait For Sale, Never Touch?"

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Wednesday - May 12, 2021

Stargate: Timekeepers - Teaser Trailer

by Silver, 00:07

Stargate: Timekeepers has been announced by Slitherine with a teaser trailer.

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In collaboration with leading entertainment company Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), Slitherine, a world leading producer and publisher of digital strategy games, is proud to announce that it will develop and publish Stargate: Timekeepers, the first-ever strategy PC game based on the fan favorite series, Stargate SG-1. Stargate: Timekeepers departs from the end of season 7 of the Stargate SG-1 main plot to create a wholly original story starting during the Battle of Antarctica, where Command Eva McCain and her team are tasked with supporting the SG-1 against Anubis’s fleet. The aftermath of the battle sees Commander McCain and her squad face an epic adventure that spans multiple original locations.

In Stargate: Timekeepers, players will travel through time and space, save civilians from the threats of their system lords, rescue their friends and allies from danger, and much more.

Saturday - May 08, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Days Gone - Release Date: May 18

by Hiddenx, 18:10

The open world action game Days Gone with light RPG elements will be released on May 18:

 Days Gone

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Ride and fight into a deadly, post pandemic America. Play as Deacon St. John, a drifter and bounty hunter who rides the broken road, fighting to survive while searching for a reason to live in this open-world action-adventure game.

Saturday - May 01, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Subnautica Below Zero Soundtrack released

by Hiddenx, 19:43

Lukasz spotted that the soundtrack of the Early Access Survival Game Subnautica Below Zero has been released.

Friday - April 23, 2021

Master of Magic - Caster of Magic for Windows released

by Hiddenx, 21:16

The popular mod for Master of Magic got an official update for modern machines and controls on Steam:

Caster of Magic for Windows is available now.

Caster of Magic for Windows is the upgraded edition of a real classic of the strategy genre from the 90s.
The new edition of Caster of Magic which runs natively on Windows is available now.

Developed by Seravy, a well-known member of the Master of Magic community, Caster of Magic for Windows is the upgraded edition of a real classic of the strategy genre from the 90s.

Caster of Magic for Windows brings the much-loved game Master of Magic into the modern era with full and native Windows support. This includes a fully resizable game window and full screen support as well a huge amount of work put forward into making this game run with exceptional smoothness and stability.

It is not just system support improvements that have been made, however, as the gameplay that stood up to the test of time has been massively expanded. There are now variable map sizes, new game mods and options, 21 new spells seamlessly blended into the unique magic system that has kept the fans playing for decades. In fact, the original classic on steam still enjoys a 98% positive user review score at the time of writing.

Thanks Capt. Huggy Face!

Wednesday - April 21, 2021

Dark Moonlight - Interview @Gamingbolt

by Silver, 00:55

Gamingbolt have interviewed the developers of horror game Dark Moonlight and asked about combat, exploration, story, and more.

We’re always down for a good horror game, and though it’s too early to say anything definitively just yet, Silent Bear Studio’s upcoming Dark Moonlight definitely looks like it could be yet another survival horror game to watch out for. A classic combination of combat, horrifying enemies, psychological horror elements, inventory management, and puzzle solving- it sounds like Dark Moonlight is bringing together all the elements that make this genre tick in one single package. The elements for something interesting are definitely all there, and to learn more about the game, we recently reached out to its developers. You can read our conversation with Dark Moonlight lead game designer Marcin KÅ‚osowski.

Dark Moonlight’s narrative premise is an interesting one, with its protagonist being burdened by a number of fears and phobias being one of its most intriguing aspects. How will that particular element play into the story? Can we expect this to have an impact on the gameplay as well?

Well, that element is extremely important for us, because we would like the player to make the deepest possible connection with our protagonist, which allows to intensify player’s fear to the limit. It’ll have a huge impact on the gameplay, however we don’t want to reveal too much in that matter for now.

Puzzles and exploration are usually core pillars of most survival horror experiences. What sort of a balance does Dark Moonlight strike between those two areas?

The answer is simple. We are huge fans of big horror titles where puzzles and exploration are very important factor in the gameplay. Obviously we are preparing a lot of content in that matter, but let’s be clear- we don’t want the exploration and riddles to completely dominate in the game.

Dark Moonlight promises encounters against all manner of demons and monstrosities. Given that, what can players expect from the game in terms of boss fights?

Players can expect a lot of fighting with various creatures in most unexpected moments, every encounter with a monster in Dark Moonlight we can call a boss fight.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - April 14, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Gord announced for 2022

by Hiddenx, 15:09

Gamespot reports that the Adventure Strategy / Survival RPG mix Gord has been announced for 2022:

Gord Is A New Dark Fantasy Survival RPG With City-Sim Gameplay

This new dark-fantasy RPG inspired by Slavic folklore blends survival gameplay with city-builder mechanics, and it's coming to PC in 2022.

Coming from new developer Covenant, Gord is a dark fantasy RPG that centers around a growing village and the many threats they face while trying to survive. First teased on April 8 via the game's official Twitter page, we now have the first gameplay elements and plot for the upcoming survival-sim and city-builder, which is coming from Stan Just, a former developer from CD Projekt Red and 11-Bit Studios.

The main story of Gord follows The Tribe of the Dawn's struggles and growth while surviving a fantasy world inspired by Slavic folklore. Throughout the game, you will decide how you want your village to evolve, how best to defend your community from threats, and how to use your limited resources to keep your town prosperous for the future.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Friday - March 26, 2021

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum - Official Sneak Peek Trailer

by Silver, 12:47

A sneak peak video for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

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Get a sneak peek of the upcoming video game, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum!

Tuesday - March 23, 2021

Necromunda: Hired Gun - 40K Dishonored?

by Silver, 03:30

An apparently premature listing of Necromunda: Hired Gun appeared briefly on the Windows Store. The game itself looks like a FPS like Dishonored according to PC Gamer.

Necromunda: Hired Gun, a new Warhammer 40K FPS from Focus Home Interactive and Streum On Studio, has suddenly appeared on the Windows Store with a release scheduled for June 1st, 2021. 

Spotted by Idle Sloth on Twitter, Hired Gun is a "fast-paced" FPS set in the depths of Necromunda, the same leather-clad, mohawk-sporting 40K destination that housed last year's Underhive Wars. In Hired Gun, you're taking on the role of a lone bounty hunter, pitted against the brawny gangers and hair-metal warrior women of the Hive City's depths. 

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

The Day Before - Interview @Gamingbolt

by Silver, 03:21

Gamingbolt interviewed the developers of The Day Before and asked about progression, the endgame, open world, and more.

The Day Before clearly has a strong PvE component, given its setting, but what can players expect from the game in terms of PvP?

In The Day Before, we created the real world of the post-apocalypse, which means players have absolute freedom. Complete tasks with other players or alone. You can meet anyone and whenever you want, act as you want, cooperate with people or rob them – it’s your choice. And of course you can loot the defeated players.

It seems like restoring and expanding a colony of survivors is a crucial element from the game. How will this tie into the meta-progression and the story?

The possibility to gather with friends, meet and make new friends in a safe place will create many personal stories from those who will play The Day Before. In Woodberry Survivor Colony, you can not only communicate with other players, but also talk to the inhabitants of the colony, take tasks from them and reveal more details about the world. Also we’re testing a system of reputation within the colony, so your activity will affect your progression in the story. More information will be revealed in the future  videos and posts in our social media.

What can you tell us about the loot game in The Day Before and how it will tie into progression?

In The Day Before there are no colored items of different value, everything is real, weapons act as in real life, a light bulletproof vest will only save you from a pistol, boots will not give you protection from shots. It is important for us to give the player maximum immersion in the world of post-apocalypse.

It seems like vehicles and vehicular exploration are going to be an important part of the experience. Can you tell us more about this? Will building, repairing, and maintaining vehicles be important mechanics in the game?

Travel off-road, knead the mud, but be careful – if you get stuck, you will become an easy prey. The car can either save your life or become a trap. You need to keep an eye on the fuel, otherwise you can stall at the most inconvenient moment. We have carefully approached the details of the game, for example, in order to fill up the fuel you need to pick up a canister and really pour it into the tank of the car, the same way the car is repaired, you have to go out and fix it. The game will include not only ordinary cars, but also armored vehicles. Just imagine, we are walking together along the lifeless streets of the city, and skyscrapers once filled with people hang over us. We have the best assault rifles, and then we suddenly see a running armored vehicle ahead that notices us! To deal with such an enemy, you need a completely different approach.

"Travel off-road, knead the mud, but be careful – if you get stuck, you will become an easy prey."

What can players expect from The Day Before where enemy variety is concerned?

Let’s imagine that a zombie apocalypse has come to your city, what danger will you face? We at Fntastic believe that during a real post-apocalypse there’ll be lots of wonderful people who help others no matter what, but inevitably there’ll be those who won’t hesitate to use force. So in the game you can meet zombies, real human-players, human NPCs, but unlike the civilians of Woodberry, they are more likely to shoot you in your head instead of a greeting. As for types of zombies, they are divided into realistic varieties, for example, by their physique. Zombies react to sounds and rely on sight, and by the way, if you carry too many things, the sounds you make will be louder and the chance that you will be heard will increase. Each contact with the infected may be your last. It is important for us to convey the same emotions from meeting a zombie, as if it happened in real life.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - March 22, 2021

HUMANKIND - Feature Focus: Art of War

by Silver, 01:23

The latest feature focus for HUMANKIND focuses on the Art of War.

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In Humankind, sometimes you'll have to go to war. In this Feature Focus video, we discuss battle mechanics and battle management. Take a closer look into how battles work in Humankind and what sets them apart from other strategy titles. You'll also learn more about bringing in reinforcements, making good use of the terrain and taking advantage of bonuses for your units.

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - March 20, 2021

Survive the Fall - Announced

by Silver, 11:40

@DSOGaming Survive the Fall is a post-apocalyptic tactical strategy game that has been announced recently.

Angry Bulls Studio has announced a new post-apocalyptic tactical strategy game, Survive the Fall. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team released the game’s debut trailer that you can find below.

In Survive the Fall, players can gather precious resources so you don’t die of hunger or cold. Players can light fires, craft weapons and items, and hunt animals.

[...]

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Monday - March 15, 2021

Alien: Hope for the Future - Gameplay Footage

by Silver, 20:17

DSOGaming reports on gameplay video for Alien: Hope for the Future which is a fan game which will be released for free.

Alien: Hope for the future is an Immersive sim project with elements of survival-horror and tactics. This isn’t a commercial game, meaning that it will be distributed for free to everyone once it’s complete.

The story of the game takes place in “Hadly’s Hope” colony , before and during the xenomorph incident. Therefore, players will assume the role of one of the colonists. Players will have to survive by finding some supplies for them and other colonists. Players will also be able to avoid or fight xenomorphs.

[...]

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Tuesday - March 09, 2021

Stronghold: Warlords - Now Available

by Silver, 18:31

Stronghold: Warlords is a RTS focused on castles which is now available on Steam and GOG.

For the first time ever Stronghold: Warlords allows you to recruit, upgrade and command AI lords across the battlefield in the form of in-game ‘Warlords’. Each warlord under your command boosts your strategic prowess with unique perks, characteristics and upgradeable abilities. Put them to work for your industry, fortifying borders, forging weapons or team up for a pincer attack! Each campaign mission, skirmish game and multiplayer battle means a fresh set of warlords to command and a completely new way to play Stronghold.



The next chapter in Firefly Studios' real-time strategy series, Stronghold: Warlords is the first game to recreate the castle economies of East Asia. In Warlords players take command of Mongol hordes, imperial warriors and samurai clansmen as they lay siege to Japanese castles and fortified Chinese cities. Besiege historical warlords using new gunpowder-fuelled siege weapons and classic units across 31 campaign missions, multiplayer, skirmish and free build modes.



  • CONQUER AND COMMAND WARLORDS across the battlefield unlocking more powerful castles, armies and abilities.
  • RELIVE HISTORICAL CAMPAIGNS from 3rd century BC China, to the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate and coming of the Mongol Empire.
  • RECRUIT NEW UNITS including imperial fire lancers, disciplined samurai, Mongolian horse archers and deadly ninja.
  • RAZE YOUR ENEMIES with the arrival of gunpowder and new siege weapons like the hwacha arrow launcher, siege tower and fire oxen!
  • BECOME THE GREATEST LORD through fear or admiration using a range of medieval entertainment, taxation and torture.

Wednesday - March 03, 2021

Caster of Magic - Windows Edition coming soon

by Hiddenx, 21:53

An enhanced edition / DLC for the classic strategy title Master of Magic called Caster of Magic will be released soon on Steam:

Caster of Magic for Windows is coming soon.

It is an upgraded edition of a classic which allows you to run it natively on Windows for the first time.
A new edition of Caster of Magic is coming soon.

Caster of Magic for WIndows is an upgraded edition of Caster of Magic which allows you to run it natively on Windows for the first time, as well as supporting higher screen resolutions.

It also contains countless improvements for Caster of Magic, including new spells, game options, UI and AI improvements. It is the ultimate edition of Master of Magic, brought by the fans to the modern era.

NEW FEATURES IN CASTER OF MAGIC FOR WINDOWS

- Runs natively in Windows
- Freely resizeable game window, not locked to any specific aspect ratio
- Up to 13 enemy wizards
- Variable map size
- Additional game modes/options
- 21 new spells
- Improved UI and production queue system
- Improved AI
- Seamless, procedurally generated terrain
- Improved item creation, new item powers
- More diplomacy messages which now all depend on the AI's personality

We're currently looking for beta testers to help us test Caster of Magic for Windows, so if you're willing to help us out you can sign up here.

About the developer:

Caster of Magic started out as a mod, championed by Seravy and building on top of the already popular community patch. Caster of Magic has been a fan favorite of the Master of Magic community and we are pleased to be able to work with Seravy to officially integrate Caster of Magic, giving him the recognition he deserves.

Thanks Henriquejr!

Non-RPG General News - Valheim: Early Access Review @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 19:13

PC Gamer checked out the survival game Valheim:

Valheim review: a challenging and rewarding Early Access survival adventure

Explore, craft, build, fight, and survive in a massive and engaging open world.

It's my first trip across the ocean on my tiny wooden raft and I'm holding my torch nervously as I peer through the pitch-black night. I feel intensely vulnerable. I've never left my starter island before and I have no idea what's waiting out there in Valheim's massive procedurally generated world. After a long, tense night of sailing I finally set foot on a new continent, and immediately discover what looks like a village. That's a surprise—I didn't know there were villages in Valheim. The village is full of draugrs. I didn't know there were draugrs, either.

The mob of undead warriors bash me with axes and bombard me with arrows. I flee and sail home miserably with little to show for my hours of exploration save for badly degraded weapons and armor and a few draugr entrails from the two I managed to slay. I decide I'm never going back there. Ever. But the discovery of draugr intestines has given me a new recipe for sausages, so I stuff the rotting entrails with boar meat and flavor them with thistle in my cauldron. Then I eat them, my eyes widening as my health bar grows to twice the size it's ever been.

I am going back to the draugr village immediately. I need more sausages. I am now in the sausage business.

[...]

Sunday - February 21, 2021

Orange Cast - New Roadmap

by Silver, 20:19

Orange Cast is a third person space shooter game for which there is now a new roadmap.

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As humanity’s elite space trooper, you take on a heroic, action-packed adventure throughout the galaxy. Explore planets, protect colonies, and be the first to meet the unknown!

Protect Humanity

Fast-paced and rewarding combat. Face cunning enemies, defeat menacing bosses, and arm yourself with top-notch weaponry of your choice.

True Sci-Fi experience

Dialogs, cinematics, and the choice-driven story inspired by James S.A. Corey’s The Expanse series.

Thanks Farflame!

Non-RPG General News - The Dark Mod 2.09 is now available

by Silver, 20:13

DSOGaming reports on a new version of The Dark Mod which is a mod based on THIEF.

The Dark Mod 2.09 brings various performance and graphical improvements. For instance, it uses a brand new Backend that takes advantage of UBO, Persistent Mapping, Bindless textures, and Multi-Draw. Additionally, Normal Map compression now uses RGTC resulting in lower storage, VRAM requirements, and less artifacts.

This new version of The Dark Mod also adds a new Sharpening filter. Moreover, it improves its particle physics for both accuracy and performance.

You can download The Dark Mod 2.09 from here. Below you can also find its key features.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - February 16, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Valheim: Big Launch

by Hiddenx, 16:16

IGN reports that the survival game Valheim is very successful right now on Steam:

Valheim Appears To Have Steam's Biggest Ever Launch for a Survival Game

Already in Valhalla.

Valheim is already nearly the biggest survival game ever on Steam, and it’s not even a fortnight old.

On February 14, Valheim hit an all-time peak of 367,443 players on Steam, barely two weeks following its February 2 release. Compared to the most popular survival games on Steam, this makes it the fastest growing game in the genre ever. Its key genre rivals, Rust and ARK: Survival Evolve, cannot boast such a high number of concurrents in their entire lifetimes, and only hit comparable peaks years after launch.

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[...]

Thursday - February 04, 2021

HUMANKIND - Feature Focus: Avatar AI

by Silver, 19:32

The devs of HUMANKIND discuss Avatar AI.

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In this feature focus, Amplitude discusses avatars and avatar AI in Humankind.

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - February 02, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Half-Life Retrospective

by Hiddenx, 16:45

Noah Caldwell-Gervais looks back at the Half-Life series:

A Thorough Look At Half-Life [Revised/Expanded/HD]

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Thanks Redglyph!

Thursday - January 21, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Alliance of the Sacred Suns Dev Blog

by Hiddenx, 19:18

Henriquejr spotted a new dev-blog entry for the 4x game Alliance of the Sacred Suns:

Development Blog - 1.19.21: Scouting System and what's new for 2021!

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a good holiday season, a happy New Year, and that 2021 is off to a better foot than 2020 for you! We have certainly kicked off the new year running, and that’s what we want to talk about today!

We wanted to touch on our timelines for the year, and our plans for the next few open alphas, as what we’re working on now. I want to have a new development diary go out about every 2 weeks, as those are the lengths of the development sprints we are working on in the studio.

First off, with the funding provided by HH, we’ll be able to add another programmer to the staff to work on things like UI scripting and data conversion, which will free me up to do a lot more with the AI, optimization, and game mechanics. We hope to announce their addition in early Feburary. Also, AotSS will now have a custom music score, done by Cody Still, who has composed for Hollywood trailers and movies for years and has already composed some amazing music for the game, including the main theme. If you’re on our Discord (and if you’re not, why not?!) I have posted a preview of the main theme there.

Now for our timelines. We’d like to do our next Closed Alpha II sometime in April, and our Closed Beta in late July. We haven’t finalized an EA release yet, but it would be at the earliest in August or September. Of course we’ll let you know when that happens!

Next, I wanted to talk about a concept of the game that is getting a polish - Scouting. Specifically, scouting systems and planets. Currently, you can either send a probe to the system that you want more information on as a Project, or a scout Force, and a scout probe will increase the intel level of the system by 25%, while a Force will increase the intel level by the Scouting value of the Force every turn. While it’s not a bad system, it had room for improvement. So this is how it’s going to work going forward:

[...]

Wednesday - January 20, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Valve and five Publishers fined for Geo-Blocking

by Hiddenx, 18:35

Valve and five publishers have been fined for geo-blocking in Europe:

Antitrust: Commission fines Valve and five publishers of PC video games € 7.8 million for "geo-blocking" practices

The European Commission has fined Valve, owner of the online PC gaming platform “Steam”, and the five publishers Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax € 7.8 million for breaching EU antitrust rules.

Valve and the publishers restricted cross-border sales of certain PC video games on the basis of the geographical location of users within the European Economic Area (‘EEA'), entering into, the so called “geo-blocking” practices. The fines for the publishers, totalling over €6 million, were reduced due to the companies' cooperation with the Commission. Valve chose not to cooperate with the Commission and was fined over €1.6 million.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: More than 50% of all Europeans play video games. The videogame industry in Europe is thriving and it is now worth over € 17 billion. Today's sanctions against the “geo-blocking” practices of Valve and five PC video game publishers serve as a reminder that under EU competition law, companies are prohibited from contractually restricting cross-border sales. Such practices deprive European consumers of the benefits of the EU Digital Single Market and of the opportunity to shop around for the most suitable offer in the EU”.

Steam is one of the world's largest online PC video gaming platforms offering more than 35 000 games worldwide. It allows users, upon authentication, to directly download or stream PC video games. It also allows users who buy PC video games outside Steam, such as in brick-and-mortar shops (e.g. on DVDs) or digitally through downloads from third-party websites, to activate and play video games on Steam.

Valve provides to video game publishers the technical means to activate and play games on Steam, including those games bought outside Steam, through the so-called, “Steam activation keys”. Publishers include those keys in their PC video games for user authentication/activation. The PC video games are then sold by third party distributors across the EEA. Valve also offers to the publishers a territory control function, which enables the setting up of geographical restrictions upon activation. The combination of Steam activation keys with the territory control function enables the “geo-blocking” of PC video games based on the geographical location of the user.

[...]

Tuesday - January 12, 2021

Non-RPG General News - Indiana Jones Game Coming

by Silver, 19:10

A teaser video for a new Indiana Jones game which Bethesda have announced with a tweet.

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A new Indiana Jones game from Bethesda and Machine Games has been revealed! Check out the short teaser here!

[...]

A new Indiana Jones game with an original story is in development from our studio, @MachineGames, and will be executive produced by Todd Howard, in collaboration with @LucasfilmGames. It'll be some time before we have more to reveal, but we’re very excited to share today’s news!

Thanks Redglyph!

Saturday - January 02, 2021

Non-RPG General News - The 4X and 4X-Like Games of 2021

by Hiddenx, 10:58

Henriquejr spotted a list of upcoming 4X-games at Explorminate:

The 4X and 4X-Like Games of 2021

As the end of the year draws in, it is tradition for the staff here at eXplorminate to pick a list of our most anticipated 4X titles due for release over the following twelve months. We’re only aware of four pure 4X games incoming in 2021, so this time around our list will be a little different.

Instead, let’s look at the four confirmed 4X games, a couple of confirmed 4X-adjacent games and a 4X game we’ll go out on a limb and say might be out in some form or another in 2021.

Without further ado… 

[...]

  • Humankind
  • Distant Worlds 2
  • Old World
  • Remnants of the Precursors
  • Alliance of the Sacred Suns
  • Terra Invicta
  • Star Dynasties
  • Slipways
  • Galactic Civilization IV (speculation)

Friday - January 01, 2021

Non-RPG General News - A thorough Look at Watch Dogs

by Hiddenx, 12:56

Noah Caldwell-Gervais checked out the open-world adventure game Watch_Dogs:

A Thorough Look At Watch Dogs

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Thanks Redglyph!

Tuesday - December 29, 2020

Non-RPG General News - 2020 Mod of the Year Awards

by Hiddenx, 16:05

Rjshae spotted the Mod of the Year Awards 2020:

2020 Mod of the Year Awards

2020 Winner

Welcome to the 2020 Mod of the Year results! With top 100 voting having taken place over the last 20 days, the results have now been tallied and we are ready to announce the winners! Our favorite moments in 2020 include Command & Conquer Remastered injecting new life into a much loved franchise by modders, and seeing many 10 year old mods like Project Reality still getting major updates, so many years on.

[...]

Honorable Mentions

With so many fantastic mods posting major updates and leveraging their passionate communities, we'd like to direct your praise and attention to these honorable mentions. A honorable mention is given for polling strongly in the awards, but being ineligible due to placing higher in a previous year, or if a significant update was not released in 2020:

  • Empire at War Expanded: Thrawn's Revenge: Imperial Civil War
  • Empire at War Expanded: Fall of the Republic
  • Edain Mod
  • Ultimate Apocalypse Mod (DOW SS)
  • Brutal Doom
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Anomaly
  • Tiberium Essence
  • Age of Empires III: Wars of Liberty
  • Empire At War Remake: Galactic Civil War
  • Half-Life 2 : MMod
  • Twisted Insurrection
  • Battlefront 2 Remaster Project
  • Half-Life : Echoes
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Chernobyl
  • Forgotten Hope 2
  • Awakening of the Rebellion 2.8
  • Star Trek: Armada 3
  • Contra

Mod of the Year Top 10

10TH PLACE
Half Life 2: Raising the Bar Redux - For: Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Experience Half-Life 2 like never before. Return to City 17, held within the iron grip of the Combine and the Consul. Reunite with old friends, and enemies, and some of them brand new. Immerse yourself in a revitalised combat system featuring old arsenals made new again, with added features to raise the bar in gameplay. You've been waiting for quite some time, now. It's time to climb aboard.

9TH PLACE
Arcane Dimensions - For: Quake

Arcane Dimensions was created by a large community team of level designers, artists and coders over many years and the latest version has finally been released. This mod is all about projectile combat, breakable environments and encouraging all players to become multi dimensional explorers!
It features 30+ richly detailed and uniquely themed environments to explore and a whole new army of monsters to test your skill and reflexes along the way.

8TH PLACE
Total War: Rise of Mordor - For: Total War: Attila

Total War: Rise of Mordor is an epic overhaul project based on "The Lord of the Rings". The visuals of the mod are based on films however the background story and rosters are accurate to the books.

7TH PLACE
Unification Mod - Dawn of War: SoulStorm - For: Dawn of War

The UTTERMOST Dawn of War races' combiner mod. Unification is an advanced combiner mod, that allows you to seamlessly combine almost all community-created races. Make no mistake, this is the ABSOLUTE way to combine races for Dawn of War.

6TH PLACE
Expanding Fronts - For: Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

Star Wars Galactic battlegrounds: Expanding Fronts is a massive fan-made expansion that brings new civilizations, units, maps, gameplay features, and quality of life improvements to Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds. Built over nearly a decade with contributions from dozens of community members, Expanding Fronts provides the definitive Galactic Battlegrounds experience.

5TH PLACE
Black Mesa: Azure Sheep - For: Black Mesa

In Azure Sheep, player takes the role of a generic security guard called "Just Barney". When the Black Mesa incident strikes, Barney realizes that his colleague and love interest Kate, codename "Azure Sheep", is in danger, and he must venture into the facility to rescue her. Eventually, the two join up and work together to escape the danger.

4TH PLACE
Divide and Conquer - For: Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms

Divide and Conquer is the biggest Third Age: Total War submod of all time. It contains many new factions, units, scripts, 2d artwork and more! DaC has been an ongoing project for 9 years now but the current modding team is the longest running team in its history.

3RD PLACE
Project Reality - For: Battlefield 2

Back again 10 years on and still updated frequently - Project Reality's aim is to create a more realistic combat environment than standard Battlefield 2, and place a greater emphasis on teamwork and cooperation. Most of the aspects of Battlefield 2 that have the capacity to be modified have been tweaked, or completely overhauled, to reflect their real life counterparts, for increased realism.

2ND PLACE
Mental Omega - For: C&C: Yuri's Revenge

A free unofficial expansion pack for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge, which retells, expands and continues the story of the original game. Enhanced with Ares DLL, Mental Omega strives to bring many new features to the game, including a 100-mission campaign, cooperative and a brand new faction: the Foehn Revolt.

1ST PLACE
Age of the Ring - For: Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch King

Delve deeper into Middle-earth than ever before, in The Age Of The Ring. A mod that aims to create a RTS experience that is faithful to the spirit of Tolkien's mythos. The developers behind the mod have continued to add new factions, heroes and maps, years after it's original release and throughout 2020.

Sunday - December 13, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Back 4 Blood: Gameplay Trailer

by Hiddenx, 22:14

We have many Left 4 Dead fans here at the Watch - so Back 4 Blood might be interesting for you:

Back 4 Blood - Gameplay Trailer The Game Awards 2020

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Thursday - December 10, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Woodsalt delayed

by Hiddenx, 18:42

The Adventure Game/Visual Novel Woodsalt will be released on January 9 next year:

Hey everyone, George from Team Woodsalt here.

Unfortunately we have chosen to delay Woodsalt by one more month for a couple of reasons, but off the bat I want to say that this is something we really, really wanted to avoid but reality is a cruel mistress.

The first issue is pretty obvious. When choosing a release date we worked on the basis of avoiding any large launches, looking at large titles and trying to find a window.

When we chose December 9th, it looked lovely and clear. Then Cyberpunk was postponed and they announced their release on December 10th. As confident as we are in Woodsalt, we can’t possibly compete for media space with that behemoth. We don’t have that Keanu money. We barely have Kevin James money (lol jk, we’re dirt poor).

To everyone who has been waiting and were aware of Woodsalt, I’m sorry if you’re deflated by this and I do totally get it, but I hope you understand that while this is our passion, we also need to keep the lights on. If this game tanks, we’re out of jobs and my choices affect our team as well as myself. Ultimately they’ve been by my side and supported me, and I can’t risk my impatience causing them to lose their future employment.

The other reason is that through testing, there have been a number of “quality of life” changes suggested that we think would really benefit the title. So far the reception has been really, really good and these little changes seem to just add a bit of intuitiveness into the gameplay.

We have many more games planned in the future, so it’s important that we play this as smartly as we can. I’m excited for everyone to have a look at Woodsalt, but I have to put that to one side to do what’s best for the game and the team that made it happen, because at the end of the day I wouldn’t be here to tell you any of this if it wasn’t for all of their hard work.

Sorry for the rubbish news. It was entirely my decision so any anger you may have direct my way and not theirs.

Have a lovely Christmas and tell Keanu I said hi.


Hope all's well,

George Berry,

Founder, Producer

Sunday - November 29, 2020

Mod News: - Blade Runner: Cells Interlinked

by Silver, 22:13

DSOGaming reports on Blade Runner: Cells Interlinked which is a total conversion mod for Serious Sam Fusion.

...

According to its creator, this mod features story driven campaign with cinematic presentation and setpieces. It also comes with voice-acted characters, as well as a variety of different game/map design elements.

In future versions, the modder plans to add support for VR, and improve the animations of characters.

This is a must-have mod for all Blade Runner fans out there, and we highly recommend downloading it. Below you can also find a trailer for it.

Enjoy!

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Thursday - November 26, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Woodsalt Gameplay Trailer

by Hiddenx, 19:46

The Adventure Game/Visual Novel Woodsalt will be released on December 9:

"Woodsalt" Gameplay trailer - Out on Steam and Nintendo Switch December 9th

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The title is a sci-fi psychological thriller adventure game set in a classic 90s JRPG style. It’s practically an interactive book with free-roam with a whole array of impactful choices to make that determine your journey.

The basic gist of the plotline goes as follows:

You control a man called Emcy who wakes up on Nu-Terra, a city within a bubble far away from earth 1000 years after humanity evacuated the planet.

During the story, you learn about the world around you, the people that exist and their existential troubles.

Over the course of the game, you’ll speak to side characters whose opinions of you will be affected by your actions. 
 
There are 3 main story endings, 22 side plots and 10 Easter eggs to find!

Wednesday - November 18, 2020

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum - Steam Page Available

by Silver, 21:22

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum now has a Steam page.

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Athletic and agile, sneaky and cunning. Driven by the desire to once again hold in his hands what he lost, Gollum is one of the most fascinating characters in the world of The Lord of the Rings™.

He has seen things that others can not imagine, he has survived things that others would not dare mention. Torn by his split personality, he can be vicious and villainous as Gollum, but social and cautious as Sméagol.

While being vital to the story by J.R.R. Tolkien, many parts of Gollum’s quest have not been told in detail yet. In The Lord of the Rings™: Gollum™ you get to experience this story. From his time as a slave below the Dark Tower to his stay with the Elves of Mirkwood.

Use stealth, agility and cunning to survive and overcome what lies ahead. Climb, leap and grapple your way past dangers or into advantageous spots.

While Gollum might not be a fighter, it is not unlike him to assassinate a careless enemy when the chance presents itself – or dispose of them in more creative and villainous ways.

The decisions you make and the way you play have a direct influence on Gollum’s personality: Always struggling between the two sides embodied by Gollum and Sméagol, it is up to you to decide whether the darker side of Gollum takes over or if there is a spark of reason left in what once was Sméagol. One mind, two egos - you decide!

Monday - October 26, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Aquanox: Deep Descent - Review

by Hiddenx, 19:45

Sirius Gaming reviewed the submarine FPS wit RPG elements Aquanox: Deep Descent:

Aquanox: Deep Descent – Review

Aquanox: Deep Descent is an action RPG first person shooter set in a “Waterworld” but only this time everyone on the planet lives underwater and the mode of transport and warfare is with submarines.

Humans have fled dry land due to the fall out of nuclear war (and something else) and call this The Last Day. They now live under the ocean inside big underwater habitats and traverse with underwater ships and mini-submarines called DSFs. In this game, players will take on the roles of four characters that have been frozen before The Last Day. They are woken by a mysterious man named Ishmael and are guided to another person, ship captain named Okabe and his crew. Together you journey the seas to find clues as to what has happened to the world, the memories you lost, and the mission you are supposed to complete after waking up from cryostasis.

[...]

Aquanox: Deep Descent is a decent game to play from start to finish. A dystopian world where the surface is uninhabitable and the only choice is to live under the sea is not quite believable, but also possible. The characters were quite relatable and pair that with great voice-acting, the dialogues were not boring at all. I can replay it in the near future, but I would not do so religiously.

Score: 7/10

Thursday - September 24, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Ex-Blizzard CEO Forms Dreamhaven

by Silver, 07:13

Tweaktown reports that ex-Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime has started a new label called Dreamhaven with some ex-Blizzard developers.

Today Blizzard co-founder and ex-CEO Mike Morhaime announced Dreamhaven, an ambitious new publishing label that houses two studios: Moonshot Games and Secret Door. Morhaime and his wife Amy are funding the label themselves, and a number of StarCraft, Warcraft, Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm vets have joined their ranks.

Morhaime says the main goal with Dreamhaven is to create a positive workplace that fosters creativity and frees developers from crushing crunch and financial pressures. You know, the exact opposite of what mainstream AAA game dev studios like Blizzard face under billion-dollar publisher rule. Dreamhaven is a haven and a beacon of hope in one, a place where devs can come and make their passions come to life without worry of over-monetization and constant obsession on metrics, service updates, and the other rigors of current Blizzard development.

[...]

Sunday - September 20, 2020

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum - Teaser Trailer

by Silver, 23:07

Gamingbolt reported on a teaser trailer for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum which shows off some parkour.

It’s not often that we get Lord of the Rings games, that too centered on the manipulative Gollum. But Daedalic Entertainment’s The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is looking to explore that perspective, mixing in stealth with some vertical parkour. A new teaser is available now but there also new details courtesy of IGN.

Lead designer Martin Wilkes spoke to the publication and said that the movement is reminiscent of Prince of Persia. “If you want a reference you might think of it as similar to Prince of Persia. It is mostly a non-combat game, but Gollum will be able to stealthily take out enemies. However, this will not be easy and always come with big risks. We want players to carefully weigh these encounters. After all, Gollum’s strengths lie in cunning not combat.”

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - September 07, 2020

Blade Runner Enhanced Edition - Cinematic Update

by Silver, 20:23

Nightdive Studios has released a video of the currently in development Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition.

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Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition is currently in development.

Thursday - September 03, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Everspace 2 Videos

by Silver, 21:37

DSOGaming reports on an upcoming Early Access release for space action game Everspace 2 set for December. Additionally there are some new videos to show off the game.

The Steam Early Access version of Everspace 2 will allow players to access the new star system Union; a bustling trading hub where the interstellar game world really opens up. This new section of the game gives an entirely new look and feel, introducing massive space cloud formations, thunderstorms, shattered asteroids, and more unique environments both in space and on planets through a mix of hand-crafted and procedurally generated locations using UE4’s advanced technology like ambient occlusion, global illumination, and Niagara particles to the fullest.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - August 11, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Atomic Heart Q&A

by Silver, 22:33

The devs for science fiction shooter Atomic Heart have answered some Q&A's for their community.

Part 1

  • How will the Lore be elaborated in the game?Atomic Heart lore is developed as much as possible for a game of this genre. There are many different entities in the game variously intertwined with the complex systems and interconnections between each other. Some of the entities, such as the “Kollective” ecosystem affect how the robots interact with each other in-game and during the game, you can study how they work, try different interactions, and see how the system reacts to such actions. Each robot, each creature, and technology in the game has its own aim and purpose. All studies that were carried out at the Complex are described in great detail - each study had its own “initiator” - a scientist or an engineer with their own background, motivation, and social rating. The player often hears the radio broadcast which immerses him in the events of that time, he reads the correspondence of the perished employees. There you can hear the political debates on Polymer Education and so-called “attracting audio clips” (they avoided the concept of advertising), and these audio messages reveal the essence and purpose of the many technologies of the Facility.At the main Exhibition - VDNKh - you may find lots of information about the lore of the game - it is probably the largest narrative-vise dungeon of the game.
  • About how large is the world planned to be?The world size is not so huge for the modern standard but it is filled with absolutely incredible events. We strive not to spread the thinnest layer of butter over a tremendous piece of bread. We do the opposite - create concentrated pleasure for the player, bring them the experiences that they won’t get in other games. In such context size of the world no longer matters
  • How long will it take to finish the game? (approximately) It will take 20 hours to finish the main story. But in order to properly understand it, most likely you’ll need to do it several times.

[...]

Part 2

Greetings Comrades!

The 2nd part of the Atomic Heart Q&A is here for you all. This set will contain 19 more questions. We hope that we were able to answer many more of the questions you have been asking to your liking!

Thank you to everyone who participated in asking questions on Discord!

  • Can you play the game as a shoot and run game? Do you need to conserve ammo like Prey 2017 or will there be a lot of ammo like BioShock?
    Atomic Heart in some sense, is a “run n' gun” game. But you must add “if” and “then”: “if you shoot then run. Everything is set up in a way that it’s not advised to make noise as the Kollectiv network has threat mechanics. The network will harshly react to perpetrators and a loud gunshot is a serious reason to react - by sending a new party of robots to your location. Nevertheless, you will have to shoot as sometimes it's a matter of survival. As for the consequences - you’ll handle that later.

  • Is the game gonna be an immersive sim?
    We are not striving to match the genre to the letter and canonically follow it. However, we can say for sure that the game is perceived as a mixture of a hurricane melee combat, shooter, and immersive sim. At least everyone who has played games of this genre and tried Atomic Heart says exactly this :)

  • Will we have companions in the game?
    There is one companion in the game. But he just keeps talking and talking. No one will help you finish the game, don’t get your hopes up. The artificial intelligence in the game, even if it pretends to be a companion, will still try to kill you in the end.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - August 10, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Littlewood Review

by Hiddenx, 16:24

TimeToGrind checked out the City Builder Littlewood:

I Can't Stop Playing Littlewood | Littlewood Review

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Littlewood is a mix between Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley that brings in a ton of RPG elements into the genre to make a super unique game that I can't stop playing.

Sunday - August 02, 2020

A Total War Saga: Troy - New Trailer

by Silver, 23:54

Twinfinite report on a new trailer for A Total War Saga: Troy.

Today Creative Assembly released a new trailer of the upcoming Total War game A Total War Saga: Troy.

The video focuses on the game’s economy based on five resources, food, wood, stone, bronze, and gold. 

We also get to take a look at settlements, trade, on top of the purpose for each resource.

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

 

Tuesday - July 14, 2020

Death Stranding - Review @ Techraptor

by Hiddenx, 18:15

Techraptor checked out the genre-mix Death Stranding:

A Heartfelt Message You Must Hear

Death Stranding was built with the intention of defying what we understand video games to be. Most action games are built on the premise of using a "stick" to beat people away. Creator Hideo Kojima has set aside the stick and handed players a rope in the hopes that they choose to tie together, rather than to break apart. His dedication to this theme is the foundation of every piece of Death Stranding, from the gameplay to the story to the social features. Players will learn the power of the rope over the stick. This game is about building connections with real people, fighting to help each other, and suffering to reduce the suffering of others. And yes, there will be a lot of walking.

These Boots Were Made for Walkin'

Many players coming into Death Stranding may think it's a literal walking simulator; this is absolutely not the case. I would loosely describe it as a third-person action-adventure game with stealth and horror elements. Kojima takes many of the mechanics and conceits we subconsciously consider to just be a "video game thing" and either tosses them aside or totally inverts them. The broad gameplay loop includes receiving an order from a terminal, deciding how to attach your packages to maintain balance, and setting out across the hell-stricken landscape to deliver. Your orders range from food and water to medicine and electronics, all of it necessary to sustain life. This sequence becomes addictive and traversing the rough terrain becomes fun in its own right.

The most basic obstacle in Death Stranding is indeed the walking. Players must carefully choose their routes to weave around small rocks and hills that are, at the beginning, a death sentence.  Balancing Sam's body while he crosses this difficult terrain is an ever-present challenge. Wraith-infested areas and camps of MULEs (raiders) dot the landscape, adding to the already daunting number of things to keep in mind while delivering a package. You can stealth around the MULEs, but as I'm not fond of stealth games I chose to use non-lethal weapons to attack and round them up. The Bola Gun is a rope cannon, and firing it at MULEs ties them up in a satisfying knot and allows you to explore the region freely. Alternatively, you can attack and kill them with a wide variety of assault weapons and explosives. In the world of Death Stranding, bodies left out in the world cause a "voidout" and a game over unless they are brought to an incinerator. Besides it being a hassle, I found the idea of killing anyone to be directly in conflict with its central theme. You can also fistfight MULEs and knock them unconscious if you don't have any weapons handy.

[...]

Score: 10/10

Sunday - July 12, 2020

Beyond a Steel Sky - Review @ Screenrant

by Hiddenx, 19:28

Screenrant checked out the upcoming sequel to Beyond a Steel Sky:

Beyond a Steel Sky Review: Back to Union City

Beyond a Steel Sky is a serviceable sequel and evolution to the cult original, but bares the scars of its QA testing with various crashes and bugs.

Beyond a Steel Sky initially launched for the Apple Arcade, but has been recently ported onto the PC. Beyond a Steel Sky sees players venture back into the cyberpunk utopia known as Union City. The decrepit locals, goofy characters, and fully three-dimensional world sees this niche franchise both evolve and iterate on itself. While a lot of Beyond a Steel Sky's predecessor's quirks remain, the jump into three-dimensional gameplay and exploration was surprisingly smooth. Traversing the world is simple, and the puzzles that litter the atmosphere are placed in such a manner as to naturally lead the player to the next set of obstacles.

Some may be familiar of the origins of the Steel Sky series. Its humble roots began in a 1994 point-and-click adventure title Beneath a Steel Sky, which offers a comic-book adventure that allows players to explore cyberpunk locals. The sequel transitions the genre but not the setting, retaining the comic book aesthetic but evolving the narrative. Cyberpunk is very popular at the moment, and Beyond a Steel Sky is situated to capitalize on that popularity with a release on PC. 

[...]

Monday - June 29, 2020

HUMANKIND - Delayed to 2021

by Silver, 23:16

Twinfinite reports that HUMANKIND has been delayed until 2021 and will be starting a program called opendev.

OpenDev is a new community-driven approach, that allows you, the players, to join the dev team and share your feedback and impressions of the early game versions. Starting July, selected players will access 3 scenarios, each focusing on specific HUMANKIND™ features (exploration, battles, cities…), and will be invited to give their feedback the game designers.

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Thanks Farflame!

Friday - June 26, 2020

Beyond a Steel Sky - Apple Arcade Launch Trailer

by Silver, 12:32

Beyond a Steel Sky is available on Apple Arcade and will be available on Steam in July.

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OUT IN A FEW HOURS ON APPLE ARCADE: https://apple.co/-beyondasteelsky

Beyond A Steel Sky is a dramatic, humorous, cyberpunk thriller in which engaging puzzles drive a fast-paced and dynamic narrative.

From Charles Cecil, creator of the Broken Sword series, with art direction by Dave Gibbons, legendary comic book artist behind ‘Watchmen’, comes 'Beyond a Steel Sky’, the long awaited sequel to the cult classic ‘Beneath a Steel Sky’.

You are Robert Foster. A child has been abducted in a brutal attack. You have vowed to bring him home. But the trail has led you to Union City. Fortified and impenetrable, it is a utopia in which people live happily under the surveillance and control of a benign AI. But all is far from what it seems...

PLATFORMS: Windows | Linux | Mac & iOS via Apple Arcade

Sunday - June 21, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Outer Wilds Review

by Hiddenx, 19:08

Jack Crawford checked out the open-world mystery game Outer Wilds - the game is available on Steam now:

Outer Wilds Review

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Tuesday - June 09, 2020

Beyond a Steel Sky - Story Trailer

by Silver, 06:29

IGN has a story trailer for Beyond a Steel Sky which is being developed by Revolution Software.

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Check out the story trailer for Beyond a Steel Sky, the long-awaited sequel to the 1994 adventure classic, Beneath a Steel Sky.

Wednesday - May 27, 2020

Desperados 3 - Demo Available on GOG

by Silver, 22:53

A demo for Desperados 3 is now available on GOG.

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Play the free Desperados III Demo now and visit Wild West Colorado and Mexico!
In good old Mimimi Games tradition, we proudly offer this demonstration of confidence to you.
You can play two missions from the beginning of the game: First, you learn the ropes as young Cooper on a bounty hunting mission with his father.
Then, you’ll unleash grown up Cooper’s full skillset on a large force of bandits and join forces with legendary Doc McCoy to stop a full blown train robbery.
We even offer a short glimpse on the third mission, where giant trapper Hector joins the group in a Western town full of Thugs.

Expected Playtime is approximately 90 – 120 minutes (Although the second Mission might be tempting for a speedrun, show us your mission end screen!)

Accept our humble invitation to stealthily pile up bad guys behind bushes and get a taste of the story-driven, hardcore tactical stealth gameplay of Desperados III. 

Thanks porcozaur!

Tuesday - May 12, 2020

Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Gameplay Trailer & First Impressions

by Silver, 19:53

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was announced recently and a gameplay trailer was released.  Additionally, the entire Assassin's franchise is currently on sale.

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Get a first look at gameplay for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Footage is representative of Xbox Series X gameplay!

Gameinformer list 25 things they learned about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

1. Eivor is pronounced “Ä€-vōr.”

2. You can choose whether your Eivor is male or female.

3. Customization options let you change Eivor’s hair, clothing, war paint, and more.

4. The game takes place in Norway and England.

5. England has three major cities to visit: London, Winchester, and Jórvík.

6. You can dual-wield almost any combination of weapons.

7. Every piece of gear is unique.

8. Gear can be upgraded and customized, and you can use the same equipment from beginning to end if you want to.

9. You earn new abilities through a system mechanically similar to a skill tree.

10. What you can accomplish is more about gear and skills, not character levels.

[...]

Xbox.com describe their first experience with the game.

As the scene shifts to England, we get a picturesque view of the landscape, centered on a mysterious obelisk – actually a Viking altar. An armored warrior hoists a banner with a rampant red dragon, time passes rapidly over a cairn-covered hillside, and we glimpse contrasted Christian and Viking altars before being greeted with the imposing sight of Stonehenge.

With the scene set, we see the warriors of Aelfred, king of Wessex, assembled amid torchlight before their monarch steps into view. Then it’s time to begin the assault, as Eivor leaps from his longship, rallies his troops with a horn, and launches himself knee-first into a Saxon soldier’s face. Cut to siege machinery being wheeled toward a Saxon fortress, and Eivor launching himself into another enemy, this time with a flying tackle and a finishing blow.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - May 10, 2020

Ghostrunner - Demo now Available

by Silver, 01:33

DSOGaming reports that first-person cyberpunk game Ghostrunner now has a demo available on the Steam page until May 13th.

Publisher All in! Games has announced that a demo for Ghostrunner is now available on Steam. This demo will be available until May 13th. Moreover, the publisher released a new CGI trailer teasing the mysterious plot and showing off the Killing Blink ability.

Previously only available at tradeshows, Ghostrunner’s demo cuts right to the chase. Players assume the role of a cyber-warrior and cut through anyone blocking the way. Players can practice nimbly leaping through the air, using the grappling hook to reach new heights, and surviving lightning-paced one-hit-one-kill style action. Moreover, players will have instant respawns to make each fight feel strategic instead of an exercise in frustration.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - May 06, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Blood Rage: Digital Edition available

by Hiddenx, 18:42

The strategy game Blood Rage: Digital Edition is now available for preorder:

Blood Rage: Digital Edition

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Tuesday - May 05, 2020

The Lord of the Rings Gollum - First Screenshots

by Silver, 02:16

Gamestar.de have posted the first screenshots of The Lord of the Rings Gollum.


[...]

Monday - April 27, 2020

Total War: SHOGUN 2 - Free to Keep until May 1st

by Silver, 22:16

DSOGaming reports that Total War: SHOGUN 2 is free to keep until May 1st on Steam.

SEGA has announced that Total War: SHOGUN 2 is free to own on Steam. From today and until May 1st, PC gamers can visit the game’s Steam store page and acquire their free copy. As said, this is a free to own offer, meaning that you will be able to keep the game yours forever.

[...]

Sunday - April 26, 2020

Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend - New Dev Diaries

by Silver, 21:46

Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend has some more information to share on current progress. Two dev diaries focus on landing and exploring planets.

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Terrain Vehicle Mechanics

(Originally posted by Marvin 27/01/2019 HERE)

The most epic terrain vehicle journey ever. That’s what this is. Basically, I implemented simple controls for moving the terrain vehicle and then worked on the mechanics of how the wheels move. The wheels display suspension and steering and acceleration. The body of the terrain vehicle adjusts accordingly to the angles between the center of the T.V. and the front and rear wheels.

I took an approximately 15-minute video of a nice “stroll” through the planet in the first orbit in the Arth star system. I start out at the higher elevations where there are mountains and snow and ice. Then I meander down towards the valley where there are canyons. Then I head towards the beach where there’s beautiful water glistening with wind-blown waves. I then drive around the lake and head up into some more mountains. I then shed a tear because it was all so beautiful.

The video does show one unexpected oddity – the T.V. itself drives on water at the correct height, but the rendered terrain drops below the T.V. according to the sea bed height. Oops. I know what went wrong, but I thought it was kind of funny to see the T.V. shadow “run away” from as you drive over water.

Microwave up some popcorn and enjoy this video!

P.S. Ignore the UI – none of the UI for the planetary disembarkment has been done, it’s just displaying the normal in-space UI. Also, the “popping” that you can see in the distance sometimes is something that will be fixed.

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - April 21, 2020

Desperados 3 - Releases June 16th

by Silver, 20:10

DSOGaming reports that Desperados 3 will release June 16th and have listed the official system requirements.

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As said, THQ Nordic has also revealed the game’s PC requirements. PC gamers will at least need a 3.0 GHz Dual Core CPU (Intel i3-530 / AMD Athlon II X3 460). Additionally, you’ll need 8GB of RAM and an Nvidia GTX 560 or a Radeon HD 5850. The game will also use DX11 and will require 20GB of free hard-disk space.

MINIMUM:

    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS: Windows 7 64-bit or higher
    • Processor: 3.0 GHz Dual Core (Intel i3-530 / AMD Athlon II X3 460)
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 560 / Radeon HD 5850, 2GB
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 20 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:

    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: o Processor: 3.0 GHz Quad Core (Intel i5-750 / AMD Athlon X4 740)
    • Memory: 12 GB RAM
    • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 760, AMD Radeon HD 7870, 3GB
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 20 GB available space
    • Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Sound Card with Latest Drivers
    • Additional Notes: It is recommended to install the game on an SSD to improve loading times

Thursday - April 16, 2020

Beyond a Steel Sky - First Impressions

by Silver, 00:45

GameWatcher spent some time playing Beyond a Steel Sky and offered some brief impressions.

...

Despite its modern look, Beyond a Steel Sky doesn't forget its point-and-click adventure roots, featuring a mixture of dialogue and puzzles. We recently got a chance of playing through the game's first 30 minutes and were pleasantly surprised by what the brief glimpse at the title had to offer. Check out the video preview below for our impressions.

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Wednesday - April 08, 2020

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time - Being Remade?

by Silver, 20:36

Gaming Route reports on an apparently leaked screenshot showing Prince of Persia: Sands of Time which suggests the game is being remade.

Prince of Persia Sands of Time Remake was previously rumoured to be in development, but now an image has been leaked online, It will most likely get revealed at the Ubisoft Digital Event.

[...]

Tuesday - April 07, 2020

Saints Row: The Third - Being Remastered

by Silver, 12:12

Saints Row: The Third is being remastered and will come out with the new console generation.

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We are excited to announce that Saints Row: The Third Remastered will come to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on 22 May 2020. A much-requested addition to the Saints Row lineup, we can't wait to bring that special brand of Saints mayhem to your current generation consoles.

Expertly handled by Spearsoft, the remaster has transformed Steelport's environments, character models and visual effects, along with injecting enhanced graphics and incorporating a new lighting engine to really make the streets of the beloved city shine.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered will include all DLC, remastered of course, that came with the original release of the game 9 years ago, so players will get the full, enhanced, package.

Steelport is your city, these are your rules
- take the Saints further than ever before.

Pre-order now at saintsrow.com ---

Key Features:

The Full Package, Remastered – With enhanced graphics, improved lighting, reworked environments, and visual effects, Steelport and The Third Street Saints have never looked so good.
City of Sin – Disrupt and dismantle the Syndicate stranglehold on weapons, cybercrime, and criminal rackets. Discover the secrets of Steelport, where there is action on every street corner, for better or, more likely, worse.
Weapons of Crass Destruction – It’s one thing to defeat your enemies. It’s another to humiliate them. Hover jets, human cannonball cars and outrageous melee weapons are all part of the fun.
Crazy Character Customisation – Create the most outlandish characters ever seen, from washed-up celebrities to maskless ninja pirates. Inside every sinner, there is a Saint. Who will you become?
Over The Top Co-op – Fly solo or play online with a homie. Give freefall skydiving a try, landing in your partner’s flaming pickup as you make a desperate run toward a heavily armed Syndicate base. Steelport is always more fun with a friend.
All DLC included – All three expansion mission packs and more than 30 pieces of DLC from the original version.
Dominatrix and How The Saints Save Christmas

Saturday - April 04, 2020

Non-RPG General News - RPG Codex's Top Non-RPG PC Games

by Hiddenx, 21:36

The RPG Codex voted for the best Non-RPGs:

RPG Codex's Top Non-RPG PC Games RESULTS!

Who's ready for some sweet nostalgia?

The results for our RPG Codex's Top Non-RPG PC games voting are out!

We had 203 codexers voting on 1,092 different games! It's a small number of people for such large number of entries, so I kept only the Top 200 visible on the result sheet visible, as bellow that games have 10 points or less, so 2 votes could already rank it.

Getting started, here's the RPG Codex's Top 50 Non-RPG PC games:

  1. Heroes of Might & Magic III
  2. Thief: The Dark Project
  3. Thief II: The Metal Age
  4. StarCraft
  5. X-COM: UFO Defense (aka UFO: Enemy Unknown)
  6. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
  7. Doom
  8. Half-Life
  9. Quake
  10. Age of Empires II
  11. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
  12. Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares
  13. Crusader Kings II
  14. Warcraft III
  15. Master of Magic
  16. Civilization IV 
  17. Heroes of Might & Magic II
  18. Max Payne
  19. Silent Hill 2
  20. Portal
  21. Sid Meier's Pirates!
  22. Civilization II
  23. Half-Life 2
  24. Unreal Tournament
  25. Blood
  26. Duke Nukem 3D
  27. Star Wars: TIE Fighter
  28. Freespace 2
  29. Civilization
  30. Dungeon Keeper
  31. Doom II: Hell on Earth
  32. System Shock
  33. Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II
  34. The Secret of Monkey Island
  35. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  36. Dwarf Fortress
  37. Dishonored
  38. The Curse of Monkey Island
  39. Rome: Total War
  40. Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
  41. Portal 2
  42. Europa Universalis IV
  43. Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast
  44. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
  45. Hollow Knight
  46. Counter-Strike
  47. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
  48. Tetris
  49. Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
  50. Grim Fandango

[...]

Thursday - April 02, 2020

Non-RPG General News - Mech Mechanic Simulator Announced

by Silver, 06:30

TechRaptor reports on the newly announced Mech Mechanic Simulator.

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n 2121, the game takes place on the artificial island of Katwir, which is home to three of the world's largest and most innovative companies. Now that mechs are becoming a reality, the world is quickly becoming ruled by them. Cars are long forgotten, and the only thing that matters is mechs and how you can make money off of them. Good thing you are a mech mechanic, amirite?

As a mech mechanic, the player will be competing with the largest corporations. While doing so, they will be creating a company that will focus on deconstructing, repairing, and improving giant robots. 

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Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - March 19, 2020

The Signifier - Tech-Noir Mystery Game

by Silver, 22:42

Tech-noir mystery game The Signifier has been announced.

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The Signifier is a first-person tech-noir mystery adventure that blends investigation, experimental psychology, and artificial intelligence.

Players step into the role of Frederick Russell, an expert in AI and psychology, and the main researcher behind an experimental deep brain scanner called the Dreamwalker. Its controversial technology allows the exploration of the recorded senses and unconscious realms of the mind. He finds himself thrust into a spiral of intrigue when asked to use his creation after the vice president of the world’s biggest tech company turns up dead in her apartment.

Explore the real and surreal worlds, become immersed in fringe psychology, solve puzzles, and find the truth.

Features:

  • Three coexisting dimensions to explore: reality, and the objective memories and subjective dreams in the mindscape
  • Move between realms to solve puzzles, unlock new dialog branches, and unravel the mystery
  • Learn psychological concepts to use powers and tools for navigating the strange and unpredictable unconsciousness
  • Every challenge is part of the mystery that creates unique moments with no filler
  • A multi-layer narrative that spirals into a complex web of real-world intrigue as surreal suspense
  • Get immersed in thought provoking tension, free from jump scares
  • Question the implications of AI, intrusion to the consciousness, privacy, and whether we see the world as it is or a subjective creation of our minds

Wednesday - March 11, 2020

Beyond a Steel Sky - Interview @Gaming Bolt

by Silver, 19:43

Gaming Bolt interviews Revolution co-founder Charles Cecil about Beyond a Steel Sky.

There’s a drastic change in how players are going to interact with Beyond a Steel Sky as compared to what Beneath the Steel Sky was. What led to that change? Was it simply because of the passage of time, or are you looking to try some other, newer things in terms of what sort of a gameplay experience this is going to be?

When the original Beneath a Steel Sky was released, point and click adventures represented the cutting edge of graphics technology. The vision for Beyond a Steel Sky is to deliver the narrative and puzzle structure of an adventure, but in a much more dynamic way utilizing the opportunities of current technology.

We have once again partnered with Dave Gibbons, and are using advanced toon-rendering technology to create an interactive comic book style. Not only does this offer a unique look, but it also works well for an adventure game – the flat-coloured backgrounds make it easier for the player to scan and recognize objects that will be relevant to solve the section’s puzzles. Rendering the game in 3D also, of course, offers great opportunities for dramatic cinematography.

The core gameplay developments actually take inspiration from Revolution’s original games, in particular Lure of the Temptress – that of creating a ‘virtual theatre’ environment in which AI-driven characters inhabit the world, following their own motivations which the player can then subvert – either directly through their actions in the world, or indirectly through hacking the AI systems to create unexpected outcomes for those characters. This makes the world feel very dynamic, with the solutions to puzzles often emerging from logical character behaviours.

These elements do mean that the game will offer an entirely new experience, albeit one that takes place in a familiar setting for fans of the original.

[...]

Monday - March 09, 2020

Crusader Kings 3 - More on RPG Lifestyle System

by Silver, 20:19

PC Gamer reports on the lifestyle system for Crusader Kings 3.

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Lifestyles are how you decide what parts of the game you want to focus on. If you want to go deep into the religious system, become incredibly pious and maybe even start your own faith, the Learning lifestyle might be a good idea. If you just want to paint the map one colour and conquer the medieval world, however, the Martial lifestyle will probably be more your speed. 

Each lifestyle comes with a trio of perk trees and focuses that let you define your character further. The learning lifestyle lets you pick the Theologian focus, for instance, giving you an immediate bonus to your learning skill and piety, at which point you can start working your way down the accompanying perk tree. 

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Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - February 26, 2020

Beautiful Desolation - Released

by Silver, 19:55

Adventure game Beautiful Desolation has been released on GOG and Steam.

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BEAUTIFUL
DESOLATION is a 2D isometric adventure game set in the distant future. Explore a post-apocalyptic landscape, solve puzzles, meet new friends and make powerful enemies, mediate conflicts and fight for your life as you unravel the secrets of the world around you.

FEATURING

  • P&C Puzzles and classic adventure gameplay.
  • An 80's retro technology look and feel.
  • A story-driven adventure set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future.
  • A unique tribal punk aesthetic and 2D isometric rendered environments.
  • African landscapes captured with photogrammetry and scale model elements.
  • Bizarre creatures, animals and vibrant characters await.

Mark, a man out of time, searches for his lost brother Don, in a far-flung futuristic era ruled by highly advanced technologies which are both revered and reviled.

Your surroundings hold echoes of a desolate past, and glimpses of a dark future that has yet to be written by your actions. Be prepared to face many tough choices that will shape this land long after you complete your journey.

The score is masterfully crafted by composer Mick Gordon, known for his work on Wolfenstein®, DOOM®, Prey®, Killer Instinct® and Need for Speed®.

The inhabitants of this world will help and hinder you, as you make new discoveries and navigate the spectacular African-inspired landscape. Negotiate your passage with local leaders, healers and warriors, or find yourself embroiled in a battle against nanite swarms, enormous scorpions and rocket-equipped robots.

From thriving villages to crumbling cities, petrified forests and bone-dry ocean beds, this strange new world holds a multitude of terrains to uncover, beautifully rendered in 2D isometric art.

FIND YOUR BROTHER AND GET HOME...

Tuesday - February 25, 2020

Master of Magic - New Update and DLC @ GOG

by Hiddenx, 22:40

Henriquejr spotted an Master of Magic update and a DLC on GOG:

Master of Magic gets an update and new DLC from Slitherine

The classic strategy game receives a new version with fresh features and visuals. Master of Magic is now available on GOG.COM in a completely updated version.
Also, you can now acquire a Master of Magic: Caster of Magic DLC that further expands the game’s universe and the community options.

Monday - February 24, 2020

HUMANKIND - Feature Focus: Reimagining Terrain

by Silver, 19:58

Turn-based strategy game HUMANKIND has a new video talking about reimagining terrain.

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Thanks Farflame!

 

Thursday - February 13, 2020

Innsmouth Case - Lovecraftian horror/adventure game coming to PC

by Silver, 06:33

TheGG reports that Lovecraftian horror/adventure game Innsmouth Case will be coming to PC.

WIESBADEN, GERMANY (JANUARY 30, 2020) — Publisher Assemble Entertainment, best known for point-and-click adventure Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry, and developer Robot Pumpkin Games, today announced “The Innsmouth Case“, a choose-your-own-adventure game set in the mysterious and foreboding Lovecraft universe. Scheduled for a Spring 2020 release on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, The Innsmouth Case takes players on a truly harrowing and fantastical journey where nothing is what it seems.

To solve the enigmatic disappearance of little Tabitha Marsh, the most clever detective is not only wanted but desperately needed. Unfortunately, that particular detective is busy, so the case goes to you! Pack your belongings and prepare to head to the remote fishing village of Innsmouth, as The Innsmouth Case awaits!

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Beautiful Desolation - Releasing Soon

by Silver, 06:27

A recent update for post-apocalyptic adventure game Beautiful Desolation announces that it will be releasing soon.

Three years ago we came to you with an idea for an adventure game. You saw the potential in BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION and joined us in making it a reality. 

Enjoy the 2020 trailer below! 

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GOG has joined us as a DRM-free partner (Backers, don't forget to fill in your backer survey to make your choice).

You can wish-list on GOG here; 

https://www.gog.com/game/beautiful_desolation

Our Steam page is here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/912570/BEAUTIFUL_DESOLATION/

Soon...

These extra two months grace from our planned release date has resulted in a huge amount of additional content and polish. We know it will be well worth it! Thank you for your patience. 

We are aiming for an end of February launch (isn't that exciting?!), although this entirely depends on any show-stopping bugs that may pop up. Rest assured though, we've already had our internal testers complete the game - and are personally testing it to the limits in studio.

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - February 08, 2020

HUMANKIND - Dev Diary: Origins

by Silver, 06:53

A new dev diary for historical strategy game HUMANKIND looks at origins.

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Leave your mark on the world in HUMANKIND™, a new historical strategy game from Amplitude Studios & SEGA. As you progress through the brand new historical 4X strategy game, you'll combine cultures through six different eras to build a civilization as unique as you are. The journey matters more than the destination, and no great deed will go unnoticed. How far will you push Humankind?

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - February 03, 2020

Journey to the Savage Planet - Review

by Silver, 05:22

OnlySP reviewed Journey to the Savage Planet which reminds of The Outer Worlds.

The premise of Journey to the Savage Planet is simple. You are a new recruit for Kindred Aerospace, an institution that proudly holds the title as the 4th Best interstellar exploration company. The task: survey your designated planet, AR-Y 26, and deem whether it can be humanity’s new home. The catch: you have no equipment and no plan. What you do have, however, is a mouthy robot assistant, a 3D printer, a mean backhand, as well as your hopes and dreams. 

As suggested by the main objective, the player’s focus is to explore the planet, collecting resources and data to survive and unravel the mystery surrounding the previous inhabitants of AR-Y 26. Character progression feels natural, with each upgrade adding a new level of freedom and excitement to the world. Journey to the Savage Planet is filled with a satisfying amount of hidden secrets that keeps player interest high throughout the campaign. 

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Crusader Kings 3 - Introduces New Lifestyles

by Silver, 05:12

RockPaperShotgun took a look at the latest video diary for Crusader Kings 3.

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“In Crusader Kings 3, it seems, there’s never a good reason not to do exactly what you feel like doing – and that’s what being a king is all about,” wrote Nate in a piece all about how important character is for the game. The developers would seem to agree, as a large part of this Lifestyles update is spent talking about how they influence your character’s story.

“Much like in CK2, when you pick a Lifestyle Focus you will begin getting events related to that Focus. Unlike in CK2, however, these events are not mere stepping stones toward acquiring a Lifestyle Trait, as that progression is handled by the perk system,” they say.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - February 01, 2020

Orange Cast - Sci-Fi Space Adventure

by Silver, 20:27

Orange Cast is described as a game where you explore planets, protect colonies and meet the unknown. The game is inspired by James S.A. Corey’s The Expanse series.

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As humanity’s elite space trooper, you take on a heroic, action-packed adventure throughout the galaxy. Explore planets, protect colonies and be the first to meet the unknown!

Explore the Galaxy

Visit planets, discover new dimensions, survive hazard environments.

Protect Humanity

Fast-paced and rewarding combat. Face cunning enemies, defeat menacing bosses and arm yourself with top-notch weaponry of your choice.

Enjoy the view

The beauty of Space awaits you. The beautiful and deep soundtrack, spectacular views of Cosmos, the mystery of alien planets and the romance of space travels.

True Sci-Fi experience

Dialogs, cinematics and the choice-driven story inspired by James S.A. Corey’s The Expanse series.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - December 25, 2019

Non-RPG General News - The C64 Maxi Review

by Hiddenx, 19:14

The 8-Bit Guy checked out the C64 Maxi:

TheC64 Maxi - Full sized C64 review and disassembly

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Sunday - December 22, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Best Video Game Stories & Writing 2019

by Silver, 22:08

Twinfinite declare their best video game stories & writing for 2019.

Best Video Game Stories & Writing of 2019

Winner: A Plague Tale: Innocence

Senior Editor Alex Gibson: A Plague Tale: Innocence surely has to go down as one of 2019’s big surprises. Little known before its release, developer Asobo Studio has since shot into the spotlight after earning critical acclaim on the debut of this fantastic new IP, which centers around a fascinating tale of two siblings struggling to both survive and make sense of a dangerous medieval world.

[...]

A Plague Tale: Innocence marries its captivating setting a mysterious tale that keeps you guessing throughout. This intrigue keeps you pushing forward, ever enthused to see what’s around the corner. I think the game serves as a reminder that storytelling in video games is often at its best incorporated into more linear level design. Asobo never wants you to stray too far, less you lose the pacing and intensity of the story.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - December 18, 2019

Frostpunk - The Last Autumn DLC Announcement

by Silver, 21:43

Some new DLC for survival strategy game Frostpunk called The Last Autumn will release January 2020.

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We are proud to fully unveil the biggest expansion to the Frostpunk world! Coming in January 2020, The Last Autumn serves as a story prequel to the plot of the popular base game and will change the perception of the frostbitten landscape fans are so familiar with.

Frostpunk: The Last Autumn

Learn about the tragic turn of events that lead to the grim world of Frostpunk in the prequel expansion, The Last Autumn. Vastly expanding upon the Frostpunk universe by introducing a brand new scenario, the expansion content also introduces game-changing new mechanics, unique architecture, and broaden's the game's deep lore and narrative. 

About the expansion:

The Last Autumn is a turning point in the Frostpunk universe. Revealing the restless events of Site 113 and its struggle to construct the generator before the freezing veil shrouds the Earth, this prequel expansion broadens the Frostpunk universe by introducing a new environment, new Books of Laws and unique technologies, and presents a range of new buildings — all of which let you shape society and the city in unconventional ways. Leading a group of engineers working on one of the world’s greatest technological marvels - a Generator - will require adapting your strategy to extraordinary situations. As the leader of Site 113, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. For Queen and Country!

The Last Autumn - features:

- Experience a prequel story taking place before the freezing cataclysm

- Master a totally new Book of Laws allowing you to shape your society in previously unknown ways

- Construct new buildings

- Discover uncommon, steam-powered technologies

- Apply more advanced strategies to survive

- Delve into a beautiful new environment not yet covered by snow

Monday - December 16, 2019

Gears Tactics - Announced for April 28th 2020

by Silver, 19:26

A new trailer for Gears Tactics and a release date of April 28th 2020.

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Gears Tactics is the fast-paced, turn-based strategy game from one of the most-acclaimed video game franchises – Gears of War. Outnumbered and fighting for survival, recruit and command your squad to hunt down an evil mastermind who makes monsters. Rise up and fight.

Music: ""The Seeker"" by The Who

Coming April 28, 2020 to Steam, Windows 10 & Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta)

Non-RPG General News - Coteries of New York Review @ IndianNoob

by Hiddenx, 19:17

IndianNoob checked out the Visual Novel Vampire: The Masquerade- Coteries of New York:

Vampire: The Masquerade- Coteries of New York Review

2018 has been a productive year for franchise revivals. There have been lots of interesting and unexpected announcements for fans of RPGs, FPS, RTS and everything in between. One such fortunate IP is the White Wolf’s World of Darkness. From the almost-unbelievable revival of Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines to the announcement of a brand-new Werewolf game, 2018 has seen its fair share of exciting developments. One such World of Darkness surprise that came out of nowhere is Draw Distance‘s Vampire: The Masquerade- Coteries of New York, a new IP set in the iconic World. Marketed as a rich single-player narrative experience, Coteries of New York was released on Steam on December 11, 2019. My job, as a longtime Masquerade fan as someone who occasionally enjoys visual novels, is to dissect Corteries of New York and boil it down the answer to one question: is it worth buying?

[...]

VERDICT

When you boil it down, Coteries of New York is a decent visual novel and still far better than the hundreds of anime VNs being dumped on Steam per day, but does little to appeal to veteran Vampire fans looking for a reactive narrative experience. If you’re willing to spend the asking price, it may partially quench you’re thirst while waiting impatiently for Bloodlines 2. As for fans of Visual Novels, it’s a discount purchase.

Score: 6.6/10

 

Saturday - December 14, 2019

Non-RPG General News - 2019 Top 100 Mods

by Hiddenx, 16:27

You can vote for the top 100 mods of the year 2019 on ModDB - thanks rjshae!

Wednesday - December 11, 2019

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries - PC Gamer Review

by Silver, 05:35

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries has been reviewed positively by PC Gamer.

Your mech strides onto the battlefield—sometimes to a calm forest morning, others into raging streams of laser fire. The missions are chosen from only a few types, but they're always different because each battlefield is procedurally generated and then sprinkled with objectives. Navigating cramped canyons on a Mars-like world is a very different feel from being utterly exposed on a rolling plain of wheat. There are also bespoke campaign missions of varying quality, from clumsy and linear to interestingly open-ended.

The mechs are a pleasure to handle, and the core experience of combat really takes advantage of the map as a centerpiece. Mechs stomp around, faster or slower as you throttle up and down—throttle and orientation control are a key part of the simulator-style play here. Twisting your torso to strafe targets and show strong armor to the enemy is key, as is knowing the layout of weapons on your mech—lasers situated high might shoot over a wall, while those slung on low arms will just explode the cover you were using.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

 

Tuesday - December 10, 2019

Non-RPG General News - 2K Announces New Bioshock Studio

by Silver, 06:06

@Businesswire Cloud Chamber is a new development studio setup by 2K that will develop the next iteration of the Bioshock series.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--2K today announced the founding of Cloud Chamber™, the newest, wholly owned game development studio under the Company’s publishing label. A collective of storytellers eager to push the frontlines of interactive entertainment by making unique, entertaining and thoughtful experiences that engage the world, Cloud Chamber will build its team at two locations: 2K’s San Francisco Bay Area headquarters in Novato, Calif., as well as in Montréal, Québec, which marks the first-ever Canadian office for a 2K studio. In addition, 2K announced that Cloud Chamber has started to work on the next iteration of the globally acclaimed BioShock® franchise, which will be in development for the next several years.

[...]

Thanks you!

Wednesday - November 27, 2019

Everspace 2 - What's New?

by Silver, 09:53

GameGator previewed Everspace 2 and asked what is new about the latest installment.

...

The game already seems to press the right buttons. Even though its predecessor felt quite repetitive, it was enjoyable. In addition to the more extensive story in an open world, the role-playing elements and loot systems, one of the most anticipated features is the modular system for almost infinitely different spaceship variations - that don't look arbitrary and offer various playing styles and extensive customization options. The new features and functions of part 2, thus seem like the next logical step.

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - November 19, 2019

Age of Empires IV - Reveal Trailer

by Silver, 20:16

The reveal trailer for Age of Empires IV.

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The acclaimed RTS franchise returns with Age of Empires 4. Experience the epic, historical battles that shaped the modern world.

Thanks Farflame!

Non-RPG General News - Narcos: Rise of the Cartels Review

by Hiddenx, 19:15

TSA checked out the tactical game Narcos: Rise of the Cartels:

Narcos: Rise of the Cartels Review

To most people, Narcos is the popular Netflix series telling stories of the battle between the drug cartels and the combined law enforcement agencies of Colombia and the USA. It’s a series full of raids, shootouts and subterfuge. Lots of actions.

Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is a little bit different. Developer Kuju have blended the TV action and intrigue together with a turn-based strategies like XCOM and chess in a rather entertaining package.

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Summary
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is a decently executed turn-based strategy title. Sure, sometimes it's a bit too easy, but when the enemy moves efficiently it become a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Just be warned that you'll grow attached to your squadmates, and hate if you lose them. This is for you, Ruiz! 

Score: 7/10

Friday - November 15, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Red Dead Redemption 2 Review

by Hiddenx, 22:57

PC Gamer checked out the open world game Red Dead Redemption 2:

Red Dead Redemption 2 review

The old west feels brand new again. 

"Oh Jesus Christ, what have you done?" ThomasChen978 wants to know why a dozen bodies and a couple horse corpses are piled onto the train tracks bordering the early industrial town and New Orleans stand-in St. Denis. "You just murdered half the village."

"No," I reply, "That's us. This is us. These are our bodies."

We're on round two of growing the recursive corpse pile. My posse got the idea to jump in front of the train after a few rounds of Lasso Your Friends And Toss Them Into The Sea with a couple friendly strangers. Red Dead Redemption 2, like GTA 5, has its own bowling minigame, we explain to Chen in a roundabout way, his horror inverting into blissful awareness. Die in Red Dead Redemption 2's shared open world and you'll respawn fast enough to carry your own corpse around. 

[...]

Red Dead Redemption 2's stark, slow depiction of America's fading frontier is a monumental work straining against stubborn mission design and stability problems.

Score: 88/100

Thanks henriquejr!

 

Thursday - November 07, 2019

Everspace 2 - Interview and Update

by Silver, 10:26

An interview about Everspace 2 from Gamingbolt and a Kickstarter update about level design.

Given its very premise, it goes without saying that exploration and a sense of discovery are vital elements in the game. With that in mind, how have you been approaching crafting content – whether that’s in terms of locations or alien species or something else – that will encourage players to explore as much as possible?

Exploring, gathering resources, finding blueprints and crafting epic gear will play a much bigger role in Everspace 2. Of course, we already have a basic idea of where we want to go with this. But, since this will be the meat on the bone of the game – while the Everspace-style fast-paced combat and audiovisual experience would be the bone in that context – we really look forward to developing these tightly interwoven core features together with our community. Our pitch is Freelancer meets Diablo! Let’s see where this will lead.

Can you talk about progression mechanics in the game in terms of loot drops and customization mechanics?

As said, we have been heavily inspired by Diablo and similar loot-heavy games, and we are hard at work on a deep loot system that will feature a broad range of equipment to customize your particular playstyle, or for the situation at hand. Random and exotic modifiers will provide endless opportunity in the intergalactic war-torn game world of Everspace 2, as well as provide synergistic ways to mix and match your arsenal for daring combos to defeat even the toughest bosses in the endgame.

[...]

Level Design: The Flow Of Movement

Regarding all things level design, I set myself one major rule for the original EVERSPACE that I tried to follow as much as possible: From the very beginning, it was clear that our ship movement would be very fast, like ridiculously fast. If I had to describe it, I'd use the word “dancing”. This concept is something I wanted to explore even further in EVERSPACE 2.

Levels need to be fun! And the closer the actual game mechanics can be reflected in the level design, the better. EVERSPACE has always been a game close to something like a fast-paced action shooter where players might triple-jump to higher ground, fire back some rockets, dodge an incoming projectile and jump down spinning around while accidentally hitting a barrel in the background, setting the whole place afire.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - October 30, 2019

Warcraft 3 Reforged - Gameplay Videos

by Silver, 20:53

DSOGaming reports on some gameplay videos for Warcraft 3 Reforged.

Warcraft 3 Reforged will have both the original Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its award-winning expansion, The Frozen Throne. Both of them will have better graphics and a suite of contemporary social and matchmaking features via Blizzard Battle.net. Not only that, but it will officially support mods.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - October 28, 2019

Abandon Ship - Released

by Silver, 19:52

Abandon Ship has been released on Steam.

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Abandon Ship is out now! The full release version brings together all six major updates, as well as adding a whole host of exciting new content:

- All the main story
- New freeplay mode with a long-term goal of rebuilding a pirate base
- Final region unlocked
- All original regions reworked. Now over 100 maps and each one has at least one unique island and event to discover!
- New ships
- Female Captain
- Achievements

And lots more!

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - October 23, 2019

Moons of Madness - Released

by Silver, 19:50

Science fiction horror game Moons of Madness has been released on Steam.

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A mysterious signal has been recorded coming from the red planet.

The message confounded Orochi scientists. Their analysts broke it down and determined it was of intelligent origin. Orochi management immediately concluded that the discovery was too sensitive for public knowledge and moved to keep it hidden. In secret, the corporation began construction of Trailblazer Alpha, a state-of-the-art Mars research outpost designed to identify the true nature of the message.

You are Shane Newehart, an engineer stationed at Trailblazer Alpha and your security clearance means you are completely unaware of the existence of the mysterious signal. Your job is simply to keep the lights on until the transport ship Cyrano arrives bringing with it a new team to take over your duties.

Soon you discover strange and unusual setbacks. Crucial systems are malfunctioning, the greenhouse is filled with a strange mist and the rest of your team has yet to return from their EVA mission.

Things are starting to fall apart.

You begin seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. Visions, hallucinations – or is that even what it is? Is this real… or are you slowly descending into madness?

Experience true cosmic horror

With your only hope of rescue hundreds of thousands of miles away, you will be forced to explore the real-world fears of isolation and paranoia, enhanced with supernatural elements and cosmic horror. Terrifying visions and monstrous apparitions will make you question what is real and what is not as the very fabric of reality threatens to tear at the seams. 

Explore the darker side of Mars

Navigate a functioning Mars base in a game that uses non-fiction elements to immerse players in a believable setting. Overcome obstacles using computers, electrical systems, rovers, solar panels and more, then go beyond the outpost and explore the darker side of Mars.

Tuesday - October 22, 2019

Beyond a Steel Sky - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 22:25

A gameplay trailer for Beyond a Steel Sky.

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The long awaited sequel to Beneath A Steel Sky, and the latest adventure from Revolution Software: Beyond A Steel Sky, coming soon to Apple Arcade, PC, and Console.

Monday - October 21, 2019

Red Dead Redemption 2 - PC Trailer

by Silver, 10:12

@Wccftech Red Dead Redemption 2 has a PC trailer.

Red Dead Redemption 2 arrives on PC in a couple short weeks, and Rockstar have finally released a stunning 4K/60fps trailer of the game in action. RDR2 was a very nice-looking game on consoles, but it looks downright amazing running on PC – at times nearly photorealistic (I’m particularly impressed by the fuzziness of that bear’s rear end). But enough jawing from me, check out the trailer for yourself!

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - October 08, 2019

Dominus Galaxia - On Kickstarter and Beta Available

by Silver, 20:25

Dominus Galaxia is a 4X game that is heavily inspired by Master of Orion 1. The beta can be downloaded and played now if you are interested. There are still 18 days left in the Kickstarter.

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Dominus Galaxia is a 4X space strategy game, heavily inspired by Master of Orion 1.

In comparison with other great MoO 1-inspired projects (1oom, Remnants of the Precursors) it’s not a recreation, but an attempt (and a very playable attempt if I may say so) to evolve the mechanics and to add flexibility and variability while staying true to Master of Orion 1's spirit.

You don’t have to take my word for it (though it would be nice if you’ll read what I want to say).

I’m releasing a freeware, non-constrained, non-demo build of the game you can download and play. It’s beta-stage, fully functional and fully representative of where I am this far.

As I continue developing the game, this build will be updated over the course of the campaign. If the campaign is successful (I hope so), this version will be updated until I’m able to send out all beta keys to backers.

I'm excited to show you my game. I want to persuade you that even while it’s really fun now, it will be so much better in the future. And, of course, I want to hear your feedback.

Download the game, play it, see if it's something you want to help me to create.

>>> Download the full beta from itch.io! <<<

John Wick Hex - Review @PCGamesN

by Silver, 20:09

John Wick Hex has been reviewed by PCGamesN who call it animalistic strategy.

John Wick Hex teaches you how. It is, as my dad and Desmond Tutu before him once said, like eating an elephant: a matter of tackling the meal one bite at a time. This is a turn-based tactics game that will appeal if you’re a fan of XCOM, but it’s no place for long-term strategy. There is no overarching plan that will see you from one end of a room full of goons to the other. Instead you have to do as Wick does: react, react, react, until the bodies pile high and the gunfire quiets.

Your tools are the same as those of your enemies: punches, parries, pushes, and whichever loaded gun is closest. Your advantages are a slightly faster trigger finger, a thicker health bar, and the mind of John Wick. You spend the majority of your time occupying the thin mental space where Wick does his work, analysing the scene before him. Mercifully, in Hex, that split-second lasts as long as you need it to.

[...]

Sunday - October 06, 2019

Ghostrunner - Interview @Gamingbolt

by Silver, 11:48

Gamingbolt interviewed developers One More Level about first person cyberpunk action title Ghostrunner.

Can you speak to us about combat? Melee combat can be tricky to pull off in first person games, but Ghostrunner’s combat is looking fast and kinetic.

It’s true that players often find feeling the distance and the range of the blow hard. That’s why we’re using a system known from, for example, slashers where the player is drawn to the enemy. Our one-hit-one-kill mechanic is very satisfying as you can see the result of the hit immediately. The combat in Ghostrunner is quite fast, requires dexterity, but the trial and error method is another part of the game: there’s nothing unusual about dying several times at one point.

Ghostrunner has shown some interesting glimpses of what looks like slick, fast-paced platforming. How much of a focus is that going to be in the game?

We treat fast-paced platforming and the whole movement system as a core mechanic. According to our premise, reaching the enemy in one piece should be a challenge for the player, not just killing them.

Will combat and platforming expand as players earn more abilities?

Yes, we’re taking a character development system into account. It would cover both movement and combat abilities as well as new skills, which we have not disclosed yet.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - October 04, 2019

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Releasing on PC November 5th

by Silver, 21:33

The Verge announces that Red Dead Redemption 2 will release on PC November 5th.

The long-anticipated PC release of Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming very soon. Today, Rockstar announced that its Wild West epic will be launching on PC on November 5th. As expected, the new platform will mean graphical and technical improvements, and Rockstar also says that there will be “new bounty hunting missions, gang hideouts, weapons, and more.” The PC release will also include the multiplayer add-on Red Dead Online.

[...]

Thanks you!

Thursday - October 03, 2019

Sid Meier - Interview @ArsTechnica

by Silver, 02:49

Sid Meier has been interviewed by ArsTechnica about Civilization and how it almost wasn't turn-based.

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Although he comes from that wild time in gaming that gave us Trip Hawkins and the concept of "rock star developers," Sid Meier is not loud and brash. Nor is he looking to make anyone his bitch. These days he's more like your friendly gaming grandpa—as we spoke, he placed his words carefully and deliberately, as if he were positioning game pieces on a hex grid. He became animated as we discussed game mechanics but otherwise answered questions almost laconically, with a slight smile—after all, he's been dealing with the press for decades.

Meier spent a few hours walking us through the birth of Civilization, one of the most famous and lauded franchises in the history of gaming. It's among those rarest of titles that effectively mainstreamed an entire genre—in this case, the "4X game" (which stands for "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate"). Although Civilization wasn't the first strategy game on the market, it was the proverbial 800-pound gorilla—and it did for turn-based strategy games what Doom would do for the FPS genre a few years later.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - September 29, 2019

Homeworld 3 - Funded

by Silver, 20:23

Homeworld 3 has funded on Fig. You can read the latest update here.

Only 48 Hours Remain!


It feels like just yesterday that Homeworld 3 was announced at PAX West and the Fig campaign started. Now, we’re at more than $1,000,000 raised with only 48 hours left in the campaign! Thank you everyone for going on this journey and investing with us.

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In 48 hours, the initial campaign will be over and you'll see a few changes to the Fig campaign page starting next week. We’re still really early in Homeworld 3’s development and understand that some fans may want to see and learn more about the game's development before jumping in. We're confident we're going to deliver a breathtaking Homeworld experience, but we know where these fans are coming from. So, we'd like to keep the campaign open to allow anyone who wants to invest in Homeworld 3 to still have the option to do so as we get further along in development and have more to show.

On the campaign side, we will be making some changes to the pledge tiers. All of the initial tiers from the first 30-days will no longer be available after this weekend. We’ll be adding new tiers for those that want to join us later. These new tiers will not have the bundled Deserts of Kharak and Homeworld Remastered Collection, and the special $10 discount for Homeworld 3 will go away. In addition, the limited-time $1000 tier will no longer be available, otherwise Rob would be spending all his time signing artwork. If you or any of your friends are on the fence about moving up, these remaining 48-hours are the time to take advantage of these tiers and their perks!

If you've already pledged, these changes will not affect you - you will get exactly what you've signed up for when the initial campaign closes on Sunday night. Once the initial campaign ends, you’ll be charged and will keep your spot at the bundle level you pledged into.

For the tiers that do have Deserts of Kharak and Homeworld: Remastered, those Steam keys will be delivered within two weeks of the campaign ending on Sunday. You should receive the key to the same email you used to set up your Fig account!

As a reminder, the survey is still open to backers and will remain open until October 13th!

If you have not yet, fill out the survey to help influence the development of Homeworld 3!

Thank you everyone who has joined us so far in making Homeworld 3 with us! We’re so excited to see what everyone is looking forward to in Homeworld 3!

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - September 24, 2019

Humankind - Interview @Wccftech

by Silver, 07:09

Jeff Spock of Amplitude was interviewed by Wccftech about Humankind.

CW – Essentially, we’re all a hotbed of different inputs.

JS – Exactly! We absolutely are. We’re like this DNA stew of everything that came before. We really wanted to make a game about our history that respected that. So this idea of having 10 cultures in six areas which mathematically is indeed one million potential play through possibilities. I think it’s respectful of Earth history and Earth cultures, more than playing the Americans, being American, they’re always Americans and always going to be Americans.

It’s like “Yeah, but, I’m in the medieval era now in front of the Babylonians who were gone by now”, that sort of thing. We’d like to get away from that kind of anachronism. If there is an anachronism, we like it to be purposefully chosen by the player. So, I chose the Romans in the classical era and I’m doing well enough and I want to gain more fame – which is our victory condition – so I’m going to push and be the Romans in the medieval era. If you’re going to be out of step, it’s voluntary. When you’re the medieval era, you’re going to look around see medieval cultures, not classical or Bronze Age cultures. So we have a nod to historical accuracy as far as the other cultures that appear at a period in the time of the game.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Chernobylite - Gamescom Preview

by Silver, 07:03

Chernobylite gamescom preview from Wccftech.

Developers The Farm 51 (Get Even) have visited Chernobyl themselves to take reference photographs and understand what players should expect from the area. They are aiming to recreate realistic replicas of Chernobyl, to truly immerse players and have them understand the gravity of the catastrophe, and how it would feel to survive in this wasteland.

As such, there are crafting elements. Can’t have a survival game without crafting elements, right? Everything from bonfires, to shelter, and to cures for your radiation poisoning, you’ll have to work hard to put together yourself. You’ll be using a scanner to find resources and items, while also scanning for dangerous and highly radiated areas that can ruin you.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - September 12, 2019

Pine - Now in Limited Beta

by Silver, 21:09

@PC Gamer Pine is a open world adventure where animals have goals and lives.

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As of today it's available in a limited beta via Kartridge, which is webgame portal/moblie publisher Kongregate's storefront. For $20 you get into the beta and also get the full game when it comes out, at which point it will cost $25 and also be available on Steam.

[...]

Thursday - September 05, 2019

Cloudpunk - Upcoming Cyberpunk Game

by Silver, 21:54

Cloudpunk is an upcoming Cyberpunk game set to release in 2019.

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Your name is Rania. This is your first night working for Cloudpunk, the semi-legal delivery company based in the sprawling city of Nivalis. You go everywhere, from the Marrow below to the spires that pierce the grey clouds high above before scraping the edge of the troposphere. No delivery job is too dangerous, and no one is faster than a Cloudpunk driver.



In this story-based exploration game, you will meet a diverse range of characters including androids, AI and unscrupulous humans at every level of society. Everyone has a story, and in the course of one night in Nivalis, everything will change.



Features:

  • Explore an immense vertical cyberpunk city with your hover car and on foot
  • Unravel mysteries in a world of corporate conspiracy, hackers and rogue AI through the eyes of Rania
  • Meet a diverse range of characters and immerse yourself in their everyday lives
  • Your decisions will have a lasting impact on the inhabitants of Nivalis
  • Discover hidden places and items unlocking additional stories

Monday - September 02, 2019

Ghostrunner - Reveal Trailer

by Silver, 07:34

The reveal trailer for action FPP game Ghostrunner.

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Ghostrunner is an action FPP video game developed by One More Level studio and published by All in! Games. High mobility of the main character, one-hit-one-kill, and bullet-time mechanics are the bases of the gameplay, which focuses on fast-paced, high-adrenaline combat. The game is set in a world which is a unique, grim blend of cyberpunk and post-apo genres. Coming to PC, XBOX, PS4. RTX ON: Experience the stunning visuals of the tower-city with ray tracing technology and immerse into the dark futuristic world of Ghostrunner.

Watch the gameplay: https://youtu.be/_Fwmb5kvkOs

Add to wishlist on Steam http://bit.ly/SteamGhostrunner !

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - August 28, 2019

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Anomaly - Version 1.5 Open Beta

by Hiddenx, 20:26

Henriquejr spotted a report about the Stalker: Anomaly version 1.5 on PC Gamer:

Stalker: Anomaly 1.5 is a worthy fan-made successor to the series

Get in here, Stalker.

It would be selling Stalker: Anomaly short to call it a mod. Based on Stalker: Call Of Pripyat, GSC Game World's haunted Ukranian survival sandbox, Anomaly feels more like a sequel than a user-made collaboration. Built on the now open-source and community-maintained X-Ray Engine, it features the combined and overhauled environments of all three official games in the series (plus some new ones) making for a sprawling, unpredictable sandbox full of mutants, mercenaries and murder.
[...]

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Monday - August 26, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Control Release Date: August 27

by Hiddenx, 18:14

The Sci-fi Action Adventure Control will be released on August 27:

Control - Launch Trailer - Out on the 27th of August (ESRB)

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Monday - August 19, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Commandos 2 and Praetorians HD Remasters

by Hiddenx, 17:56

Henriquejr spotted the trailers for the HD remasters Commandos 2 and Praetorians:

For Strategists and Tacticians:

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Monday - August 12, 2019

Gods of Havoc: Into the Void - Released

by Silver, 08:37

Gods of Havoc: Into the Void is a turn-based strategy god-game that recently released on Steam.

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Gods of Havoc heralds a return to the classic God-Game.

Gods of Havoc is a three-part series offering difficult, turn-based strategy. Each game places the player as a god in different eras of a planet’s history. 'Gods of Havoc: Into the Void' takes place on a galactic scale.

Gods of Havoc: Into the Void

You take the roll of a god, to a sentient, and self-governing populace. With no interference from you, your people will spread out to the stars, colonise new worlds, build fantastic structures, wage wars, and reshape the universe… that is, they would, if there weren’t other gods, and other races, waiting to stop them.As a god, you have the power to aid your people with powerful magics, and to guide their progress with suggestions and dreams. Even with your help, it may not be enough to defeat the brutal and magical forces building against them.

The Game

  • A turn-based strategy game.
  • Battle up to ten other gods and their peoples.
  • An intelligent simulation of space colonisation, exploration, and exploitation.
  • Use a ‘Pass-Time’ option to move the game forward,
  • And customise a log to alert you when certain events happen.
  • A fiendishly difficult AI with various difficulties.
  • Crafted from a love of Populous, Megalomania, and other ancient god-game classics!
  • 3 game-modes: standard solar systems, high density asteroids, and completely random placement. Each offers unique gameplay and strategies.

Monday - August 05, 2019

Master of Magic - IP aquired by Slitherine

by Hiddenx, 20:36

PC Gamer reports that the Master of Magic IP has been aquired by the strategy publisher Slitherine:

Master of Magic acquired by strategy publisher Slitherine

Rescued from Atari's IP dungeon.

After 25 years, Master of Magic has finally been summoned again. After a stint languishing at Atari, the rights to the formative fantasy 4X game have been acquired by Slitherine, the publisher also responsible for bringing back the similarly ancient Fantasy General.

Despite having a rocky start, Master of Magic carved out a comfortable spot for itself in the history of the strategy genre, inspiring plenty of 4X games and consistently appearing on nostalgic 'best of' lists. While it doesn't feature on our own best strategy games on PC list, its influence is still there in games like Endless Legend.


[...]

Thanks heriquejr!

Sunday - July 28, 2019

Wolfenstein: Youngblood - Review

by Hiddenx, 18:38

Gamingbolt checked out Wolfenstein: Youngblood:

Wolfenstein: Youngblood Review – Welcome To Paris

Youngblood is a decent stopgap before we get to the true sequel to The New Colossus.

If you go into Wolfenstein: Youngblood expecting another bonkers narrative rollercoaster full of cinematic and stylish cutscenes that are constantly punctuated by William BJ Blazkowicz’s poetic, brooding monologues, this latest instalment in MachineGames’ take on the franchise might leave you a bit disappointed. Youngblood is very clearly a side-story, a half-step forward to placate fans with more Wolfenstein while MachineGames works on the true sequel to The New Colossus.

[...]

Final Verdict
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is very clearly not Wolfenstein 3, and you shouldn't expect it to be. It's a side-story before the final chapter in MachineGames Wolf saga, and for what it is, it's a lot of fun. It doesn't succeed at everything it does – the RPG mechanics in particular feel tacked on and needless – but its open-ended nature and excellent level design still make it a really good Nazi-slaying time.

Score: 7.5/10

Friday - July 26, 2019

Interstellar Space: Genesis - Released

by Silver, 10:35

Interstellar Space: Genesis is a turn-based 4x space strategy game that released recently.

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You are among the latest, and perhaps the last, of the challengers to undertake this great journey into the stars. While the universe may be ancient, you and your rivals are still young. As you compete with one another for control of this galaxy, there are others, far older and more powerful than you, who watch from a distance with unknown intentions. It is time for you to prove your empire deserves to rule this galaxy, once and for all. You may prove worthy after all, but worthy of what? It is up to you to Discover the Unknown...

Interstellar Space: Genesis takes classic turn-based space 4X strategy mechanics, adds in a few twists of its own, and tosses them in with several brand new mechanics to create a truly unique entry into the genre. It also aims to provide a lack of burdensome micromanagement and an emphasis on the best aspects of classic 4X space strategy games.

Construct your galaxy.

  • Play as one of six distinct races, each with their own abilities, advantages, and backgrounds.
  • Design custom races with their own ideal worlds, racial traits, and unique game-changing abilities.
  • Craft your own experience using customized difficulty, victory condition, and galaxy size settings.
  • Navigate through randomized tech and culture trees or follow the galaxy's natural order.

Discover the galaxy's secrets.

  • Reveal mysteries throughout the game via unique exploration mechanics and events.
  • Detect black holes, neutron stars, planets and other systems using remote exploration technology.
  • Unearth ancient ruins to discover treasures, technologies or talented individuals.
  • Experience the freedom of interstellar travel that is limited only by your empire's supply chain.

Broaden your horizons.

  • Establish and conquer settlements and outposts to expand your empire.
  • Find ideal worlds or adapt them to your race using terraforming and planetary engineering projects.
  • Manage your colonies and behold their animated structures and procedurally generated worlds.
  • Exploit asteroids and strategic resources for production, profit, or research.

Outclass your foes.

  • Engineer custom ships capable of crushing your enemies in turn-based tactical combat.
  • Engage in diplomacy to pursue trade, sign treaties, forge alliances or conduct military negotiations.
  • Destroy enemy worlds using powerful bombs or send in your assault troops to take what is yours.
  • Deploy leaders undercover to learn secrets, destroy facilities or locate potential defectors in espionage missions.

Advance beyond your ancestors.

  • Oversee unique leaders each with personalities, desires, traits, skills and opinions that truly matter.
  • Evolve your race's culture and celebrate their talents and specializations.
  • Reduce burdensome micromanagement through refined implementations of classic mechanics.
  • Make compelling decisions that define your empire's destiny.

PRAXIS GAMES

A word on our company and our values. Praxis Games was born from the passion of playing video games for the PC, strategy games in particular. Single-player experiences at heart. We exist to please the fans. To make the games you want to play, again and again.

We believe that games should serve three purposes: to entertain, to inspire and to help educate. In that regard, our games are crafted to be a lot of fun, in order to make you lose the track of time. They will inspire you by putting you in command and in control of something bigger than yourself. And finally, our games are deep, rich in detail and made as accurate as possible because we want to help challenge your critical thinking skills, stimulate your imagination and guide you on a voyage of discovery.

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - July 21, 2019

Opinion - The Best Games Aren't From Big Studios

by Silver, 09:10

SlashGear writes that the best games aren't being made by big studios anymore and points to indie gaming as the exception.

For the most part, it seems that the AAA games industry is more concerned with creating games-as-a-service that can pull money from players on an ongoing basis than they are with creating games that are actually fun and engaging to play. Progression in many of these games is tied to unlockables, which are increasingly obtained by way of opening loot boxes and seeing what you get.

Even aside from the question of whether or not this is encouraging gambling addiction in the people who play these games (some studies suggest they are; EA and organizations like the ESA insist they aren’t), shouldn’t we be alarmed that major games these days are basically digital Skinner Boxes that are designed to reward us proportional to the amount of money we spend after we’ve already bought the game?

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - July 13, 2019

Spy Tactics - Released

by Silver, 10:53

Turn-based strategy game Spy Tactics has been released on Steam.

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Spy Tactics is a mix of puzzle and turn-based strategy about fascinating adventures of a spy.

Welcome to Secret Service

You are going to try yourself as a special agent and carry out secret missions in different places of the world – elimination of the corrupted officials and criminal bosses, search of the missing works of art, destruction of the hidden computer servers and chemical laboratories and many other things.
You’ve been assigned a serious mission. It won’t be easy to complete this task. Forget about pity, keep your cool, calculate each step, and the victory will surely be yours.

Develop the Plan of Combat Operation

The game has unique panoramic locations. This gives you the ability to evaluate the map of the level from a point that’s convenient for you. You will be able to calculate the action plan accurately and plan combat operation perfectly.
Observe, calculate, control. You are a secret agent, and you can’t afford to make a mistake.

Use Spy Skills

Solve puzzles – use lock picks, pick different locks, turn off surveillance cameras, crack computer terminals.
The enemy doesn’t sleep! Don’t get caught – use tactics to keep yourself hidden, and when there is no choice left – take a shot and don’t miss!
The variability of moves is the unique characteristic for games of such genre. What will you choose – hidden tactics of the professional spy or a power method of the real fighter?

Thursday - July 11, 2019

Non-RPG General News - The C64 is coming back

by Hiddenx, 21:06

PC Gamer reports that the C64 is coming back:

A full-sized Commodore 64 keyboard is getting released this year

It's a fully functioning replica keyboard that comes with 64 retro games pre-installed.

If mini consoles like the NES and SNES Classic Edition have proved anything, it's that gaming nostalgia is in full-swing. But while the mini C64 is great if you just want access to a library of classic PC games, its fun-sized keyboard isn't exactly practical.

For those nostalgic for the true PC classic experience, this full-sized C64 keyboard fills the gap. It's a classic PC—complete with a boot to BASIC option and 64 classics like Paradroid and Boulder Dash pre-installed—as well as a fully-functioning C64 keyboard to control those games. It still has the same footprint of the original Commodore 64, too.
[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Sunday - July 07, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Stranger Things 3

by Hiddenx, 07:38

The action adventure Stranger Things 3: The Game has been released:

Stranger Things 3: The Game

Stranger Things 3: The Game is the official companion game to Season 3 of the hit original series! Play through familiar events from the series while also uncovering never-before-seen quests, character interactions, and secrets! This adventure game blends a distinctively retro art style with modern gameplay mechanics to deliver nostalgic fun with a fresh new twist.

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Just like in the show, teamwork is at the heart of Stranger Things 3: The Game. Fans can team up in two player local co-op to explore the world of Hawkins, solve puzzles, and battle the emerging evils of The Upside Down as one of twelve beloved characters from the show.

Key Features

  • Experience Stranger Things 3, Plus Much More! — Play through the events of Season 3 and much more! Play as your favorite characters from the series as you complete quests for the citizens of Hawkins and explore the town while the events of Season 3 unfold around you.
  • Teamwork is the Key — Play through the entire game as two characters (in single player or local co-op). Use your buddy to solve co-op puzzles, take on groups of enemies, and combine your special abilities to pull of powerful combo attacks.
  • Classic Adventure Gameplay — Delve into dangerous laboratories and hideouts, solve puzzles, search for treasure, and battle evils from the Upside-Down.
  • Assemble and Level Up Your Party — Unlock a roster of 12 playable characters, each with their own combat style. Use their unique special abilities to taunt, disable, and obliterate your enemies. Craft and equip various trinkets from items discovered throughout Hawkins to power up your team and specialize your favorite characters.

Wednesday - June 19, 2019

Non-RPG General News - They Are Billions - Released

by Hiddenx, 18:28

The strategy game They Are Billions is out now:

They Are Billions

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They Are Billions is a Steampunk strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic planet. Build and defend colonies to survive against the billions of the infected that seek to annihilate the few remaining living humans. Can humanity survive after the zombie apocalypse?

Sunday - June 16, 2019

Songs of Conquest - Announcement and Interview

by Silver, 12:24

PC Gamer has interviewed the developers of Songs of Conquest, which is an RPG strategy game modelled after Heroes of Might and Magic.

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Coffee Stain announced Songs of Conquest at the 2019 PC Gaming Show. It's a Heroes of Might and Magic-inspired strategy game all about empire building and tactical combat between armies.

PC Gamer: What sort of game is Songs of Conquest? Are you controlling heroes, building up cities?

Carl Toftfelt, game designer: You kind of both have the focus on individual wielders, which is what we call our commanders, as well as on your kingdom as a whole. You’ll level up individual wielders as well as buildings and troops, while you choose the right strategy to pick off your enemies. We call it classic adventure strategy.

What is the Songs of Conquest universe like? We saw some neat monsters in the trailer.

It is a diverse and rich fantasy world with various distinct and different races and nations. Some civilizations are older than others. The terrain is as shifting and diverse as the inhabitants. There is plenty of conflict and strife, as well as riches, mysteries and adventure. A strong current of magic flows through all beings and objects. Treasures buried from civilizations long gone are waiting to be rediscovered.

[...]

Friday - June 14, 2019

John Wick Hex - Strategy Game at E3

by Silver, 21:21

PCMag reports on John Wick Hex at E3 and like its style of strategic assasinations.

Like its name implies, John Wick Hex is a hex-based strategy game. Everything takes place in environments defined by hex-shaped tiles, with only a single object or character occupying a tile at a time. The hex structure determines everything from line of sight to enemy positioning, providing forward and backward movement and four diagonal directions from any orientation.

At first glance, John Wick Hex looks like a turn-based strategy game. Without doing anything, the game is completely frozen as it awaits commands. The game doesn't use discrete turns, nor does it play in real time. Instead, every movement and action has a set amount of time it takes to execute, which is shown on a timeline at the top of the screen.

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[...]

Thursday - June 13, 2019

Commandos 2 HD Remaster - Announced for Q4 2019

by Silver, 12:32

Commandos 2 HD Remaster has been announced for Q4 2019.

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Relive the real-time tactics masterpiece that defined the genre like no other: Originally developed by the legendary Pyro Studios, Commandos 2 - HD Remaster is a true homage to one of gaming’s most celebrated masterpieces. Experience Commandos 2 Men of Courage like never before in high definition with reworked controls, UI and tutorial.

Take control of an elite group of commandos who must venture deep into enemy territory and utilize their combined expertise to complete a series of notoriously demanding missions set in World War II. Go covert into various environments based on authentic World War II locations and lead your team of commandos against overwhelming odds, operate covertly and turn the tide of war.

Thanks porcozaur!

Tuesday - June 11, 2019

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - Previews

by Silver, 10:25

GotGame wrote some of the things they have learned about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Meanwhile The Punished Backlog wrote that the game looks a bit bland.

This is Definitely a Respawn Entertainment Game

wall running

While the platforming elements take cues from Uncharted and Star Wars: 1313, there is still one distinctive difference. Respawn Entertainment being the developers, it comes as no surprise, but the wall running mechanic from their Titanfall series is used in full force in Fallen Order. From time to time, deep chasms will need to be traversed by having Cal run along a wall quickly. Sometimes, puzzles will even require the player to create a wall to run on. Even when Cal pilots an AT-AT early on, it shares a lot of similarities to piloting a Titan in Titanfall. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with this, and it’s good to see Respawn’s own staples stick to this licensed title.

[...]

A Dynamic World… or is it?

As Cal made his way further into the facility, I began to key in on another thing that constantly bugged me throughout the demo: the scripted feel of the the world. At 3:48, right before the stormtroopers start their leisurely jog, they are slow to react to Cal’s presence. Later, at 7:15, a stormtrooper stays perfectly still atop a perched piece of terrain; the second Cal enters the environment, a pair of spider-like enemies “suddenly” appear, causing the guard and his fellow troopers to start moving into action.

We’ve come so far in the realm of believable scenarios in games. Uncharted, despite its linearity, makes the player feel like they are part of a perfectly paced movie. Tomb Raider, likewise, gives a sense of life to its semi-open environments, with wildlife that act on its own and guards that patrol areas of their own accord. Fallen Order, in contrast, feels like we’ve taken a time machine back to the PlayStation 2 era, when a lack of dynamism was a result of limited hardware resources — and certainly not a lack of creativity. It’s disappointing to see, especially from the people that brought us such wonderfully fresh feeling worlds in Titanfall and Apex: Legends.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars - Announced

by Silver, 10:05

@Gematsu Strategy game Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars has been announced for PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. The game is expected sometime in September.

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Descend into a mythical world filled with horrors and legends with Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars, and hurl yourself into a compelling gothic adventure paired with a challenging game experience. Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars is an engaging strategy game set in a dark vampire world in turmoil, that combines empire management and turn-based combat with unique card-game elements. Discover the secrets of Nemire and experience an enthralling story from the perspective of four mighty vampire lords, each with their own goals and agendas.

Key Features

  • The Truth Unfolds: Discover the secrets of Nemire, and experience an enthralling story spanning across 12 meticulously crafted missions and four unique environments, from the perspective of four mighty vampire lords, each with their own goals and agendas.
  • Discover the Bloodlines: Command one of three unique vampire clans with distinctive units, powers, gameplay mechanics and characters. Play as the bloodthirsty Dracul, the ancient Nosfernus or the mystical Moroia!
  • Vampiric Powers: Original card game elements enhance the gameplay and provide a refreshing take on the genre. Each clan and vampire lord has access to their own set of cards, which can be synergized into powerful combinations.
  • Strategy and Tactics: Command your armies, recruit new units and unlock crucial technologies in the strategic Kingdom mode, and then put your tactical skills to the test in the action-packed Combat mode.
  • Varied Content: Choose from three different gameplay modes, such as the story-driven Campaign, the open-world Sandbox, and the hard-fought Skirmish mode.

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - June 08, 2019

Tales of Arise - Revealed

by Silver, 21:19

DSOGaming reveals that Action RPG Tales of Arise has been leaked ahead of its official announcement. There are screenshots at the link.

Tales of Arise promises to be a dynamic action RPG featuring an updated battle system that retains classic Tales of gameplay, and below you can find a small description of its storyline.

“On the planet Dahna, reverence has always been given to Rena, the planet in the sky, as a land of the righteous and divine. Stories handed down for generations became truth and masked reality for the people of Dahna. For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom. Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future.”

[...]

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 21:16

A gameplay video for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

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The Empire won’t stop until every Jedi is purged from the galaxy. As a young Padawan on the run, the odds are against you—but the Force is with you. Discover the Jedi abilities you must master to survive.

Become a Jedi on November 15, 2019.

Thursday - June 06, 2019

Memorrha - Release Date: September 27

by Hiddenx, 18:15

The first-person adventure game Memorrha will be released on September 27:

Memorrha

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Tuesday - June 04, 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade -Coteries of New York - Announced

by Silver, 21:48

@PC Gamer A new interactive fiction title has been announced called Vampire: The Masquerade -Coteries of New York.

Vampire: The Masquerade—Coteries of New York is the latest undead game to be greenlit by Paradox. It's a bloodthirsty narrative romp in the World of Darkness but is otherwise separate from Bloodlines 2. It's based on the 5th Edition of the tabletop game, but like Bloodlines it's mixing the format up a bit. It's an interactive story, says developer and publisher Draw Distance, with Telltale-style gut-punches.

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Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - May 29, 2019

Minotaur - Early Access Trailer

by Silver, 11:04

An Early Access trailer for adventure game Minotaur comes with the latest status update.

Status update... and our new Early Access trailer!

Hi everyone,

Are you still looking forward to Minotaur? As some of you may already know, we've solved our OST issues, and I'm happy to say that the soundtrack will be available upon game release (and we managed to keep it intact too). It will include every track from Nod's route, and there are about 20 of them, almost all coming from different artists.

Unfortunately, a few problems have also come up during the review process (on some of the platforms), which we're dealing with at the moment, but I can assure you tha...

I honestly don't know. But we're doing everything we can to bring you Nod's route ASAP! So please bear with us for just a little longer. Hopefully our new trailer will manage to sustain your interest - do check it out when you have time, I hope you'll like it!

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And of course, I'll make sure to keep you updated on the latest Minotaur news : )

Yours,

Nick & u7committee

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - May 26, 2019

Beautiful Desolation - Lights, Camera, Action

by Silver, 09:40

A new update for Beautiful Desolation shows off some new screenshots.

Lights, Camera, Action!

We have unchained ourselves from our desks to bring you a quick update on our progress with BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION

While Nic continues to implement the events in the game I have been detailing and creating the cinematic videos that appear throughout the adventure. 

These videos will be fully voiced, and using facial capture, we hope to bring the characters to life. 

Enjoy a few non-spoiler animated gifs:

 (If they don't load, access them here directly)

http://desolationgame.com/public/backerupdates/gif_1.gif

http://desolationgame.com/public/backerupdates/gif_2.gif

http://desolationgame.com/public/backerupdates/gif_3.gif

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - May 22, 2019

Rage 2 - Review @ Techquila

by Hiddenx, 20:02

Techquila checked out Rage 2:

Rage 2 Review: Mad Max Meets Borderlands in this Wannabe Just Cause Title

Rage 2 released this month to an overjoyed audience, after a long wait, promising lots of senseless destruction and violence. And that’s exactly what it delivers. Several dozen hours of shooting, ripping, shredding along with tons of explosions and non-stop, fast-paced killing. However, it derives too much from other well-known franchises like Mad Max, Borderlands and even Mass Effect Andromeda to some extent. Before you get your knickers in a bunch, let me explain.

[...]

Conclusion
Rage 2 isn’t a must play by a long shot, but if you are into games like Just Cause, Mad Max, or perhaps titles with limited depth, but unlimited scope for bone-crushing and head-hunting, then I’d suggest checking it out. It’s a suitable way to release stress or frustration after a long day of work.

Score: 3.8/5

Thanks trespasser!

Tuesday - May 21, 2019

Non-RPG General News - The State of Singleplayer Games

by Hiddenx, 20:43

Henriquejr spotted an article about the current state of singleplayer games on PC Gamer:

The state of singleplayer games in 2019 so far

In 2017, we worried singleplayer games were dying. 2019 tells a different story.

There have been a few moments of panic over singleplayer games across the last several years, but a lot of this discussion emerged back when EA cancelled Visceral's Star Wars game, which coincided with the closure of the studio in 2017.

EA didn't say anything about singleplayer games specifically, but the reason given at the time was that the company was "listening to the feedback about what and how they want to play, and closely tracking fundamental shifts in the marketplace". EA's Blake Jorgensen later suggested, according to this GameSpot article, that the game wouldn't sell enough copies to justify itself.

Other factors have led to a sense that singleplayer games are in trouble: BioWare making a disappointing co-op game in Anthem instead of the singleplayer RPGs it's known for, for example. Black Ops 4 was the first Call of Duty game not to feature a campaign. GTA 5's possible singleplayer DLC was mothballed in the face of more content for the successful online component, the demands of porting the game to more formats, and making Red Dead Redemption 2. Jedi Fallen Order was marketed on being a singleplayer-only game with no loot boxes, which felt like an admission that EA had gone too far in the other direction.

[...]

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Q&A and Video Review

by Silver, 03:46

@starnews A Q&A interview with Asobo Studios about A Plague Tale: Innocence. Additionally Rob Cram has reviewed the game.

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Star News: The game is gorgeous, and it’s done with an in-house engine. Why did you decide to go that way versus bringing in a middleware engine and do you feel it was easier/harder in the long run to do it that way?

Renard: I’m not a programmer but it was certain we were going to use our technology. We have a very strong team of engineers upgrading the engine based on the needs for each game we do. In the case of Plague, the visual rendering was one of the priority and the engine made a huge leap forward from the beginning to the end of the production, as you can easily see on screen. It’s just a tradition in the company to keep pushing the engine forward. I can’t say it’s always the easier way, but it’s a long term investment.


 

Star News: Though it’s not what I’d call an action-heavy title, Amicia gains quite the arsenal of abilities via alchemy. While things like sparking/extinguishing flames and knocking out enemies made the list, were there skills you wanted to put in that you had to leave on the drawing board? If so, what were they and why did they get cut?

Renard: Everything we did was based on what Amicia was able to do as a 15 y.o. noble girl facing the reality of a dying world. We knew she wasn’t going to fight with a sword for example, and it helped a lot narrow the possibilities.

We did cut one alchemical ammo that eventually wasn’t useful in the gameplay, but nothing big. A Plague tale is not a big game, so we had to take the right decisions and limit wandering around too much (which we did anyway but hey, it happens everywhere).

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - May 15, 2019

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Review Roundup

by Silver, 12:51

Some reviews for A Plague Tale: Innocence.

Wccftech 8.8/10

A Plague Tale: Innocence is definitely among the gaming surprises of 2019, exceeding expectations in the best possible ways. With its gripping tale, charming characters and solid gameplay mechanics, the game is a must-have for those who like single-player games with a strong focus on story and character development. Even if the tale does not take in you, A Plague Tale: Innocence still offers a solid third-person stealth experience that fans of the genre will surely appreciate.

RockPaperShotgun No Score

I’ve been very positive about A Plague Tale so far, and it is indeed a good game. After a couple of scenes you’ll notice the same corpse models being reused as rat set dressing, things like that, but those aren’t the sorts of things I care about. What does let A Plague Tale down is three boss fights that interrupt the flow of a game that otherwise seems to have a strong sense of what it is. The first is, I suppose, getting you to understand how to use your sling offensively. The second is, likewise, teaching you a new skill. I can allow these. But the third is just annoying. And, worse, funny! It ends up making the rats, who were previously such a malevolent presence, look silly. Come on, man.

GameWatcher 8/10

The scene of crossing a battlefield, with hundreds of lifeless bodies piled over each other, only to see a swarm of rats bursting out of a horse’s bloated corpse is just one of multiple sights that A Plague Tale: Innocence inevitably etches into your mind. Although its stealth and puzzle mechanics aren’t exactly fresh, having what’s, quite possibly, the most powerful representation of the Black Death in the medium, even if stylized, is reason enough to see Amicia and Hugo’s journey to its end.

Twinfinite 4.5/5

Of course, the game isn’t without its flaws. For all of the variety the gameplay provides in terms of dealing with enemies, its puzzles are all fairly easy and straight forward with few that require more than a passing glance to understand and solve.

There’s also the considerable gap between the quality of Amicia and Hugo’s story arc and characterization compared to the supporting cast’s.

OnlySP No Score

Asobo Studio has crafted an exceptionally dark atmosphere that brings the journey of its innocent characters to life. Both action and stealth-oriented players will find something to love in the mechanics despite their leading nature towards a particular playstyle. Those that love an immersive experience will be engrossed by the highly detailed, grim world. Some frustration with later levels may hinder the impact of the ending, but, regardless, A Plague Tale is a gorgeous game with endearing characters and smooth gameplay that showcases the potential of Asobo Studio.

VG24/7 No Score

There’s a lot lifted from other games in A Plague Tale, but somehow there’s nothing cynical about it. This is a full-hearted reach for the big time of AAA storytelling that succeeds in the most important departments, thanks to its sparkling polish and subtle characterisation. It’s one of a handful of games for which I could tell you the personality traits and motivations of not just the protagonists, but four or five secondary characters. Consider this review a carrier: Asobo Studio is a name that’s going to spread.

Player2 Score: A

Apart from that though there is very little to dislike about A Plague Tale. It is a game that excels in the areas of storytelling and atmosphere, has rock-solid gameplay, engaging puzzles and some exceptional voice work that brings it all to life. This is a game that burrows under your skin, seeps into your mind and won’t leave you until the final credits roll. Frankly, any adventure gamer out there shouldn’t hesitate to buy this game, it is wonderful.

Thanks Farflame!

Void Bastards - Releasing May 29th

by Silver, 01:17

Strategy Shooter Void Bastards will release May 29th and will be available on Humble Bundle, Steam and XBOX One.

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A revolutionary new kind of strategy shooter from the development director of BioShock and System Shock 2. Can you lead the misfit prisoners of the Void Ark through the derelict spaceships and myriad dangers of the Sargasso Nebula? Will you make the right choices about what to do, where to go and when to fight? Master combat, manage ship controls, scavenge supplies, craft improvised tools and much more.

Void Bastards launches May 29, 2019 on PC & Xbox One.

Tuesday - May 14, 2019

Non-RPG General News - 10 Best Post-Apocalyptic Games

by Silver, 20:21

Twinfinite share their list of the 10 best post-apocalyptic games.

The Last Of Us

Naughty Dog are masters of emotional storytelling, and The Last of Us still, years later, represents the developer’s peak in terms of storytelling.

The world in The Last of Us is wracked by the devastating Cordyceps virus, turning humans and animals alike into horrendous zombie-like creatures that are sensitive to sound.

The Last of Us tells a very personal story about the life of Joel and Ellie, two survivors stuck in this horrible reality. It’s a fascinating study of human nature, as the two characters become co-dependent on each other, past what is healthy.

The Last of Us also does a great job at portraying the brutality of humanity in an apocalyptic setting.

Both the protagonists and villains blur the lines between good and evil, and create questions about what happens to morality in times like this.

Tokyo Jungle

Remember when we said post-apocalyptic games need to do something unique? Well, you can’t get much more unique than Tokyo Jungle. There are no humans left in this apocalypse, only animals, and that’s exactly who you play as.

You start out as a Pomeranian in the ruins of Tokyo, struggling to survive, and as you complete missions you’ll get the chance to play as even more animals. There’s a basic story to see in Tokyo Jungle, but the game is so ridiculous that it ends up being loads of fun, and it knows how ridiculous it is.

Based on which animal you’re playing you’ll face different challenges, like fighting Cat bosses as the Pomeranian, or taking on a tough Beagle when you play as a Hyena.

It’s absurd, but it’s one of the most wonderfully unique post-apocalyptic games out there.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Released

by Hiddenx, 16:46

The stealth action game A Plague Tale: Innocence has been released:

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Official Story Trailer

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Rage 2 - Release Day

by Hiddenx, 16:37

Rage 2 is now available:

RAGE 2 – Official Launch Trailer

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Monday - May 13, 2019

Pax Nova - Space 4X Strategy

by Silver, 11:59

A science fiction, 4x turn-based strategy game called Pax Nova has recently been released on Steam Early Access.

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Humanity has failed itself through pollution and war. After a century of political tension and countless armed conflicts, Earth is now on the verge of being uninhabitable. A communication from deep space gives us the chance to leave our dying planet and start over, by migrating to Eos, marking the beginning of the era of ‘Pax Nova’. But will it be enough to save humanity?

In this sci-fi turn-based 4X strategy game, you may choose one of several factions divided between three races, and establish yourself in Eos. Explore new worlds and new star systems filled with exciting secrets as well as terrible dangers. Build great cities and expand your influence through efficient diplomacy, or prepare for battle on land and in space when diplomacy fails or for when you’re just a warmonger.

Explore your world and beyond...

Planets are much more than just a collection of stats. Your civilization will soon want to know what’s outside your atmosphere and will look forward to discovering, colonizing or even invading new worlds. Each planet is procedurally generated with different biomes and various challenges, and is filled with numerous secrets, creatures, characters, factions and much more.

...including space itself

Space itself hides numerous secrets but many dangers as well. Pirates, space creatures and other beings will try to hinder or help your progression throughout Eos.

An epic space opera

Three different races, all invited there, provide a choice from a total of 15 factions. Each faction has their own play-style and challenges. Unveil the past of Eos and define its future! How you do it however is entirely up to you.

Dynamic diplomacy systems and political landscape

New diplomacy options can be unlocked depending on your traits, technology, specific events and more.

And much more

  • Discover Eos’s secrets and solve quests, build space bases and outposts
  • Unique victory conditions for each player
  • Unit and ship customization
  • Randomly generated tech tree (Coming soon during EA)

Friday - May 10, 2019

Fantasy General II - Preview

by Hiddenx, 15:07

Two gameplay videos for the upcoming strategy game Fantasy General II:

Fantasy General II - Barbarians Faction

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Fantasy General II - Empire Faction

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Thursday - May 09, 2019

Rage 2 - Release on May 14

by Hiddenx, 17:45

The FPS Rage 2 will be released on May 14:

RAGE 2 – Official Launch Trailer

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Tuesday - May 07, 2019

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Monsters Trailer

by Silver, 09:52

A new monsters trailer for A Plague Tale: Innocence.

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A Plague Tale: Innocence - monsters lurk behind every helmet and between every crack

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - May 04, 2019

A Plague Tale: Innocence - New Videos, Screenshots and an Interview

by Silver, 10:57

A Plague Tale: Innocence has new gameplay and overview trailers and an interview with the developers from well-played. Additionally DSOGaming has some new screenshots and reports that the game will support NVIDIA Ansel.

 

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WP: Was there anything from that period of time that stood out in particular when designing the game?

KC: There’s plenty of very “interesting” historical anecdotes that depict what people were able to do to survive or by greed (often at the expense of the lives of others), we took all those little things and tried to put these somewhere in our story.

WP: History provides developers with an excellent foundation to build a game around. Why did you choose the historical path instead of building a world from scratch?

KC: As I was saying at the beginning, the game is a tale, and like folktales we are inspired by the real world but distort it to serve a story. Our goal is to obtain something that sounds “true”. It’s a strong guideline for our story, character, gameplay, setting and it was easier for us to obtain that using History instead of a fully fictitious world. And, to us, it looked far more engaging to live something that might be true to reality.

WP: It feels like the game is centred around an emotive narrative experience. How challenging was it to write a story that would hit players right in the feels yet still be an enjoyable video game?

KC: Super hard! When we started to develop the game we didn’t have any visuals, few animations, generated voices (robot voices!) and no music. In this context it’s extremely hard to figure out if what you are building is going to be credible and will create a strong narration with authentic emotions for the player. All those elements arrive very late in a production of our size so you must do many “leaps of faith” and hope that the final scene is going to reach the goal. Our story is about young kids and it must feel as natural as possible. We’ve failed many times before finding the right tone and mood that sounds true. Fortunately, we cast child actors for Amicia and Hugo, and they helped us in building authentic emotions. They were really involved in the game’s creation and made us interesting proposals to make the dialogues evolve into sounding more spontaneous.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - May 01, 2019

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - Chris Avellone Interview

by Silver, 11:36

@Wccftech Chris Avellone was interviewed about his contribution towards Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, his writing on RPGs and more.

Chris, tell me about the projects you’re working on currently because I was looking them up and you are prolific. You’re busy.

Yeah, there are a lot of projects going on. So right now, I finished up work on Jedi: Fallen Order, also Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 with Paradox, Alaloth, Degrees of Separation with Moondrop Games, and Dying Light 2.

What was it like returning to the Star Wars license after not working with since Knights of The Old Republic 2?

Yeah, it has been a long time. It’s been a little different to catch up with all the material that’s been released since then, and the expanded universe that they had previously, has changed. But two nice things was I had never seen the entire Clone Wars TV show from start to finish. And I watched that, and I’ll be honest, so when I saw the pilot for Clone Wars, I didn’t like it. I’m like, wow, this seems kind of silly. But then as the episodes kept going, the writing kept getting better and better. And the story arcs kept getting better and better. So that was great to watch to get a refresher. And then I watch Star Wars Rebels which had the exact same problem. I like oh the pilot, I’m not that excited about what’s on the plan, like whatever. But then as I watched more and more for research, I think wow this is actually pretty good. All this stuff was happening, and the writing was really good. As getting a refresher on Star Wars, that’s been great. There really hasn’t been a ton of new stuff to catch up on because still feels like Star Wars and always has those basic principles that make up the franchise. So yeah, it was kind of like putting on a comfortable shirt that you were used to.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - April 28, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Starlink: Battle for Atlas PC Release on April 30

by Hiddenx, 07:30

The action adventure Starlink: Battle for Atlas will be available for the PC on April 30:

Starlink: Battle for Atlas

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Tuesday - April 23, 2019

Sigma Theory - Spy Strategy In Early Access

by Silver, 11:20

Sigma Theory is described as a turn-based strategy game set in a futuristic global cold war. The game is currently in Steam Early Access and 10% off.

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STORY

From the creators of the award-winning sci-fi game Out There...
In the near future, a paradigm-shifting scientific discovery looms over the world, promising radical new technologies. The world’s superpowers realize they could have the power to destroy the global financial system, wipe out entire countries or even gain access to immortality.

However, this discovery — called “The Sigma Theory” — can only be harnessed by a handful of scientists. You are placed at the head of your country’s Sigma division. Your objective is to ensure that it is your nation that reaps the benefits of Sigma Theory before anyone else.

To achieve this you will have powerful resources at your disposal: a cadre of the world’s most elite covert agents, advanced tactical drones and, of course, your own skills in diplomacy and subterfuge.

It’s a cold war out there, one in which mankind must face up to its future.

THE ULTIMATE ESPIONAGE SIMULATION

Turn-based espionage: Use your special agents to dominate the world. Seduction, blackmail, manipulation, industrial espionage… Every low blow is both permitted and encouraged.
Dynamic narrative: Develop and manage your relations with over 100 NPCs: lobbies, armed groups, politicians… Alliance, deception or assassination, you choose.
Field operations: Direct the kidnapping of your targets during gripping pursuits through the world’s greatest cities. Discretion or direct confrontation, your agent’s life is in your hands.

Recruitment
First, recruit a team of four special agents from 50 unique unlockable characters to support your missions. Each comes with their own story, motivations and traits that define their behavior during missions.
Access the investigator, soldier, hacker, seducer and other archetypes to complete your Sigma division and execute your strategy.

Espionage
When your team is ready, assign them missions around the world to gather scientists, discover compromising documents on local politicians, and more.
Exploit your agents’ abilities to seduce, manipulate and bribe your targets over to your side or have them neutralized.

Counter-espionage
Other nations will also use their agents to infiltrate your country and seize your scientists. Track, capture and interrogate them to gain information on your enemies, then exchange them for ransom when they are no longer useful.

Exfiltration
Order your agents to exfiltrate scientists recruited to your cause during gripping turn-based exfiltration phases through the world’s greatest capitals. Choose the position your drones wisely to support these delicate missions.

Diplomacy
In Sigma Theory, diplomacy is the key to achieving your goals. Meet your foreign counterparts and further your objectives using flattery, threats or blackmail. You can also recover your captured agents, advance your research, and much more. Develop your relations with powerful lobbies and armed and influential groups to obtain their favor. But be careful, they may turn on you.

Tech Tree
Sigma Theory is the cause of this cold war. Rally scientists from around the world to your cause to discover new technologies to gain the edge and change the world. Mind control, destabilization of the world economy, robot soldiers, immortality… Will you keep these discoveries for yourself or share them with the world?

Games that inspired us:

XCom, Phantom Doctrine, Plague Inc, Pandemic (board game), Rocket Ranger, Tropico, Armello, Civilization, curious expedition and so much more

Monday - April 08, 2019

Devil May Cry 5 - Review @ Techquila

by Hiddenx, 19:34

Techquila checked out the Hack'n'Slash game Devil May Cry 5:

Devil May Cry 5 PC Review: One of the Best Hack’n’Slash Titles of the Decade

The latest entry in the Devil May Cry franchise was released by Capcom last month, and by all accounts, it was a well-received title. The game is set a few years after Devil May Cry 4 which added Nero to the list of playable characters in the series. Compared to its predecessors, DmC 5 is fairly short and should take 10 to 12 hours to complete on the standard difficulty. That doesn’t make it any less deserving though, and it’s probably the most fun you can have in a dozen hours or so.

[...]

Devil May Cry 5 marks two years of continuous success for Capcom which began with Resident Evil VII and has carried on through the battles of Monster Hunter World and the zombie-infested streets of Racoon City and now finally DmC 5. The publisher is doing really well and given the recent success with all its major titles, it’ll be interesting to see what it has to offer next.

Thanks trespasser!

 

Non-RPG General News - Fantasy General II announced

by Hiddenx, 19:00

The strategy title Fantasy General gets a successor:

Fantasy General II

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Thanks henriquejr!

Saturday - April 06, 2019

Devil's Hunt - PAX East 2019 Demo Walkthrough

by Silver, 20:22

A demo walkthrough video for the recently announced action adventure Devil's Hunt.

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Wishlist the game NOW on STEAM - https://store.steampowered.com/app/887720/Devils_Hunt/

This demo was prepared specially for GDC and PAX: East 2019. Look at Desmond's skills, some of his enemies and the way he's kicking their demon butts! Keep in mind, that it's not final look of the game and work is still in progress! The war between Demons and Angels takes you to hell and back in this third person action game.

You are Desmond, the one man with demonic powers who can decide the fate of our world by joining either side of the conflict. Release date: Q3 2019 Platforms: PC, XBOX One and PS4

Friday - April 05, 2019

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum - Interviews

by Silver, 10:39

Some interviews for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum from GamesIndustry and VentureBeat.

From GamesIndustry:

"Conflict is important for storytellers and that's already in the character," he says. "We have these two characters talking to him constantly. We think we have a unique approach, and if we do this game right I don't think there'll be much space for anyone doing a Gollum game, because we've already done it."

Fichtelmann also assures that this won't simply retell his story, as depicted in the books and the films. Instead, the aim is to explore the gaps and answer questions like how Gollum became the strange creature he is.

Naturally, it's too early to talk about gameplay, but Daedalic will carefully consider what mechanics will be the right fit for Gollum. He's unlikely to be single-handedly battling a cave troll, but we're told stealth, climbing and "the fact he's quite tricky as a person" are definitely ingredients you'll see in the final product.

[...]

From VentureBeat:

GamesBeat: This is interesting, because I few years ago, I noted how people should bring their licenses to you for storytelling adventure games. And here we are with The Lord of the Rings.

Fichtelmann: This is one of our solutions for facing the storytelling situation. This is our philosophy when we do storytelling games. Are we doing something timeless? When you look into our 2D adventure games, which we put out over the last games — for example, the Deponia series, that feels like a playable Futurama. This universe will have the same freshness 20 years from now. That’s the case with The Lord of the Rings. It’s been around for 60 years. Amazon is planning the most expensive TV series ever.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - March 31, 2019

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Preview

by Silver, 06:27

TechRaptor has a preview of A Plague Tale: Innocence

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A Plague Tale: Innocence is already shaping up to be an emotionally intense experience. There is a great amount of focus on the personal feeling of each of the characters. Throughout both cutscenes and gameplay, the camera focuses on important expressions and character moments. Visually it goes beyond cinematic to really get to the characters inner emotions. The linear levels allow for a tighter focus on character and narrative. This has resulted in specific events rather than a player-driven narrative. In many ways the lack of choice makes the game feel more intentionally designed.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - March 29, 2019

Heaven's Vault - Releasing April 17th

by Silver, 10:02

The makers of 80 Days have announced their next game called Heaven's Vault. The game is described as an open world adventure game with an adaptive narrative.

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Aliya Elasra is an archaeologist, exploring a strange region of space called the Nebula with her robot sidekick Six, hoping to uncover the secrets of the long-forgotten past. When a roboticist from the University of Iox goes missing, Aliya begins a trail of discoveries that will lead to the very edge of her world - and the ancient secret of Heaven's Vault.

Sail an open-world of fast flowing space-rivers, discover lost ruins, explore ancient sites, find artefacts and translate their strange hieroglyphics. Piece together the history of the world and an entire ancient language.

From the creators of massively-branching interactive adventure 80 Days, Heaven's Vault is not your usual linear adventure game. Progress through the game in any order you choose - the game's fully adaptive narrative remembers every choice you make, every discovery and every action you take, influencing what happens next. Meet a diverse cast of characters who remember everything you say, and who's attitude to you will change with how you act. Some are friendly, some are cautious, and some are out to trick you.

Who will you trust? What will you find? What will you learn? What will you risk? What will you lose?

Tuesday - March 26, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Article 13 Approved By EU

by Hiddenx, 20:43

A.List reports that article 13 has been approved by the EU today:

EU Approves Article 13: Controversial Copyright Law

On Tuesday, The European Parliament voted to pass Article 13, a controversial new law that will reform the ways in which copyrighted content posted online will be governed.

Why it matters: Under Article 13, all internet platforms will be liable for content uploaded by users. Some popular online services might suffer greatly from the new law. “YouTube, Facebook and Google News are some of the internet household names that will be most directly affected by this legislation,” the European Parliament said in a statement. However, memes, gifs and snippets will be protected more than ever before.

The details: Here are some notable parts of Article 13:

  • Internet platforms are liable for content that users upload
  • Some uploaded material, such as memes or GIFs, now specifically excluded from directive
  • Hyperlinks to news articles, accompanied by “individual words or very short extracts”, can be shared freely
  • Journalists must get a share of any copyright-related revenue obtained by their news publisher
  • Start-up platforms subject to lighter obligations
I hope that non-commercial news-sites like RPGWatch are not affected.

Beyond a Steel Sky - Releasing 2019

by Silver, 07:04

DSOGaming reports that Beyond a Steel Sky will release sometime in 2019. The game is a sequel to adventure classic Beneath a Steel Sky.

Revolution Software has announced it has reunited with legendary comic book artist Dave Gibbons to create Beyond a Steel Sky – the long-awaited follow-up to classic 90’s dystopian cyberpunk adventure Beneath a Steel Sky.

According to the press release, the game will tell is a thrilling story of loyalty and redemption set in an eery and terrifying world of AI-driven social controls. As can be expected of a Revolution adventure, the tale is woven with the studio’s signature humor, supported by Gibbons’ acclaimed artistic style.

[...]

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Monday - March 25, 2019

Generation Zero - Launch Trailer

by Silver, 18:28

Gematsu reports that the launch trailer for Generation Zero has released.

Avalanche Studios has released the launch trailer for Generation Zero, its open-world action game set in 1980s Sweden.

Here is an overview of the game, via physical version distributor THQ Nordic:

Experience an explosive game of cat and mouse set in a vast open world. In this reimagining of 1980s Sweden, hostile machines have invaded the serene countryside, and you need to fight back while unravelling the mystery of what is really going on. By utilizing battle tested guerrilla tactics, you’ll be able to lure, cripple, or destroy enemies in intense, creative sandbox skirmishes.

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Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - March 21, 2019

Chernobylite - Post-Apoc in Real Chernobyl

by Silver, 09:03

Chernobylite is a survival horror game about Chernobyl.

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Developers diary about making of post-apo sci-fi action game Chernobylite (with english subtitles).

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - March 14, 2019

Beautiful Desolation - New Screens and Audio

by Silver, 06:38

OnlySP reports on some new screens and audio for Beautiful Desolation.

The update begins on a positive note, with the developer stating that the majority of 2D graphics has been completed and implemented into the most recent build of the project. This essentially means all of the scenes, character portraits, and menu graphics are finished.

The developer then showed off some of the menus in-game, which look, much like the rest of the screenshots, lovingly crafted with a degree of post-apocalyptic aestheticism. For those interested, the screenshots are embedded below:

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - March 09, 2019

Medieval Kingdom Wars - Review

by Silver, 07:01

Indie Grand Strategy game Medieval Kingdom Wars has been reviewed by Wccftech.

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As mentioned earlier, there is also a city-building element. You can jump into one of your cities at any time and build it up using resources, rather than silver which is the currency on the grand campaign map. Strangely, while you’re in one of your cities or villages, their happiness lowers – no real reason given, though it’s likely to stop people sitting in a city as there’s no movement in the grand campaign while there. One minor annoyance for me is that you can position your units ready for a place being attacked, but every time you jump back in they’ve moved slightly, often cutting through walls or elsewhere. This is especially irritating when you come to defend a settlement and then have to start moving units to where you last placed them.

If anything, there’s actually a little too much overlap and things going on. You have a currency that’s only used on one screen. Resources that are only used on another. Top it all off with a whole host of resources that are primarily gained from specific cities or from winning battles and taking them as spoils of war. These resources are then used to research new tech that unlocks new buildings, units, upgrades and economy-boosting elements. There’s no time taken in research, it’s all instantaneous, as with everything else, provided you have the relevant resources.

[....]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - March 08, 2019

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Previews

by Silver, 08:25

Some previews for A Plague Tale: Innocence.

Worthplaying

All in all, A Plague Tale: Innocence is shaping up to be a really interesting stealth game. The setting and time period give it a distinctive feel. The stealth mechanics are shaping up to be fun, and the combination of terrifying swarms of rats and malicious knights feels like it'll make for a very interesting set of enemies. While the possibility of a game-long escort mission can make anyone nervous, Asobo Studios seems to know what it's doing. We'll see how the full game pans out when it comes to PC, PS4 and Xbox One later this year.

Dualshockers

You probably could lose a lot of time mindfully gazing at the structures and inspecting all the carefully chosen resources the devs used. That is, until the village you thought was abandoned actually isn’t and the villagers are holding up in their homes frightened and confused, looking for someone to blame for this awful plague that has darkened their world.

In their lack of understanding, they come after Amicia and Hugo where they find themselves running in fear down the narrow streets, trying to find anyone to help them. Finally, they meet an old woman who gives them shelter for a brief moment and this is where Amicia learns how to craft and upgrade her slingshot and oh boy, at this point does she need it.

Powerup-Gaming

At every turn, there’s danger, something that wants to kill you and no real chance to rest. This becomes a problem as Hugo’s illness presents in ‘attacks’ that incapacitate him for a few moments. He can’t walk or talk and he is simply immobile. Usually, these attacks come at the most inopportune times, which leads to more running, hiding and escape.

So while, at its core, it’s an action-adventure game, A Plague Tale Innocence is really the story of these siblings, their journey and their growth together. It’s incredibly clever of Asobo to have Hugo stick so closely to Amicia. From the very beginning, I felt responsible for him and I had an overwhelming urge to protect him.

Thanks Farflame!

Atomic Heart - Interview

by Silver, 08:10

Ostrog interviewed the Atomic Heart developers about the game and making it West friendly.

Using motion capture

The studio uses their own tracking system for motion capture although it took a while to design it. Initially, the studio planned to use the equipment at a movie studio but realized that using their own would save the time needed to work with mimics and movements. This way, they can see actors’ actions in real time and correct things on the go.

Casting famous actors

According to Mundfish CEO, the game features seven main characters, each performed by their own actor. When asked about casting anyone famous, Bagratuni said it’s not important. He believes that what differs game development from movie making is that a 3D model shouldn’t necessarily resemble the actor’s face as it’s not necessary from a technical side. More importantly, the actor should be able to work with facial mobility, micro and macro motility. The quality of the performance is more important than casting a celebrity. Evgenia Sedova, Mundfish CFO, agreed with the idea that, unlike the movie industry, making a star the main character of a game is meaningless.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - March 05, 2019

Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order - Avellone Involved

by Silver, 13:24

Wccftech reports on Chris Avellone's involvement with Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order.

Avellone’s LinkedIn page contains some tidbits on what he did for Respawn. Apparently, he worked on the game for slightly less than a year as a Narrative Designer/Writer (contractor) who did story work, story/character reviews, and wrote cinematic scripts for Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order.

But the real kicker is that the other game he mentioned in that tweet might very well be the rumored Vampire: The Masquerade game due to be announced by Paradox Interactive on March 21st. As you can read below, he worked with Hardsuit Labs for a bit over two years (known for Blacklight: Retribution and owned for one-third by Paradox) as a Narrative Designer/Writer, and the description even says he did so ‘tenderly’ with other developers. Incidentally, Tender is the name of the fictional dating app (matching profiles based on their blood types) that is being used as an ARG to hype up the reveal.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - March 01, 2019

Left Alive - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 17:01

Some new gameplay video for Left Alive called 'Through the Warzone'.

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Thanks Farflame!

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Story Trailer and Preview

by Silver, 16:48

A story trailer for A Plague Tale: Innocence and a preview from TheSixthAxis.

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It might be harsh to hold it to such high standards, but you can see where this isn’t a Naughty Dog game. You feel it most in the animations; Amicia and Hugo are often moving through the world hand in hand – Hugo panics if left alone for too long – but there’s times where he effectively snaps from running freely to handholding, or the amusing way they both spin perfectly in sync when you change direction while hiding behind cover. That said, the game genuinely looks really good a lot of the time, and it’s another example of how empowering modern game engines are for developers.

I also have to say that Asobo have done a great job of making Hugo believably childlike, without then being too annoying. He’ll do the stupid things that you’d expect of a young boy, swinging wildly between playfulness, naivety and moodiness – I mean, his parents were just murdered and his older sister who he’s barely even met before lied to him about it and is being really strict – but it’s well judged so that he doesn’t grate too much and always does what you or the game wants and needs.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - February 28, 2019

Close to the Sun - Gameplay Demo

by Silver, 20:02

Rob Cram shows some gameplay for Close to the Sun, which is described as a horror action adventure game in a Bioshock style.

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Take a look at some Close to the Sun gameplay from the PC version demo. Developed by Italian studio, Storm in a Tea Cup, the game has a distinct Art Deco style and looks similar to Bioshock.

http://www.closetothesungame.com/

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - February 21, 2019

Left Alive - Gameplay Videos

by Silver, 08:35

Twinfinite reports on some new gameplay videos for Left Alive.

Today, during a livestream from Square Enix’s headquarters in Tokyo, the publisher presented more gameplay of its upcoming survival shooter Left Alive.

As usual, the broadcast was presented by game director Toshifumi Nabeshima of Armored Core fame and Project Manager Koichiro Sakamoto with Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger actress Miki Yanagi as in attendance as a celebrity guest.

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Wednesday - February 13, 2019

Metro Exodus - Reviews

Monday - February 11, 2019

Fimbul - Interview @Gamingbolt

by Silver, 04:31

The developers behind action adventure game Fimbul were interviewed by Gamingbolt.

What will the combat system be like in the game?

We want to keep the fighting as accurate as possible. For example, axes are good against shields, swords against flesh, shields are something you use up and throw away etc. There are a progression to the fighting system for both weapons, combos and special moves/abilities, which should keep the fun in fighting.

The player will be able to choose whether to fight with Axe, sword, spear, two weapons or with shield. Weapons will always be available on the battlefield.

As you progress through the game you will unlock special moves/abilities which will be available by filling the “Rage bar”. These abilities can be either health, a heavy ground strike, a call for help (supporting Vikings) ect. Some of these abilities are linked to Kveldulvers past and the story.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - February 09, 2019

LITTLE LEGEND - Funded on Kickstarter

by Silver, 12:04

LITTLE LEGEND is described as a 2D side-scrolling adventure game taking place in a dreamlike open world. The game recently funded on Kickstarter and is due sometime in 2020.

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Concept

Little Legend is a 2D side-scrolling adventure game taking place in a dreamlike open world.
You play as Pimpim, a young girl with supernatural powers who sets off to explore the world. Craft your own magic abilities, explore a huge captivating world and discover the secret behind the rebuilding of the universe.

Game features

  • Create your own Magic Spells & Companions

  • Explore a 2D dreamlike Open World

  • Fight in fast-paced action

  • Discover a character-driven story with relevant Narrative Choices

  • Craft and Sell items in your own Shop

  • Fly and talk with creatures as a Magic Weasel

Thanks rjshae!

Tuesday - February 05, 2019

Left Alive - New Gameplay Videos

by Silver, 10:19

Some new gameplay videos for Left Alive at Twinfinite.

Today Square Enix hosted a livestream about the upcoming survival shooter Left Alive, showing plenty of gameplay.

The game was initially played on PS4 directly by Director Toshifumi Nabeshima, and we start with a tutorial-like level in which we get to grips with concepts like stealth, the dialogue choice system, and gathering/crafting.

For the second and third video, the controls are handed to pop idol Mirin Furukawa, who proceeds to show how not to play the game. She overextends, panics, gets stuck in geometry ( to be fair this isn’t her fault) and then gets slaughtered.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 - Review Roundup

by Silver, 09:58

Strategy game Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 has been reviewed by a number of outlets.

Noobfeed - No Score

There are moments when Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 begins to falter –perhaps a sign of the project being a tad too large for otherwise passionate developer Tindalos Intearctive. The sudden difficulty spikes and lean multiplayer mode offering would suggest as much. But even with all this in mind, the sequel is bigger and ups the ante when it comes to the spectacle on show. While its campaign isn’t exactly a beacon of depth, it compensates through slow yet exhilarating battles between behemoths of metal and meat. And trust me when I say that few things offer the same kind of joy as seeing a massive weaponized flying cathedral explode into a ball of color as a giant space rock propelled by shoddy makeshift engines crashes right into it, all to the sounds of green brutes savagely celebrating their triumph.

CGMag Online - 7.5/10

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 could have easily been another forgettable Warhammer game in a world already littered with them. However, what came out is a tense, fun strategy game. While I don’t think I’ll be plunging directly into the books now, I might give the miniatures game a whirl, sometime.

Cultured Vultures - 8/10

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada II is a very impressive game that improves upon almost all aspects of the first game. Were it not for the campaign plateauing in the back half and some overuse of mission types, it could have been the perfect strategy game. As it is, $40 will give you a great and expansive RTS with a surprisingly gripping storyline with developers Tindalos already promising some pretty interesting updates like co-op and even bigger engagements down the line.

Thanks Farflame!

Generation Zero - Dev Diary

by Silver, 09:15

@OnlySP A new dev diary for Generation Zero, which has gone gold.

Swedish developer Avalanche Studios has just announced that its open-world action game Generation Zero has gone gold. The studio also released a brand new dev diary detailing the title’s four-player online co-op mode.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - January 29, 2019

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Releasing May 14th

by Silver, 10:22

OnlySP reports that adventure game A Plague Tale: Innocence will be released May 14th. Additionally a new webseries has started which is about the games development.

Asobo Studio has revealed that its long-awaited adventure game A Plague Tale: Innocence will take players to medieval-era France on May 14, 2019.

The team dropped the news today alongside the first episode of a new webseries delving into the project’s development.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - January 28, 2019

Metro Exodus - Being Removed from Steam

by Silver, 19:38

DSOGaming reports that Metro Exodus is being removed from Steam and will be exclusive to Epics Game Store. You have until later today to get the game on Steam before it is no longer able to be purchased there until February 2020.

Epic Games and Deep Silver announced today their partnership to launch digitally on PC the highly anticipated Metro Exodus via the Epic Games store. According to the the game’s official Steam store page, this is an exclusive deal, meaning that the game will not be available on Steam at all (those who have pre-ordered the game on Steam will still get it).

[...]

Saturday - January 26, 2019

Atomic Heart - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 19:55

@GameRant Some new gameplay video for Atomic Heart, which is described as a science fiction, horror adventure game.

This past summer, Mundfish revealed its new sci-fi horror project Atomic Heart, a game which pulls influence from franchises such as Bioshock, Fallout, and Metro, according to the development team. While the first-person adventure game shows promise in its early stages, no new details have surfaced from the studio based out of Russia until now.

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Saturday - January 19, 2019

Sense - January Update

by Silver, 10:41

The January update for cyberpunk game Sense.

#31 - Sexy Cyborgs, New Logos, and a special announcement

Posted by Benjamin W Widdowson - ProjectSenseDev (Creator)

Hello everyone! Today we have more exciting news on MANY fronts, so I'll be breaking it all down into sections to keep it all organized. 

First up, I wanted to show off the finalized Logo for Sense. We were unable to find a Hong Kong based graphic designer for a price we could afford, but having a native Hong Konger as wife and co-founder of the studio worked out just fine. With help from Kay's sister we were able to create something that's authentically cantonese and a much better representation of the game thematically and visually. Take a look! 

Sense's new logo Sense's new logo

Next, I wanted to announce the next collaboration NPC for Sense's neon-lit streets.  Brilliant "maker" and actual cantonese cyberpunk Naomi Wu, who you might know as the "Sexy Cyborg", will be testing out some new DIY tech in up-town Neo HongKong. 

We weren't sure if KS would allow this so we decided to link it off-site. So go check out the image here!

Naomi is an incredibly talented engineer, and a leading voice for bringing girls into DIY,  open source tech, and engineering. She's also a voice for freedom of expression and an open internet. Like Count Dankula, SUZAKU is very proud to extend a hand of friendship to Ms. Wu. 

Finally, I've got a BIG announcement concerning the whole "backer-builds" part of our kickstarter campaign. We'll be announcing the date of our first build very soon!  Our production toolkit is nearly complete, and once it is we can begin implementing a lot of the art, assets, and concepts I have crafted. So much art has been completed over the past few months, so this current bottleneck going away will be a huge gust of wind in our sails. The pieces of the jigsaw have been crafted, and soon we'll be able to put them together, so to speak.

That said, this is how our backer builds will look until launch;

- This first build will include the 2.0 demo content completely adjusted to the final game's logic and chains, and will also include a new segment of gameplay made to show a new gameplay mechanic we'd like your feedback on. We'll label this build Demo 3.0.

- Demo 3.0 will also be made available to the public after the backers (we're open to suggestions on the exclusivity period, and what you backers think is most fair to you, so please feel free to comment below!) We intend to use this new demo to reassure non-backers of the quality and build interest for new potential customers.

- Each build after this will be a short segment of gameplay meant to showcase a mechanic/puzzle/ or event we're testing out for polish and quality. This is where our forums will hopefully become more active and useful. 

All this said, The past few months have been insanely busy, so I hope no one felt like we were too quiet. From the launch of Demo 3.0 we will be very careful with what we show, but will be more vocal about what is happening behind the scenes. As always, thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm, we look forward to seeing what you think of the new content SOON! 

(Oh, and subscribe to pewdiepie)

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - January 17, 2019

Non-RPG General News - Metro Exodus Release: February 15

by Hiddenx, 20:20

The survival FPS Metro Exodus will be available on February 15 - henriquejr spotted a preview on PC Gamer:

Metro Exodus takes time to truly make sense as an open world game

But it's worth the wait.

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Metro is a series I associate with dingy, cold underground tunnels, so stepping into an environment that's almost entirely sand and sun is a bit of a shock. This is the Caspian Sea section of 4A's survival FPS, set during a scorching summer, and what was once a body of water has dried out, leaving miles of hot desert and rusty remnants of a port in its wake. Variously sized silhouettes of flying demons are a common sighting across the map. Artyom's train, the Aurora—on which you're taking a year-long trip to find a better life with the other survivors—needs fuel, and the people are desperate for water. As the all-purpose errand guy, you have to arrange both.

[...]

Exodus is definitely taking a risk by going open world, but I'm pretty confident that I'll enjoy exploring these places and meeting these people. After an hour, I felt like Exodus was moving too slowly. After three hours, I wanted to see everything on the map before the Aurora moved on to its next destination, even knowing there'll be a lot of downtime in doing so.

Tuesday - January 15, 2019

Left Alive - Gameplay Videos

by Silver, 01:10

@Twinfinite Some gameplay videos for Left Alive.

Today Square Enix released a couple of interesting gameplay videos of its upcoming survival shooter Left Alive. The two videos, launched on the game’s official Twitter account, star Director Toshifumi Nabeshima as he showcases different mechanics of the game.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - January 07, 2019

General News - Alien Blackout Revealed

by Silver, 20:48

@Polygon The Alien Blackout game has been revealed for the first time and is a mobile game.

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A new Alien game is coming to mobile. Survival horror game Alien: Blackout will star Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley and the protagonist of 2014’s Alien: Isolation, when it comes to Android and iOS devices on Jan. 24.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - December 17, 2018

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion - Free to Own

by Silver, 19:23

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion can be yours free forever until the 19th December on Steam.

The Next Installment to the Award-Winning RTS.
While many were hopeful that diplomacy would finally end the war, differing opinions on what should be done, along with the depleted power of the controlling factions, has led to a splintering of the groups involved.

The loyalist members of the Trader Emergency Coalition adopt a policy of isolation, focusing on enhanced defenses to ride out the rest of the war. Those who rebel against the coalition take on a purely militant view, coming to the opinion that the only way to bring peace is by ultimately crushing all who oppose them - especially xenos.

For the first time in their history, the war creates a schism in the Advent Unity. The loyalists seek to continue their policy of revenge against the Traders, and to assimilate all others to the Unity’s influence. However, others amongst the Advent suspect that a corrupting influence from within has diverted the Unity from its proper destiny.

The divide created in the Vasari Empire is less pronounced, but just as severe to their people. With the Vasari now practically frantic to move on to new space, the loyalist faction abandons cooperation and decides to take the resources they need by any means necessary. Having accepted the need to work together, the rebel faction feels that their best chance for survival is to work with the other races and bring them along to flee the approaching enemy.

Take the battle for galactic supremacy to its ultimate level in Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion – a standalone RT4X game that combines the tactics of real-time strategy with the depth of the 4X genre (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate).

Key features:

  • New Factions: Decide whether to play as a Loyalist or Rebel – each unlocks new technologies, ships and play styles for each race.
  • New Titan Class Warships: Mighty titans enter the fray of the war to tip the scales of power. Each faction may field their own unique titan, drawing upon unique strengths and abilities on the battlefield.
  • New and Updated Capital Ships: A new capital ship joins the fleet for each race to offer even more tactical options. Additionally, all existing capital ships have been upgraded to four levels for their abilities, allowing players to focus their ships along specific strengths.
  • New Corvette Class Ships: Small and maneuverable, each faction has developed a new light attack craft to harass enemy forces.
  • Updated Visuals: Updated graphics, particle effects, lighting and shadows, race specific UI and other enhancements make the Sins’ universe look better than ever.
  • New Victory Conditions: Take multiple paths to victory including – Military, Diplomatic, Research, Last Flagship Standing, Last Capital Standing and Occupation.
  • New Audio: More than 60 minutes of original music, countless new sound effects and dozens of new voice overs help bring the drama of battle to new levels of immersion.
  • Tutorials: New and updated tutorials make it easy for both experienced and new players to quickly start building their own solar empire.
  • Plus, a number of optimizations that provide better performance than ever before!

Sunday - December 16, 2018

Left Alive - Details, Screenshots & Video

by Silver, 13:05

Some more details, screenshots and video on Left Alive.

Gematsu here and here:

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As demonstrated in the latest trailer, titled “Find a Way to Survive,” Left Alive encourages players to rely on their basic instincts to forge their own paths to survival by utilizing stealth mechanics, crafting, traps and more. The dark, gritty setting of Left Alive also poses challenges to players as they weigh the potential outcomes of their interactions with other survivors, which can help or hinder each other’s chances for survival.

Left Alive follows three different protagonists, each with their own stories, missions and potential paths to salvation. The game features a variety of action-packed play styles for players, blending strategic stealth maneuvers with frenetic gun battles and adrenaline-fueled encounters with powerfully armed troops, armored vehicles and towering mechs.

Twinfinite:

During the livestream, Nabeshima-san illustrated how the gameplay loop will work in a rather analog way (mentioning that “analog is the best”).

As you can see below, the game is split into chapters, and each chapter will focus on one of the three protagonists. In the schematic below, the first and third chapters focus on Mikhail, while the second focuses on Olga.

Inventory isn’t shared. Items gathered during the first chapter will become available again in the third when Mikhail reappears. Items gathered by Olga in chapter two will be usable in the next chapter focused on her.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - December 15, 2018

RAGE 2 - Exclusive to Bethesda Launcher

by Silver, 20:37

@DSOGaming RAGE 2 will be exclusive to the Bethesda Launcher.

Back in August, Bethesda claimed that not all of its titles will be exclusive to the Bethesda launcher, however that it appears that this won’t be the case with RAGE 2. Bethesda did not state back then that RAGE 2 would be coming to Steam either so technically, and while this is a bit disappointing, the publisher has not lied to its PC customers.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - December 13, 2018

Void Bastards - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 12:13

A gameplay video for Void Bastards from IGN.

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The developers of the comic book-looking shooter/strategy game Void Bastards take you through a meaty 18-minute chunk of gameplay.

Wednesday - December 12, 2018

Jon Shafer's At The Gates - Releasing 23rd January

by Silver, 12:11

@Bluesnews Jon Shafer's At The Gates is a 4x strategy game from the designer of Civilization V. The release date has been announced as the 23rd of January and a Steam page is now available.

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At the Gates
is a 4X grand strategy game from Jon Shafer, designer of Civilization 5.

You are a Dark Age lord. Your destiny is to build a kingdom in the shadow of the crumbling Roman Empire. Explore the dangerous landscape around you, harvest its resources, and build a mighty economic and military machine. Your clans have their own personalities and desires, so carefully consider how you use them.

It won't be easy. Your path is unsure. Overcome your immensely strong neighbors. Outlast the frigid winters of the far north to discover a source of gold and vast riches.

Are you the leader who will usher in a new era of European history? Or will you be forgotten?

--- Features ---

An Evolving Map

Seasons and weather dramatically transform the landscape around you. The river that once served as a barrier in the summer might become a highway in the winter - for both you and your enemies!

Character Management

Each of your clans has unique traits and desires, so choose carefully how you use them.

Survival & Roguelike Elements

Keep your clans fed through the harsh winter. Resources run out so always be hunting for more. Your neighbors can be immensely strong. Every game poses new challenges and opportunities.

Watercolor Art Style

A beautiful watercolor landscape serves as the canvas for your clever economic and military strategies.

Tooltips-in-Tooltips!

AtG features a revolutionary user interface which utilizes "tooltips-in-tooltips" for the very first time, making it far easier to learn without sacrificing any gameplay depth.

Tuesday - December 11, 2018

Genesis Alpha One - Gets Release Date

by Silver, 01:03

@Worthplaying Genesis Alpha One will be released January 29th 2019 on Epic Games store, Microsoft stores and Playstation 4.

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Genesis Alpha One will launch on the Epic Games store for PC and simultaneously on the PlayStation and Microsoft stores on January 29th, 2019. A boxed version for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is available from select retailers worldwide.

The game is available to pre-purchase now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Epic Games store. Gamers pre-purchasing will receive the Rocket Star Corporation content pack which includes the following exclusive weapons:

  • UTS 15 shotgun
  • FBL Firebomb Launcher
  • AsVal automatic rifle
  • Kugelblitz energy weapon
[...]

Thanks Farflame!

 

Sunday - December 09, 2018

Company of Heroes 2 - Free to Own

by Silver, 11:35

The fifth anniversary is upon Company of Heroes 2 and the game is free to own forever on Steam.

Experience the ultimate WWII RTS platform with COH2 and its standalone expansions. This package includes the base game, which you can then upgrade by purchasing The Western Front Armies, Ardennes Assault and/or The British Forces. More info in the "About This Game" section below.

Saturday - December 08, 2018

Psychonauts 2 - First Official Trailer

by Silver, 11:47

@Wccftech A new trailer for Psychonauts 2, shown at the game awards.

The trailer, which has been shown during The Game Awards 2018 yesterday, introduces players to the game’s world and characters. Some short gameplay sequences are also seen at the end of the trailer, which you can watch in full below.

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A Plague Tale - New Screenshots

by Silver, 11:38

Wccftech has some new screenshots for A Plague Tale.

The hope I have is that with games that touch even more interesting subjects and make moves that others likely wouldn’t, Focus Home could actually escape the seeming plateau and reach the greatness I honestly think they deserve at times. A Plague Tale: Innocence certainly has the interesting factor down, only time will tell if it makes the moves. It certainly sounds like it could push the envelope though:

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - December 05, 2018

Starbreeze - HQ has been raided

by Silver, 12:02

@VG24/7 Starbreeze HQ has been raided on suspicion of "insider crimes".

Update: Starbreeze’s offices have been raided by police, leading to at least one arrest.

According to SVD, the company was raided on suspicion of “insider crimes”, suggesting the arrest was made due to insider trading.

As well as the arrest, equipment has been taken.

This story is developing…

[...]

Tuesday - December 04, 2018

Mechwarrior 5 - September 2019 Release Date

by Silver, 12:02

PC Gamer reports that Mechwarrior 5 has a new release date of September 10th 2019.

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MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries just looks better and better every time I see it, so I'm real interested in checking it out next year when it releases on September 10, 2019. MechWarrior 5 was supposed to launch this December but was delayed, but Piranha Games president Russ Bullock just announced the new release date during MechCon, where thousands of robot fans pour into Vancouver to celebrate all things BattleTech. To accompany the announcement, Piranha Games revealed an explosive new trailer to showcase some classic mech on mech action.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Sunday - December 02, 2018

Non-RPG General News - Released 20 Years ago - Thief: The Dark Project

by Hiddenx, 18:25

PC Gamer looks back at Thief: The Dark Project:

20 years ago, Thief: The Dark Project defined the stealth game

A look back on the game that gave players the tools to sneak, not to fight, and the impact that had.

Footsteps in the dark. Mutterings under breath. The sound of a bowstring, pulled taut and released. To think of Thief is to think of its sound design, from the simplest combat effect to the gravelly narration of Stephen Russell’s Garrett as he hides in the dark, observing a city so corrupt that a man like him can be its unsung hero. It’s to remember that city, nameless and broken, where the cold steel and hot fires of the Metal Age sit atop the weeds and lost secrets of ancient pagan culture and zombie boneyards. The quiet moments. The frenzies as a plan goes wrong and shouts of “Taffer!” fill the night sky. The perfect getaways and the desperate escapes.

Despite all this, if there’s one thing that defines Thief, it’s in the title. Many games, including successors like Deus Ex and Dishonored, are fundamentally built on playing things your way. You get the tools to sneak around if you want, but you also get a sack of guns and explosives, super-powers to break the rules of the world, and levels and enemies built to allow you to explore them. Thief instead strikes a deal. It gives you the tools and experience of a master criminal, but only so long as you’re willing to play the role.

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Thanks henriquejr!

Friday - November 30, 2018

Left Alive - New Trailer

by Silver, 11:51

A new trailer for Left Alive.

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Thanks Farflame!

Friday - November 23, 2018

Starsector - 0.91 release

by Silver, 13:56

RockPaperShotgun report on Starsector's 0.91 release.

I’ve previously described Fractal Softworks’s space sim Starsector (primarily the work of solo dev Alexander Mosolov) as ‘Mount & Blade: Warband in space’.  High praise at the time, but as of today’s version 0.9a release, I feel it might be selling it short. Today’s update (patch notes here) is over a year in the works, and vastly broadens the scope of involvement you can have in its still-expanding procedural space sandbox, including colony management. The excellent real-time tactical combat has been improved too, including new battles against enormous orbital platforms.

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Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - November 21, 2018

Adeptus Titanicus Dominus - Major Update

by Silver, 11:54

A major update for Adeptus Titanicus Dominus features a total overhaul of the battlefields, more destructibility and performance improvements.

News! Details regarding the first Major Update for Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus!

21 NOVEMBER - MARK
Hi everyone! We're getting close to releasing the first Major Update to Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, so we thought it high time we gave you details about what's coming as part of that.

Total Overhaul of the Battlefields

We have completely redone the first three battlefields for this update. In response to feedback received about the look and feel of the battlefields, Glenn has painstakingly recreated each of the three existing maps to improve and extend Dominus' aesthetics-in doing so, he has also set a new, much higher bar, from which all the battlefields yet to come will likewise benefit. This has taken Glenn a LOT of time, but we think you will agree the new maps were worth the wait when you play on them.

Here are some screenshots of the replacement battlefields that are now being tested in-game.

Facebook Replacement Battlefields Album[www.facebook.com]

Optimisations and Performance Improvements

Glenn and I have done a lot of work to improve the game's overall performance, which will particularly benefit those of you playing on older hardware.

This has been achieved in several ways, but most notably by implementing Unity's level of detail (LOD) system. In the new build, building models will increase in details as you get closer, but the trade-off is that there may be some visible changes now and then as buildings transition. This will be more noticeable on some battlefields than on others, depending on lighting, but is hopefully not too noticeable or jarring-and we think it's worth the trade-off, anyway, as this technique will also allow us to add EVEN MORE DESTRUCTIBLE BUILDINGS!

Glenn has already started planning his first Dense Urban battlefield, which is something many of you have requested-and we have wanted to do!-so Glenn and I are pretty pumped for that.

Cinematic Mode

We have added a new Cinematic Mode (which will be turned on by default, but can be turned off if you don't like it) that selects pseudo-random camera positions around the Titans as they execute their orders.

Stress

The first Major Update brings in the new Stress mechanic, which fans of the 6mm tabletop game will recognise as stemming from the "blast markers" rules. Stress adds a new strategic layer to the game, as you will need to manage how much stress individual Titans are suffering. Here's how it works.

As a battle progresses, your war engines will suffer Stress from the strain that enemy attacks put on the god-machines and their crews. Your Titans can each suffer Stress equal to their starting Damage Capacity, and a new Stress meter/status bar will appear above your other bars (Void Shields and Damage) so you can see at a glance how much Stress your engines are coping with-or not coping with!

Each enemy attack will add to your Stress meter, regardless of whether or not damage was done-as Stress captures everything from the physical to the mental-and any actual damage done further adds to the Stress meter. When the Stress meter hits 100%, the war engine will temporarily shut down, becoming completely ineffectual-in game terms, this means that if it has not already been activated that turn, it will be set activated.

At the end of each turn, in the End Phase, each Titan will shed just over half the Stress it is carrying and return to a fighting stance, so Titans that were forced to shut down in the previous turn will return to active duty in the new turn.

Close Combat

We have added the 4th Edition's Close Combat mechanics, along with the first close combat weapon system-the Reaver Power Fist!

Close combat is a MASSIVE game-changer for Dominus. All princeps will have the option of going in for "hand to hand" combat when they find themselves in close-quarters battles, whether armed with close combat weaponry or not, but those crews that have selected close combat weapons for their Titans will RELISH IT and actively seek it out upon field of battle!

Close Combat is DECISIVE-meaning it's frequently deadly. Close combat occurs inside of the Titans' void shields, which means any damage done completely bypasses the combatant's shields, hitting the armour directly.

In an assault, Titans armed with close combat weaponry will have a massive advantage over those without. For example, the Reaver's new Power Fist weapon system is adding THREE EXTRA HITS in any close combat (over and above the Reaver's standard six hits-standard hits are equal to the Titan's starting Damage Capacity) and the Power Fist's extra hits are all TITAN KILLER hits, each of which can do up to THREE DAMAGE with NO ARMOUR SAVES! As you can probably appreciate, even just one Power Fist turns your average Reaver into a close-quarters killing engine-and you can have TWO OF THEM if you're happy to forego most of your ranged shooting capability!

That's the trade-off, of course: carrying more punchy weapons means taking less shooty weaponry-it's up to you to decide what these new close combat weapons are worth to you, and whether or not you want to bring them for your battles.

It's also important to understand that close combat occurs both ways-the engaging Titan will hit its enemy and the enemy will hit it back! This differentiates close combat from normal shooting attacks, where the enemy does not shoot back within the activation (unless it was on Overwatch).

The Future

We hope you agree there is plenty to look forward to in the first Major Update, but of course that's not where the story of Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus' development ends. There's a LOT more to look forward to as Dominus comes together, most notably new environments, new weapon systems, new variants, and of course the single-player campaign!

On behalf of Glenn and myself, THANK YOU for your continued support for us and Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus through our Early Access journey. Your feedback, your Steam reviews and your enthusiasm has been fantastic and is very much appreciated. We hope you will continue to add your voices on our Steam Discussions forum, in Discord, on Facebook and on Twitter, sharing your thoughts and opinions with us, and your suggestions as to how we can further improve. It all helps us a great deal.

- Mark & Glenn

Monday - November 19, 2018

Beautiful Desolation - November Update

by Silver, 06:35

The November production update for Beautiful Desolation.

NOVEMBER 2018 PRODUCTION UPDATE

We're still working at break-neck speed on DESOLATION!

The scene graphics are ahead of schedule, and the GUI graphics have been completed to a large extent.

I'm just about done with the over-world map screens. We'll definitely illustrate the detail we're putting into these areas in a future backer update. While I've knuckled down to get these done, Nic has been implementing some of the more arbitrary (but necessary) development, like the credits screen and diary/codex system. 

Don't forget to WISHLIST BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION on STEAM! https://store.steampowered.com/app/912570/BEAUTIFUL_DESOLATION/

A previous update introduced players to the Fley: LINK (CLICK HERE) ,

and now we're pleased to reveal our next denizen:

THE NEST 

The NEST are a nano-robotic life form that live in an isolated part of this desolate world. The orbital research station on which they were created, has crashed in the African veld. This warm, dry environment is not the ideal for the replication of the synthetic NEST. 

Their advanced technology has allowed them to terraform the grasslands into a cold, sterile tundra that is rapidly expanding. 

NEST Atmospheric Processor and ice cube maker
NEST Atmospheric Processor and ice cube maker
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Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - November 11, 2018

Void Bastards - Inspired by System Shock 2 & Bioshock

by Silver, 12:16

The Void Bastards announcement trailer which is due sometime during 2019.

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Inspired by BioShock and System Shock 2, Void Bastards is a revolutionary new strategy-shooter that will test your wits as well as exercise your aim. Can you lead the misfit prisoners of the Void Ark through the derelict spaceships and myriad dangers of the Sargasso Nebula?

Thursday - November 08, 2018

Star Dynasties - Interview

by Silver, 21:40

Schematics Team interview the developer of Star Dynasties which is described as Crusader Kings 2 in space.

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Welcome to another episode of "Schematics Interview"! This time we talked with Glen - developer of Star Dynasties - we about the the game, it's inspiration, story telling and the games future.

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Review @ Bosshunting

by Hiddenx, 21:36

Bosshunting checked out Red Dead Redemption 2:

Review: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Of Red Dead Redemption 2

Game. Of. The. Year.

It's been a little over a week since Red Dead Redemption 2 hit the shelves and the hype is still showing no signs of slowing down. Having made a reported $1 billion AUD in its opening three days, RDR2 is the second biggest entertainment release of all time and also the best game you'll play this year. It's a monumental achievement in video game history and is well deserving of the praise its been receiving from critics, but the game is not without its faults.

Having spent too many hours over the past week glued to my television screen navigating protagonist Arthur Morgan through all manner of Wild West hijinks in my attempt to escape the law and build a better life for myself and my gang, I've experienced the highs and lows of RDR2. For those still deciding whether to purchase the game, here's a quick lowdown about everything that's good, bad and ugly with Red Dead Redemption 2.

[...]

Wednesday - October 31, 2018

Left Alive - Interview @Dualshockers

by Silver, 21:36

A new interview about Left Alive at Dualshockers.

Giuseppe: Why did you decide not to include the name Front Mission in the title, considering that the game is set in the same universe?

Shinji Hashimoto: We thought it was a way to show the newness of the franchise, and it would help to have a different name to show that it’s a new direction. It’s still very much Front Mission. We know that some know and love Front Mission. All the lore is still very much the Front Mission universe. The names, the Wanzers, the locations, the historical events in the series are all there. People who know Front Mission will get straight away that this is a Front Mission game.

The name Front Mission is very closely tied to the idea of the traditional simulation strategy style of gameplay. To give that impression of a different genre of game, we changed the name.

Giuseppe: Speaking of simulation strategy style of gameplay. Square Enix has been doing very well with old-school-style games lately. I’m thinking about Octopath Traveler for instance. If Left Alive does well, would you be interested in creating a brand new Front Mission game featuring the traditional gameplay?

Shinji Hashimoto:  If the director of the project wants to take it in that direction, I’d support him on that.

Giuseppe: I’d buy it. Two copies. 

Shinji Hashimoto: [Laughs] If Nabeshima-san wants to try different things like that, it would be very good to give it a try.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - October 18, 2018

Opinion - 6 Worst Gaming Trends

by Silver, 10:06

Cultured Vultures shared their opinion on the 6 worst gaming trends of this generation.

1. Loot Boxes

Easily the trend that’s received the most publicity even outside the realm of gaming is loot boxes. Although it seems to be dying down again now that legal action was taken in some countries, it’s still very much a trend. Without any guarantee of getting anything worthwhile, loot boxes are annoying enough when purely for cosmetic purposes, so that only those who have enough money and a few other lucky people will have the cool skins and the like. That’s a problem by itself, but it’s not the main problem behind loot boxes and the whole reason for the fuss behind them.

The main problems arise when you get a situation like with Star Wars: Battlefront 2, where loot boxes are filled with items that help you progress. The game becomes not only pay-to-winbut RNG-based pay-to-win, where the wealthiest always has a massive head-start. You could argue that that makes the game more realistic but that really is beside the point. The point is that companies using loot boxes to make players pay out of their arses to have a shot against those who maxed out on day one by doing so is absolutely unacceptable, and it hasn’t been a major problem before this generation of consoles.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - October 17, 2018

Discord - Store Beta

by Silver, 12:14

Discord's Store Beta is now open to everyone which you can read about at their blog site.

The First “First On Discord” Games

As part of launching our boutique store experience, we’re bringing some new games to life for the first time ever. These fancy fresh First on Discord games will be available first on Discord (get it) for PC.

We’re really excited to show these off today.

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Saturday - October 13, 2018

Command & Conquer - Getting Remastered

by Silver, 10:31

PCGamesN reports that the original Command & Conquer will be getting remastered and will not include microtransations.

Ok, keep calm everyone. It sounds like EA is remastering the original Command & Conquer with a view to release in 2020, “to celebrate the upcoming 25th Year Anniversary”. And it wants your feedback to influence “our current thoughts for PC and what comes next.”

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - September 27, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Review

by Silver, 11:24

TechQuila reviewed Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

And what about platforming? Well, expect a lot of that too. Half of my time was spent on just getting from point A to B. And while that’s fun, I did want to stray off the path to explore even more of the map that the game, sadly, never allowed me to do. There’s also a lot of underwater exploration here. Much more than the previous games, and that’s a welcome change. While seeing Lara Croft go to unbelievable lengths to hold her breath is, well, breathtaking it does tend to overstay its welcome.

[...]

Thanks trespasser!

Wednesday - September 26, 2018

Left Alive - Gameplay Walkthrough

by Silver, 04:59

Left Alive gameplay walkthrough.

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LEFT ALIVE First GamePlay Walkthrough - TGS2018

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - September 22, 2018

Telltale Games - Announces Shut Down

by Silver, 14:03

@TechQuila Telltale Games announced that they will be shutting down.

Telltale games, on 21st September 2018 officially announced that it will be shutting down, following a round of mass layoffs for the company’s 250 or so employees which saw almost 90% of the workforce discharged.

Best known for their narrative titles like borderlands, the studio had carved a small niche for itself in the industry.

[...]

Thanks trespasser!

Wednesday - September 19, 2018

Left Alive - Interview & First Look

by Silver, 05:25

@Wccftech A first look at Left Alive and an interview with the developers.

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Why have you decided to blend all of these genres together?

Really the idea is that different people have different ideas in their head about how they want to play. Some people are very good at action games, some people aren’t so good at action games. We wanted to give them that freedom of choice to play the way they wanted to.

It also gives you the chance to roleplay in different ways. You can play as a moralistic character if you want to go through and be scrupulous or you can play more of a pragmatist if you want.

Do the three characters reflect different aspects of game genres?

You’ve always got the option of how you will handle each of the characters here. They’ve obviously got their own backstory and reason for being in the city when it was invaded, and they’re all dealing with their past as well. So you’ve got the choice: if you really resonate with that character and their background and think they should be played a certain way you can, or you can play how you want to play if you prefer.

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Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - September 15, 2018

The Mooseman - Mythological Game

by Silver, 12:26

TechQuila reviewed The Mooseman and found it intriguing.

The Mooseman – A game about a demigod traversing between worlds, while discovering ancient myths? “Sign me up!” was the first thought that ran through my mind as I perused through the game’s description. As a myth buff, my interest was peaked when I learnt that this would deal with mythological elements that are obscure, or have been lost to the ages.

Plot

The Mooseman follows a half man, half god as he visits the three layers of the universe. He is aided by the ability to instantly move between two dimensions, presumably the world of the Living and the world of Spirits. You begin in the Lower World, where the dead dwell, and then work your way up to the Middle World, where humans reside, and finally the Upper World, the realm of the gods.

[...]

Thanks trespasser!

Thursday - September 13, 2018

The Light Keeps Us Safe - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 10:18

A gameplay trailer for The Light Keeps Us Safe.

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The sky has flickered and gone out. Only The Light can keep us safe.

And you can't stay down there in the depths of the bunker. The food is gone and the power can't last much longer, either. Those things out there in the dark will only take so long to find their way in... It's time to go outside and face what's waiting for you out there. Maybe then you can go into The Light, like the others.

THE LIGHT KEEPS US SAFE is a procedurally-generated apocalypse in which only The Light can save us. Use stealth and evasion to avoid terrifying machines that patrol the desolate world, and employ the powers of Light to unpick their deadly traps.

Release: 11 October 2018 / Windows Pc

https://store.steampowered.com/app/853240/The_Light_Keeps_Us_Safe/

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - September 12, 2018

Opinion - Platform Exclusives are Unhealthy

by Silver, 11:17

TechQuila offered their views on why platform exclusives are unhealthy and looked at the example of Spiderman.

The gamers on the other hand are forced to skip the title entirely or loan (in some cases even buy) the console to try out an acclaimed exclusive. No gamer should have to reluctantly buy a console just for the sake of one or two exclusives. In fact, most gamers don’t have the luxury to own multiple consoles, so they miss out on many phenomenal titles that also happen to be exclusives.

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Thanks trespasser!

Tuesday - September 11, 2018

Left Alive - Release Trailer

by Silver, 12:43

@TechQuila Left Alive has a release date and a new trailer.

Fans of the shooter genre would have gone through the motions as Square Enix dropped a new trailer for their new PlayStation 4 game titled ‘Left Alive’. The announcement was made during the pre-Tokyo Game Show PlayStation Lineup Tour. The game is currently being worked on by Toshifumi Nabeshima, who might be remembered for some of his other works, such as Armoured Core, and Yoji Shinkwawa, who previously worked on games like the critically acclaimed Metal Gear series as well as Zone of the Enders.

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Left Alive is coming to PS4 and Steam February 28th 2019.

Thanks trespasser!

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Review Roundup

by Silver, 07:42

PCGamesN gathered a bunch of reviews for Shadow of the Tomb Raider while DSOGaming showed off some new trailers for the game.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider review scores:
Gamespot: 6/10
Destructoid: 75/100
The Guardian: 3/5
The Daily Telegraph: 2/5
Game Informer (XB1): 75/100
GamesRadar+: 4/5
PCGamer: 84/100
PCGN: 7/10
Videogamer: 7/10
Wccftech: 86/100

[...]

Square Enix has released the Launch and the Tobii Eye Tracking trailers for Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Alongside the post-launch support for real-time ray tracing, the PC version of the game will come with full support for Tobii Eye Tracking.

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Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - September 04, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - New Videos

by Silver, 01:18

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has some new videos.

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Thanks Farflame!

Left Alive - New Details

by Silver, 00:57

Some new details about gameplay, mecha, survival and more have been reported by Dualshockers regarding Left Alive.

While the game is set in the world of the Front Mission franchise, the name “Front Mission” doesn’t appear in the title because this is a different development team, spearheading a new direction. That’s why Square Enix opted to simply call the game “Left Alive.”

The story is set in a “certain city” where a war suddenly broke out. There are three playable characters whose task is to survive and escape from the battlefield. The basic genre is third-person-shooter, but there are a number of features that make it quite unique compared to standard TPS.

Nabeshima-san did not set up to make simply a shooter. He wanted to create a game which provided a lot of choice in the way players can approach different situations, and made them think about how to solve the issues they’re faced with.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - September 03, 2018

Protocol - Action Adventure

by Silver, 10:16

Protocol is an indie action adventure about first contact with an alien intelligence due summer 2018 on Steam.

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You were chosen to carry out the Protocol program.

Your objective is to make first contact with an alien life form. Any violation will lead to the elimination of you and the whole operation.
Remember, the fate of the humanity depends on your actions.
Once signed, Protocol must be promptly implemented.
Have a nice day.

P.S. Black humor, aliens, conspiracy theories, AI, sci-fi - there's going to be everything and even more.
Protocol is a first-person action adventure game, where you have to solve bizarre tasks given by an artificial intelligence and at the same time conduct your own investigation.
Welcome to the Complex - dive into a tense, dashingly twisted plot, actions of which take place in a secret and dangerous complex somewhere in the Arctic Circle.
Are you following the Protocol or going against the system?
The choice is yours.
PC or VR? Both! You can play either on PC, using keyboard and mouse, or in VR using a headset.

Monday - August 27, 2018

Left Alive - New Screenshots

by Silver, 04:46

Left Alive is a survival-action mech game. DSOGaming has some new screenshots to show off.

A new set of screenshots for Square Enix’s upcoming survival action game, Left Alive, have surfaced online. These screenshots show the dialogue system that will be used in it, some environments and some robots/mechs.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - August 22, 2018

Settlers 25th Anniversary Collection - Announced

by Silver, 11:43

@Indie Retro News Settlers 25th Anniversary Collection has been announced and will feature a re-release of all Settlers games.

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Available from November 15th 2018 through Uplay with the first game in the collection available now. This Settlers packed bonanza will include all patches and expansions, as well as updates and enhancements to allow them to play on modern PCs and Windows 10. So that's Settlers 1, Settlers 2 Gold, The Settlers III, The Settlers IV, The Settlers Heritage of Kings, The Settlers Rise of an Empire, and even The Settlers 7!

Tuesday - August 21, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Know Your Enemy

by Silver, 08:00

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has a new trailer.

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Shadow of the Tomb Raider is filled with deadly foes, from swarms of vicious piranhas to elite Trinity soldiers. Shadow of the Tomb Raider will be available on September 14, 2018 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC/Steam. Pre-order Digital Deluxe, Digital Croft or Croft Edition now at https://tombraider.games/tombrd9959 to get Shadow of the Tomb Raider two days early!

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - August 17, 2018

Scorn - Delayed into 2019

by Silver, 14:42

Scorn is described as an atmospheric first-person horror adventure game. OnlySP reports that due to additional funding becoming available Scorn will be delayed into 2019 instead of the originally planned October 2018.

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Scorn, the H. R. Giger-inspired horror title from Ebb Software, has been delayed until next year following an injection of third-party funds.

In a statement on the game’s website, the developer said that as a result of this new funding, it was able to make a “much better quality, fully realised game.” However, for this project to see completion,  Ebb would have to spend more time than anticipated in development, pushing it beyond the original October 2018 release window.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - August 14, 2018

Plague Tale - Interview

by Silver, 00:53

Plague Tale is an adventure game with some stealth and action elements set during 14th century France. The developers were interviewed by Gamingbolt who asked about the gameplay features, progression mechanics and other things.

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There’s a plague afoot. Rats swarm the streets, the houses and the town. There’s no practical escape from them… except the light. In Asobo Studio’s A Plague Tale: Innocence, you take the role of Amicia, a young girl who is trying to find safety in the dark recesses of 14th century France, for her younger brother Hugo, away from the rats who eat everything in their path, and away from the human threat: the Inquisition. Solving puzzles, and using the rats against your enemies to get to safety is your only hope for survival.

We had a chance to sit and talk with David Dedeine who is the creative director of Plague Tale: Innocence, and asked him some of our questions.

You obviously must have been aware that many players would fear that this game could be looked at as one large escort mission. What steps have you taken to make sure that that doesn’t happen?

The mindset is to take this as an opportunity. We really believe that it’s the strength of the game. We are basically playing with this feature, giving it more context more situation. Hugo will never be a backpack. He has its own behavior, his own feelings. Hugo will just take Amicia’s hands. It’s not something we forced to use on her to do most of the time, Hugo will instinctively go to Amicia and have her protect him because he’s just five.

But any moment you can ask him to stay somewhere, or to follow you. Basically, if you believe you don’t realize how dangerous something is, basically ask him to follow you. That very simple tool generates a lot of different situations. For example, if you ask Hugo to stay somewhere, and he stays too long, or if you’re out of his sight for too long, he will panic, he will shout, he will call for Amicia, and that will probably attract guards, for example. It basically forces Amicia to manage the environment around Hugo, or create a time window to do what she has to do. There are some very cool gameplay elements near the end. We have all these things to fix right now in the game, but this aspect, to me, works pretty well.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - August 13, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Previews

by Silver, 12:26

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has been well previewed with some new screens and video available as well.

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Explore underwater environments filled with vast caverns and deep tunnel systems in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Worthplaying has some new screenshots

Monstervine previewed the game:

“One of the things that was really important for us is to really explore the inner conflict or what she’s experiencing … we needed to have something that was familiar to her that she can trust,” said Senior Game Director, Daniel Chayer-Bisson.

At times, their relationship will come to a head, as Jonah tries to balance between supporting Lara and standing up to her when he feels her actions are reckless. “Jonah I feel a lot of ways, really fights to remain an equal partner on this journey,” said Lead Writer, Jill Murray.

[...]

Venturebeat preview:

“She’s definitely less vulnerable than she’s ever been. In Tomb Raider 2013 she was thrown into this situation where she was being very reactive,” Chris Johnston, brand manager at Crystal Dynamics, in an earlier interview with GamesBeat. “In Rise of the Tomb Raider she became more proactive. She went on her first expedition. In this game, this is the most capable and calculating Lara players have ever seen in the modern version of the series. Other words like ‘obsessed’ and ‘driven’ are ones we use quite frequently.”

[...]

Gamereactor preview:

"However, what was interesting about that was we tried to do a stealth experience and we realised very early on that Tomb Raider ... it's all about movement in combat. It's even, in fact, in classic Tomb Raider when you would lock-on and circle-strafe around the enemy, you were always rewarded for keeping your movement because this is Lara; she's athletic, she's acrobatic. So very early on when we were trying to figure out what is jungle stealth combat, it's not just waiting in a tree forever - you will be found, right? So we try to create challenges, enemies, ingredients that encourage the player to move."

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - August 09, 2018

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 23:45

Techcrunch took a look at Red Dead Redemption 2 and found it very real.

Open worlds have been a staple of gaming for a long time, but recent titles like Breath of the Wild and Horizon: Zero Dawn have significantly pushed the boundaries of what players expect from their environments. Rockstar, of Grand Theft Auto fame, is looking to make them all look like toys with Red Dead Redemption 2 and its wild west frontier that looks to be not just huge, but refreshingly real.

[...]

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Thanks rjshae!

Sunday - July 15, 2018

Non-RPG General News - Horror Universes Games could explore

by Hiddenx, 01:03

PC Games says that there are many interesting horror universes worth to be to explored in computer games:

Screw Lovecraft, let's talk about other horror universes games could explore

Enough H.P. already. Our tentacles have gone limp.

H.P. Lovecraft told some great stories, sure. His ability to push readers to attempt to grasp ‘unknowable truths’ and ‘unspeakable horrors’ and to build stupefying worlds out of impossible geometries was largely unmatched in the public eye upon discovery of his work. But despite his widespread posthumous fame and contributions to horror, we’re tired of videogames’ love affair with Lovecraft. 

There have been some great Lovecraft inspired games throughout the years, but the bulk throw in some tentacles, weird shapes, the occasional penis statue, and call it a day. The horror genre is infinitely deeper and wider than one (undeniably xenophobic and racist) man’s work. We believe games can do better. Here’s just a few horror universes set forth by our favorite creators that future games could pull from.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Tuesday - July 10, 2018

Warhammer 40K: Gladius - Reviews

by Silver, 05:34

GameWatcher and Wccftech have reviewed 4x strategy game Warhammer 40K: Gladius.

Over the course of the years, more Warhammer 40,000 games that we can count have been released on PC and consoles, each one offering a different take on the world created by Games Workshop. Among the many strategy games based on the franchise, none are 4X strategy games, and it was up to developer Proxy Studios to release the first one, Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War. The team managed to deliver a solid title that can satisfy both Warhammer 40,000 and 4X strategy games fans.

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A strategy title in the molds of Sid Meier’s Civilization, the game takes place in the original world of Gladius Prime, where Space Marines, Imperial Guards, Orks, and Necrons battle each other and the world’s wildlife in a bid to dominate the planet. The factions themselves are quite distinct and asymmetrical, possessing unique buildings, units, and technologies. Space Marines, for example, can only have a single city in the form of a Fortress-Chapel dropped from orbit, while Necrons must colonise Necron Ruins and Guardsmen can settle just about anywhere. It creates for an interesting mix of mechanics that fosters replayability and experimentation.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - June 11, 2018

Gears Tactics - E3 Video

by Silver, 07:18

Gears Tactics was shown off at E3, which is set 12 years before Gears of War 1.

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Monday - June 04, 2018

Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus - Early Access Launch

by Silver, 15:00

Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus is a 3D turn-based strategy adaptation of Games Workshop’s Titan Legions tabletop game, which has been launched onto Steam early access.

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About This Game

Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, the 3D turn-based strategy PC game adaptation of Games Workshop’s classic Titan Legions tabletop game, puts you in control of the greatest weapons available to the Imperium of Man, the mighty Titans of the Adeptus Titanicus!

Coming soon to Steam Early Access, Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus features a Skirmish mode against an AI opponent for single-player and an online multi-player mode. Upon full release, the game will also offer an exciting single-player campaign.

Control a force of Titans
In Dominus, choose to control a force of Titans from the loyalist Legions of Astorum (Warp Runners), Gryphonicus (War Griffons), Crucius (Warmongers) or Osedax (The Cockatrices), or choose from the traitorous Chaos Legions of Mortis (Death Heads), Vulcanum (Dark Fire), Damnosus (Lords of Ruin) and Fureans (Tiger Eyes).
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Futuristic warfare
Utilising the tabletop Titan Legions rules system as its foundation, Dominus features an easy-to-play yet deep strategic and tactical experience via its streamlined command system, which sees you and your opponent giving activation orders to your Titans, resulting in fast-paced battles. It successfully marries this strategic play with action sequences as the gargantuan Titans exchange volleys of cannon shots, blistering laser blasts and other epic, super-powered weapons of the far off future!

Easy to play, challenging to master
While luck will play a part as you trade blows with your foe on the futuristic battlefields of the 41st Millennium, your path to victory lies in your army list building and how you manoeuvre your units upon the battlefield. As a commander, you will have access to the most classic, iconic Titan units from the Warhammer 40,000 universe: Warhounds, Reavers and the gigantic Warlord, for both the Imperial and Chaos factions. Each of these Titans will have multiple variants available, featuring different weapon configurations, thereby enabling your Titans to fulfil the battlefield role your strategy demands.

A living battlefield
Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus will feature a "living battlefield" that employs unit and battlefield animations to show players the Warhammer 40,000 universe they know and love.

ABOUT MEMBRAINE

Membraine Studios is a small indie team based in Sydney, Australia. The team is Glenn Osmond-McLeod and Mark Sheppard - both avid tabletop gamers and indie developers with more than 16 years game development experience between them. In recent years, Membraine has focused on the turn-based strategy genre.

CURRENTLY PLAYABLE

The current Early Access build of Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus features the following:

  • A true-to-source adaptation of the Titan Legions tabletop rules, streamlined for PC
  • Nine Titan variants, three each for the Warlord, Reaver and Warhound
  • Four Loyalist Legios and four Chaos Legios to choose from
  • Three battlefields, each with distinct environments
  • Destructible terrain features - watch buildings collapse as stray weapons fire obliterates their structural integrity
  • Several game modes with multiple victory conditions - there is more than one way to win
  • Eight fixed-forces scenarios to challenge your skills as Legate of a Maniple of Titans
  • Discover the strategic depth underlying the game, with points-based army list building in Skirmish and Multi-Player via the Detachment Builder

THE ROAD AHEAD

Over time, we plan to release a series of updates to the game as it progresses towards the full version of the title.
Update One (currently in development)
The first major update planned for Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus focuses on gameplay additions::

  • Stress (suppression mechanics) - an additional layer of tactical concern that adds depth!
  • Close Assault and Fire Fight - engage with your enemy in deadly close-quarters combat!
  • Steam Achievements (first grouping)
  • A loot-drop system (initial implementation)
  • General quality-of-life improvements


Future updates
The scope of the next major updates has not yet been announced. Follow us for news about the next exciting instalment of Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus' Early Access journey!

Wednesday - May 30, 2018

Thief: The Dark Mod - Version 2.4 Features

by Silver, 00:53

@DSOGaming Thief: The Dark Mod has some new features with better graphics and sound.

Team Dark Mod has released a brand new version of its Thief-inspired game, The Dark Mod. In case you weren’t aware of, The Dark Mod started as a THIEF mod for Doom 3 but has become a free standalone game.

The Dark Mod version 2.4 introduces a Soft Shadows option that  removes the sharp edges of TDM shadows. Now while this has a huge impact on the visuals of TDM missions, it is currently labelled “Experimental” in the menu as the team has had reports of issues on certain hardware.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - May 20, 2018

The Forest - Released

by Hiddenx, 09:01

After a long time in Early Access the survival game The Forest has finally been released:

The Forest

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Friday - May 11, 2018

The Flame in the Flood - Free for 48 Hours

by Silver, 10:59

The Flame in the Flood is free for 48 hours over on the Humble Bundle site.

The Flame in the Flood is provided via Steam key for Windows and Mac. For key redemption, a free Steam account is required.

Description

Summary

A rogue-lite river journey through the backwaters of a forgotten post-societal America. Forage, craft, evade predators.

From the Art Director of BioShock and a team of veterans of the BioShock, Halo, Guitar Hero and Rock Band series comes The Flame in the Flood.

Travel by foot and by raft down a procedurally-generated river as you scrounge for resources, craft tools, remedy afflictions, evade the vicious wildlife, and stay ahead of the coming rains.

Features an original full length soundtrack by acclaimed Alt-Country rocker Chuck Ragan featuring The Camaraderie, The Fearless Kin and other special guests.

Thanks Capt. Huggy Face!

Wednesday - May 09, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - More RPG Elements

by Silver, 15:12

Wccftech reports that Shadow of the Tomb Raider will have more RPG elements.

Bisson also said that not only crafting and gathering resources, but also the RPG element as a whole will be considerably more pronounced in this third game.

I can say that what we call the secondary system – the survival system – everything that she’s doing in Rise of the Tomb Raider, like crafting, finding resources….We’re exploding that way more. The RPG element is way stronger because we want you to create the type of Lara you want to create.

It also showcases how she’s much more confident and in control now, so we’ve expanded that a lot more.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - May 07, 2018

Steam Reviews Study - Its the Game Design not the Bugs

by Silver, 23:31

Gamasutra reports on a study into Steam reviews which examined negative and positive reviews.

Conducted by researchers at Queen's University in Canada, the academic study delves into several factors that come into play when a review is written on Steam, such as examining hours logged before the review was posted, whether the game was indie or not, and complaints of performance issues.

A particularly interesting conclusion the researchers came to was that players complained more about game design as opposed to bugs. As the table below shows, only 8 percent of all the reviews examined mentioned bugs in games, while 34 percent of the reviews mentioned the cons related to game design.

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Thursday - May 03, 2018

Red Dead Redemption 2 - New Trailer

by Silver, 09:33

PC Gamer reports that Red Dead Redemption 2 has a new trailer.

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A new Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer has arrived showing some more cut-together cutscene snippets. It's the third video Rockstar have released so far, along with these screenshots.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Sunday - April 29, 2018

Frostpunk - Reviews

by Silver, 10:51

Some reviews for the colony survival game Frostpunk.

PC Invasion 80
Frostpunk is no city builder, if that's what you're looking for then this is not a game for you. If you are on the other hand wanting to be pushed when it comes to city management, survival, research and moral decisions, that's where Frost Punk delivers. Be prepared to be stressed when things don't go your way.

Hooked Gamers 92
Frostpunk is special, it's one of a kind in that the game is used as a vehicle to convey a message in a way that most games can't even aspire to achieve. You'll switch of your PC after a session and walk off filled with what if's and that is an amazing experience. Few developers understand how to play the heart strings well, but 11 bit studios are proving themselves to be the orchestra conductor.

Gameplanet 90
Frostpunk is a bleak and challenging colony builder/survival title that will either give you more respect for your boss, or have you rallying your co-workers to oust them.

Metro GameCentral 90
It may have the framework of an ordinary city builder but there's an insightful, and frequently disturbing, philosophical message at the heart of this cross-genre classic.

IGN 90
Even though the bleakness is palpable, Frostpunk is a captivating experience. The gameplay is unique and varied, using the best aspects of city-building and survival games, with a little exploration mixed in.

GameSpot 90
Frostpunk is among the best overall takes on the survival city builder to date. Its theming and consistency create a powerful narrative through line that binds your actions around the struggle to hold onto humanity in uncertain times. Hope is a qualified good, but you may not always be strong enough (or clever enough) to shelter that flame from the cold.

Thursday - April 26, 2018

Frostpunk - Review @PC Gamer

by Silver, 12:22

PC Gamer reviewed Frostpunk recently giving it an 89/100.

Frostpunk is a city-builder and a society simulator, but most of all a crisis management game where the crisis doesn't end until the game does. A few hours with Frostpunk and the tornadoes and tsunamis of Cities: Skylines seem like minor inconveniences. The traffic jams and noise pollution you used to fret over are now an utter fucking joke. In Frostpunk, if citizens are unhappy enough they'll banish you from your own city to die despised and alone. They might leave town if you fail them, but first they'll spend days trying to convince others to join them in mass exodus. Frostpunk is a tense, gripping, and often stressful survival strategy game filled with difficult, sometimes unthinkable choices. It's tough to play but even tougher to stop.

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Thanks henriquejr!

Monday - April 23, 2018

Graveyard Keeper - Medieval Graveyard Sim

by Silver, 02:29

PCGamesN reports on medieval graveyard management sim Graveyard Keeper which will be coming out sometime in 2018.

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The trailer shows charming pixel art style, not unlike Stardew Valley’s - just significantly more macabre. Instead of farming crops, you’re conducting autopsies and planning burial plots, but it looks like there’s still a social element to the game. However, this is also quite a bit more grim this time around, as we're treated to a burning at the stake at the behest of the local inquisitor, and at one point, an overworked gravedigger can be seen hurling a corpse into the river.

Lazy Bear is publishing Graveyard Keeper with tinyBuild Games, and it should be out later this year. You can check the game out on Steam.

About This Game

Graveyard Keeper is the most inaccurate medieval cemetery management sim of the year. Build & manage your own graveyard while finding shortcuts to cut costs, expand into entertainment with witch-burning festivals, and scare nearby villagers into attending church. This is a game of capitalism and doing whatever it takes to build a thriving business.

  • Face ethical dilemmas. Do you really want to spend money on that proper hotdog meat for the festival when you have so many resources lying around?
  • Gather valuable resources & craft new items. Expand your Graveyard into a thriving business, go ahead and gather valuable resources scattered in the surrounding areas, and explore what this land has to offer.
  • Make business alliances. These dead bodies don't need all that blood, do they? Why not sell it to someone who can put it to good use. Same for body parts. Hey, it's being efficient with recycling!
  • Explore mysterious dungeons. No medieval game would be complete without these. Take a trip into the unknown and find useful new ingredients which may or may not poison a whole bunch of nearby villagers. Capitalism.

Saturday - April 14, 2018

This Is the Police 2 - XCOM-Style tactical Mode

by Hiddenx, 08:37

Henriquejr spotted a preview for the strategy adventure game This Is the Police 2 on PC Gamer:

This Is the Police 2 has an XCOM-style tactical mode that changes the game entirely

Plan to prosecute.

Announced in January, crooked cop sim This Is the Police 2 is due later this year. When it lands, it'll build on its forerunner's narrative meets strategy roots and will "require the player's direct participation," so says developer Weappy. In doing so, it'll introduce an XCOM-style turn-based tactical mode.  

Here, players will command squads of officers, each leveraging a variety of tools—such as tasers, gas cartridges, traps and battering rams. In turn-based bouts, players will orchestrate raids with the aim of neutralising opponents, and, if you are forced to open fire, battles unfold with realistic damage. In other words, don't expect hit points.    

"We came with this idea for an XCOM-style, turn-based combat mode, but of course we didn't want to just make 'XCOM with cops'," game director Ilya Yanovich tells me. "The biggest difference here is that the police force's job is, usually, about arresting people, not killing them. So, we decided to have no hit points in this tactical mode at all.

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Friday - April 06, 2018

Far Cry 5 - About Joseph Seed @ TechRaptor

by Hiddenx, 19:43

Robert Grosso takes a look at the charismatic villain of Far Cry 5, the fanatical Father Joseph Seed:

Character Select: The Fate of Freedom

[...]

Far Cry 5’s charismatic villain, the fanatical Father Joseph Seed of Eden’s Gate, fits this role fully, and per Hay’s vision, the game’s entire being reflects that simple charge that is all too sinister for us: “what if he was right all along?”

Part of the charm of Far Cry 5 is how it does tackle extremities in the face of divisiveness. The setting is perfect to demonstrate this. Rural Montana is as exotic of a location you can find in the mainland United States. Sparsely populated and filled with savage beauty, it continues the trend of Far Cry games providing beautiful locales for its players. For many, Montana is a temporary getaway from urban life for a short excursion into the unknown. For others, it is an exaggerated portrait of their lifestyles and sensibilities.

Some of the criticism thrown at Far Cry 5 has been the lack of a political stance upon the game. Yet, the game is perhaps one of the most politically sound ever done by Ubisoft, mostly because of how it presents extreme ideology. The Cult of Eden’s Gate is as fanatical it comes as an ideological framework, but the Resistance movement, the denizens of Hope County, represent a more varied form of ideological beliefs that often reflect the extremities of the ideology thrown at them.

Part of this is how Ubisoft treats the characters of Far Cry 5 through extreme personalities. The world itself is populated by conservative stereotypes with conservative values, and for some, the fact that the game doesn’t tackle contemporary political divisions misses the point of their representation. The caricature of rural conservatives as fanatical “preppers” clinging to their guns as a safety blanket is strong for both gameplay reasons (prepper stashes and tons of guns in a first-person shooter) and through real-life sensibilities that have shaped how we view issues, such as gun ownership in a time where the U.S is currently grappling with the prospect of gun reform. It is a problem that needs addressing regardless of our beliefs, and the recent movements for reform to gun laws in the U.S. has become a political hot potato that is hard to ignore. But, a game like Far Cry 5 thrives on the use of guns in its gameplay, so it is disingenuous to say the game is pro or anti-gun in a political sense. What the game does achieve, however, is showcasing the malignant uses of guns as the tools they are on both sides.

[...]

Crusader Kings 2 - Free to Own Forever Until Saturday

by Silver, 09:00
Announcement - Valve
5 Apr

Add Crusader Kings II to your account for FREE starting now until Saturday at 10AM Pacific*! Once you add the game, it will remain in your account permanently, so don't miss out on this opportunity to own this great title!
Additionally, save up to 50% on DLC's and Expansions for Crusader Kings II as part of the Weekend Deal**!

*After Saturday, Crusader Kings II will be available for 75% off for the rest of the weekend.
**Discount offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time

Monday - April 02, 2018

Far Cry 5 - Review @ Capsule Computers

by Hiddenx, 10:10

Capsule Computers checked out Far Cry 5:

Far Cry 5 Review

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Overview

Ubisoft is taking the latest iteration of the Far Cry series to the United States in a small town in Montana. The Project at Eden’s Gate cult has violently taken over the valley, forcing the locals to convert at gun point. In this open world shooter, players will take on the role of a rookie deputy who must unite the locals and fight back against the cult.

Story

Far Cry 5’s rural United States setting and the religious overtones create rich waters for socio-political commentary on the state of American life and religion. While Far Cry 5 manages to get a few hilarious parodies and the odd thought provoking moment, the writers never properly explore those rich waters. Instead, they opt for a safer, mass market-friendly plot that emphasizes an us versus the crazy cultists battle. The plot makes for a decent action title, but there are times where the cult’s decisions make little sense other than to give some extra screen time to flesh out the Seed family, the leaders of Eden’s Gate.

[...]

Overall

Far Cry 5 is an excellent addition to the franchise. While the writing is a bit weak due to its shallow nature, the audio/visual presentation is exactly what is expected from a major title, and the soundtrack deserves a special mention. The gameplay continues to be solid. Far Cry 5 takes an already excellent open world experience and tightens up the collection and levelling systems. The new arcade mode gives the game a ton of replayability and an outlet for budding map makers and level designers to hone their craft.

Score: 8.5/10

Thursday - March 29, 2018

Non-RPG General News - Marvel and Fallout

by Silver, 07:30

Marvel has a big announcement to make concerning Fallout it seems as this tweet hints at.

Wednesday - March 21, 2018

Exorder - Tactical-Strategy Game Launched

by Silver, 11:12

Gamewatcher reports that Exorder has launched on Steam.

Solid9 Studios' Exorder, a title which marries the challenging tactical turn-based combat we've come to be familiar with from titles like XCOM with mid-mission unit production, territory control and resource management. Exorder is set in a fantasy world with your standard and less-than-standard assortment of medieval knights and strange creatures going up against one another. The singleplayer campaign is spread across 12 missions telling the tale of how Queen Beyla struggles to retain the throne she recently ascended.

[...]

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Monday - March 19, 2018

Northgard - Review

by Hiddenx, 20:57

PC Gamer has reviewed the RTS game Northgard:

Northgard review

It's spring and my Viking colonists are gleefully filling their bellies now that the snow has melted and our food stores are filling up. The farmers and hunters are working hard, and with their appetite sated, my warriors are jonesing for a fight. I don't have time to enjoy it. I'm already preparing for Northgard’s next harsh winter. Even more than dragons or undead, foul weather is the greatest threat to my growing settlement.

Northgard looks like a throwback, a game that would have comfortably fit in with Age of Empires and Settlers, but while the inspiration is clear, it would be a disservice to imply that it's mainly trading in nostalgia. This Viking saga builds on the history-themed RTS romps of the '90s, but it's not beholden to them.

[...]

Northgard lives in the skirmish mode. The campaign mission design is good, but sometimes you just want to shake off the shackles and batter some Vikings in a sandbox. When all of the game's concepts collide, instead of being separated by levels, it becomes a tricky, unpredictable RTS that pulls you in all these different directions. Every game is fat with potential, helped in great part by a map generator that spits out a brilliant array of as-good-as-bespoke battlefields.

Score: 84/100

Thursday - March 15, 2018

Starpoint Gemini Warlords - Tech Interview

by Hiddenx, 20:24

Gamingbolt interviewed Little Green Man Games about their game Star Point Gemini Warlords:

Star Point Gemini Warlords Tech Interview: Space, Strategy, Action!

Marketing Manager Igor Gajic, CEO Mario Mihokovic and Chief Technology Officer Zeljko Kos answer questions regarding the game’s development.

Starpoint Gemini Warlords is a game that blends many different genres such as space trading, strategy, and action. Achieving this balance is certainly no easy task but developer Little Green Men Games has closely worked with the community to try and ensure that the game offers an engaging and enjoyable experience.

This is the third game in the series. What are some of the changes from previous entries in the series?

Igor Gajic: There are actually massive changes in contrast to Starpoint Gemini 2. A whole new layer of gameplay has been added to Warlords, in terms of “light” 4X strategy, more than 60 factions, headquarters upgradeability, economy, diplomacy, etc. Even though the game may look similar to Starpoint Gemini 2 (from visual standpoint), the Warlords engine is a completely different entity in contrast to SPG2.

Mario Mihokovic: In reality, players actually have a chance to experience two almost separate games mixed together. First part of Warlords resemble previous SPG2, but as you level up, advance and gain in strength, more and more global strategy options open up…

As a game that mixes elements of strategy, role-playing, and action, were there any challenges faced in trying to achieve a balance?

Igor Gajic: Yes, definitely. During the production cycle we had to constantly fine-tune the balance between those genres, which in the end resulted with a game that could be played as a space exploration RPG, or a strategy, or everything altogether. Though, we have to say that everything wasn’t super peachy regarding the game when it got released, but thanks to a very flexible engine, we have fixed some things, and added some new, community-requested features, for free.

[...]
Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - March 10, 2018

Fear Effect: Sedna - Reviews

by Hiddenx, 23:02

Farflame spotted some Fear Effect: Sedna reviews:

COG Connected: Fear Effect Sedna Review – The Lack of Challenge is the Kiss of Death
Dualshockers: Fear Effect Sedna Review — Putting the Ass Back in Assassin
Wccftech: Fear Effect Sedna Review – Creative Ideas Buried by a Blizzard of Flaws
Gamereactor: Fear Effect Sedna - Some things are best left in the past
Hardcore Gamer: Review: Fear Effect Sedna

 

Friday - March 09, 2018

Frostpunk - Release Date Trailer

by Silver, 13:21

Frostpunk will release 24th April.

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--- About Frostpunk ---
The 19th Century. It was supposed to be the peak of human achievement. Instead, it turned out to be the end of our civilization.

Now, as the ruler of the last city on Earth, it is your duty to manage both its citizens and the infrastructure. What decisions will you make to ensure society's survival? What will you do when pushed to the breaking point? Who will you become in the process?
▶️ Build a city powered by steam to oppose the overwhelming cold
▶️ Establish laws and rule the society according to your will
▶️ Heat is life - harness its power
▶️ Secure crucial resources in a time of need
▶️ Explore the frozen wastelands for knowledge, survivors and supplies
▶️ Make the best decisions in the worst circumstances

Do what it takes as… THE CITY MUST SURVIVE. Coming to Steam, GOG.com, and Humble Store at launch, the spiritual successor to This War of Mine will land on PCs in a digital version for the price of $29.99 USD and retail version for the suggested price of $34.99 USD in the form of a special “Victorian Edition”. This special edition includes the “New London - The Art of Frostpunk” hardcover book which shows off the beautifully crafted artwork and concept images from Frostpunk’s icy interior.

Tuesday - March 06, 2018

Fear Effect Sedna - Released

by Silver, 21:29

Fear Effect Sedna has been released to a 10% launch discount.

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About This Game

Thrilling action and stealth gameplay enhanced by the Fear system, an exciting story and ultra-stylish cutscenes. Harness your team’s dynamic abilities to tackle enemies and puzzles like never before. This is the quintessential sequel for existing fans and a perfect starting point for newcomers.

  • The Fear Effect: When your fear meter rises, you will be more susceptible to injury but will receive a boosted damage output and special abilities. Deny fear with stealth and strategy through the new isometric viewpoint and Tactical Pause feature.
  • Enter the spirit realm: Encounter mystical forces of the Inuit and supernatural creatures of the spirit realm. Will you dare to face the unexpected?
  • Cinematic cut scenes: Striking animated visuals bring life to a wild, engaging story and dynamic characters.
  • An array of weapons and character abilities: From silenced pistols and defensive turrets to flamethrowers and monstrous transformations!
KEY FEATURES:
  • New environments in isometric view: Explore the deep caves of Greenland, abandoned scientific complexes, underwater stations and ethereal realms based on Inuit mythology.
  • A real-time tactical action game: Exploit your heroes special abilities, and combine them to maximize your team's effectiveness in attacks.
  • A deep and mature story: Learn more about Fear Effect's iconic characters' past as they delve into this new mystery.
  • Explore a whole new culture: Myths from the Inuit people are imbued with power of the elements and the cold sea. Meet and fight unexpected creatures from the spirit realm!

Thursday - February 22, 2018

Beautiful Desolation - February Update

by Silver, 13:52

Beautiful Desolation's February update announces Mick Gordon as composer and highlights the progress made in the games design. Lots of cool screenshots at the link.

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A YEAR HAS PASSED!

It’s been a year since the counter stopped on Beautiful Desolation’s Kickstarter campaign...

That’s when the tough decisions begin!

Should we use the programming and setup from CAYNE, and merely add graphics for each new scene? Or should we innovate further? Well, after seeing (and playing) Pillars of Eternity we knew that the CAYNE system wouldn’t cut it! So began our mission to rework what we had done and rethink how to make this game incredible.

CAYNE and STASIS were focused on smaller, claustrophobic interior environments. Beautiful Desolation needs space to traverse - instead single rooms, we’re designing and building sizeable areas to explore.

We assessed what we had and examined how this would be feasible, or even possible, with a three-man team. Thankfully with the power of Unity, we were able to rapidly build up the new Desolation framework. It wasn’t long before Mark was running through large expanses with a camera that tracked him perfectly in a beautiful African landscape. The addition of parallax, fog and special effects has made the experience rather unique.

Now that the game mechanics and systems are locked in, the localities are growing fast and furiously and we are almost exclusively adding content and building puzzles.

Experience a scene in Beautiful Desolation:

Click here to explore the Overpass in Milkbush.

Wednesday - February 21, 2018

Abandon Ship - Early Access available

by Hiddenx, 19:40

The naval strategy adventure Abandon Ship is released as Early Access version:

Abandon Ship

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Be the Captain. Survive on the Edge in a World with Consequences.

In Abandon Ship you take command of a ship and her crew, exploring a diverse, procedurally generated world, taking on quests and dealing with random events. Frequently, you will end up engaging other ships in combat, the player having to employ their best tactics in order to out-manoeuvre and out-gun the enemy.
The game focuses on “Age of Sail” ships in a Fantasy setting, framed in an Art Style inspired by classic Naval Oil Paintings.

Ship Destruction is not the End.

Life in the world of Abandon Ship can be brutal. Death is permanent. But the game doesn’t end if your vessel is destroyed. You are the Captain, and as long as the Captain is alive, there is always hope. By escaping to a Lifeboat, or even being stranded, alone in the water, there is still a chance to survive and fight your way back to the top.

Snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat.

Combat is tactical and savage. Each battle is hard-fought, always on the edge of defeat. Your only chance of overcoming the odds is to employ every advantage you can and utilise all the tools at your disposal.

Reap What You Sow.
Explore a fantasy world that reacts to your actions. Quests may drastically change the environment. Make decisions that create friends or enemies that may later come back to help or hinder you.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - February 12, 2018

Attack of the Earthlings - Released

by Silver, 07:29

Attack of the Earthlings is a turn-based tactical game that released on Steam recently.

About This Game

Attack of the Earthlings combines turn-based combat and stealth in a dark comedic single player campaign, where you the player, take control of the native alien race to defend your home world from the invading humans.

SERIAL DRILLERS FROM OUTER SPACE

Galactoil, a comically dysfunctional energy corporation, are hell-bent on harvesting the known universe for energy and will drill anything in its incessant quest to line its pockets with profit. However, their latest foray into energy exploration on Planet X13, has placed them into a bit of a pickle. The Swarmers, the native insectoid species, have another idea - to eat all the workers!

THE PERFECT SWARM

You take control of the Swarmers, a highly aggressive insectoid species, who must convert human flesh into alien muscle, upgrade their units and even find the time to gatecrash a birthday party.

To put a stop to the invasion, the Swarmers must plan attacks carefully. Take control of unsuspecting workers, set traps, emerge from vents and hiding spots to take your human prey by surprise, and assault in groups to kill multiple enemies at once.

EAT THEM FOR GAINS

The more earthlings killed, the more corpses can be consumed and transformed into new units with specialized roles and unique abilities. The flesh of their own workers is the key ingredient to developing a successful alien insurgency against Galactoil.

BECOME THE MATRIACH

Voice actor and Vine extraordinaire, SungWon Cho A.K.A ProZD (A Hat in Time, Paradigm), lends his brilliant voice to X13 mining operation Regional Manager Dennis Dickinham; a man both massively unqualified and massively overpaid. A gregarious fellow who finds joy in everything, be it catching a few rounds of golf with the boys or rerouting power from sickbay to the massage chairs in the boardroom, Dickinham's a delight to be around! Just never, NEVER utter the phrase "bad idea" in his presence.

The game also features an original soundtrack by composer Mikolai Stroinski (Vanishing of Ethan Carter, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Blood & Wine). Both of whom you can hear in this brand new sneak peek video below:

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Sunday - February 11, 2018

Fear Effect: Sedna - Development finished

by Hiddenx, 16:10

The development of the tactical action game Fear Effect: Sedna is finished:

Development finished! More news soon.

We are very happy to announce that Fear Effect Sedna has finished development and we would like to thank you all on Kickstarter for your support...
THANK YOU!

Console builds are done. Bugs are gone. Ratings are finalised. Contracts are being signed. Legal requirements are being resolved. Builds are being submitted. Store images are being created. Dates are being set.

We also want to let everyone know the demo of Fear Effect Sedna is no longer available on Steam. We really appreciate all the feedback, comments and bug reports from all of you. The demo really no longer represents the final game and we’re very excited for you all to play it properly.

Understandably, most replies to this might be “When is the release date?”

We can’t say this day, on this month. We can’t say that we’ll be telling you the release date really soon. We can’t say that there’s a file on this computer called “FE_Sedna_Trailer.mp4".
Sssshhhhh!

What we can say is - make sure you're following the Facebook and Twitter accounts for Fear Effect, Sushee, Square Enix Collective and Forever Entertainment to make sure you stay up to date.

Speak to you all (very) soon.

Sushee.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - February 07, 2018

Non-RPG General News - 10 Crowns unveiled

by Hiddenx, 01:09

Henriquejr spotted a new strategy game in the making on PC Gamer - it is called 10 Crowns:

Civilization 4 veterans unveil historical 4X strategy game 10 Crowns

Soren Johnson's Mohawk Games has partnered with Starbreeze.

No matter what this PC Gamer reader survey says, Civilization 4 is the best Civilization. Agreed? Good. Mohawk Games—the studio co-founded by Civ 4 lead designer Soren Johnson and art director Dorian Newcomb—has now announced 10 Crowns, a historical 4X turn-based strategy affair that aims to let players create the "greatest dynasty in world history."

In doing so 10 Crowns departs from the sci-fi themes employed by Mohawk's previous game Offworld Trading Company, however promises some "radical innovations" to the genre in the process. 10 Crowns is currently in the prototyping stages of development, so I guess we'll have to take Johnson at his word for now.

[...]

Tuesday - January 30, 2018

Nightmarchers - Maui

by Hiddenx, 21:10

Farflame spotted a video about Maui and his role in Nightmarchers:

Nightmarchers Akua video featuring Maui

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Monday - January 29, 2018

Microsoft - Could Acquire EA or Valve

by Silver, 23:55

@PCGamesN Microsoft could be looking to acquire EA or Valve.

There are rumors, and then there are capital-R Rumors, so big as to seem like the wildest bits of forum speculation. But a report published by Polygon today cites anonymous sources suggesting that Microsoft are looking at making some major acquisitions for their gaming division in the near future.

 

Polygon say that “a reliable source close to Microsoft” indicates the company is looking at acquiring Electronic Arts. “Whispers” also suggest that Microsoft’s gaming division is interested in picking up PUBG Corp or even Valve.

[...]

Thursday - January 25, 2018

Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare - Early Access available

by Hiddenx, 20:36

The sandbox FPS mixed with strategy and RPG elements Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare is now available on Steam as Early Access version:

Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare

Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare is a unique combination of tactical first-person shooter and strategy game, where the player assumes the role of a commander and raise money, build an army, engage the enemies in field combat, attack hostile territories and defend currently held ones and eventually dominate the world.

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The gameplay operates on two levels: the overworld map and the first-person shooter portion. In the overworld, the player can visit locations, trade, upgrade equipment, attack enemy armies, lay siege to towns, accept missions, and more. In the FPS portion, the player enters the battlefield in the first-person view, fight as a foot soldier and issue orders to the army.

Features:

  • FPS meets Strategy Game
  • Start your career with one pistol and 5 soldiers, how would you become the most powerful army in the world? The game is not only about shooting, but also about your career as an army commander.
  • Free-Form Sandbox Game Experience
  • Trade with the locals, recruit soldiers, loot villages, fight bandits, attack territories and conquer the world. You are in charge of your own destiny!
  • Epic Large Scale Combat
  • Immerse you in really epic battlegrounds of hundreds of combatants. Watch your men charge into enemy lines and spill blood for victory.
  • Commanding an army
  • You are not fighting alone. Issue direct orders to your squads during a firefight, taking advantage of the terrain, setting up flanking routes and crush the enemies with the final charge!
  • Realistic Combat Simulation
  • Ballistic simulation, detailed environment, realistic sound effects and highly intelligent AI will give you an immersive real battlefield experience.

 

Wednesday - January 24, 2018

Nightmarchers - Interview

by Hiddenx, 19:45

Farflame spotted some info given by game director Scott Brown about Nightmarchers on OnlySP:

A Tropical Apocalypse: Wyrmbyte Discusses the Making of Nightmarchers

Thanks to the influence of the mass media and word of mouth spread by travellers, Hawaii has the enviable reputation of a paradise: palm trees, beaches, laid-back locals, and spectacular waves. The volcanoes of the Ring of Fire add an element of danger that, to some, is even more alluring than the Edenic reputation. However, the islands are also home to a rich, ages-old culture and mythology.

As video games have traditionally drawn inspiration from more widely-known sources (such as Ancient Greece and the Norse religion) few projects have explored the possibilities offered by the Pacific islands. That tendency will change with Wyrmbyte’s Nighmarchers.

Brought to the public’s attention earlier this week via the commencement of its Fig-based crowdfunding campaign, Nightmarchers offers a tropical take on the increasingly tired genre of post-apocalyptic fiction. Set in Oahu, the game begins a century after a cataclysm has destroyed civilisation, dividing society into a series of splintered and disparate factions. At the same time, the Hawaiian boar god Kamapua’a has returned to Earth with an army to take control of what remains. Faced with this fearsome foe, players will step into the shoes of an ordinary man named Kai.

Unbeknownst to him, Kai is the descendant of kahuna who, since their deaths, have ascended to become Akua (deities). Kai’s quest begins when one of these Akua, Kū, wakens him to the threat posed by Kamapua’a and grants him access to the powers of a demigod.

Despite the inclusion of such abilities, the game’s director Scott Brown confirms that “action/shooter-styled gameplay certainly defines the genre [the team] is building towards.” The “supernatural Hawaiian abilities” act as an extra layer to give the player more options and diversify the core gameplay. “While there are some spells that are damage dealing, many deal with abilities outside the spectrum of a shooter, like taking bird form and flying or shark form and swimming.”

[...]

Saturday - January 20, 2018

Age of Empires - Definitive Edition in February

by Hiddenx, 23:53

PCGamesN reports that the Definitive Edition of Age of Empires will be out on February 20:

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition will be out in February, closed beta starts this month

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is launching worldwide on February 20.

We’ve been waiting a good while for the remaster of the original Age of Empires, but the end is finally in sight. Age of Empires: Definitive Edition will be out on February 20, and a load more beta testers are being let in to try the game ahead of release.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - January 16, 2018

Brian Fargo - Launching Robot Cache

by Silver, 22:12

@Venturebeat Brian Fargo and other game industry veterans are creating a new cryptocurrency called Iron that is an alternative to the app stores like Steam and GOG, through a new company called Robot Cache.

Veteran game publisher Brian Fargo and other game industry veterans hope to change the PC industry by creating a new cryptocurrency that serves as an alternative to the app stores.

Fargo’s new company Robot Cache will create a digital PC games platform, just like Valve’s Steam digital distribution service, but it will give game publishers and developers about 95 percent of the proceeds from game sales, rather than just 70 percent as Steam and others do. Robot Cache will compete directly with the likes of Steam and GOG, and it hopes to sign up the major competitors.

That’s one of the things that Robot Cache founder Fargo said will empower developers and publishers, and take away some of the arbitrary power over game distribution from the platform owners, Fargo said in an interview with GamesBeat.

[...]

Saturday - January 13, 2018

Endless Space 2 - New Content?

by Hiddenx, 18:36

PCGamesN speculates that some tweets are teasing new content for Endess Space 2:

Endless Space 2 teases new content, and it looks like the return of the Vaulters faction

It looks like Endless Space 2 is getting a new content update, and we won’t be waiting very long to see it. The ENFER account on Twitter, which hosted an ARG around the game’s original release, started spinning back up this week. That’s culminated in a brief video announcing the “End of the Voyage” coming January 18.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - January 11, 2018

Prince of Persia - Maybe coming back

by Silver, 20:03

Jordan Mechner responded to an enquiry about Prince of Persia in the affirmative on Twitter.

Sunday - December 31, 2017

Iron Harvest - Tech & Controls Demo

by Hiddenx, 09:59

Farflame spotted a tech-demo of the RTS game Iron Harvest:

Iron Harvest - "Tech & Controls Demo"

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Saturday - December 30, 2017

Platinum Games - Will Self Publish Original Games

by Silver, 07:44

@NicheGamer Platinum Games will self publish original games in the near future.

Despite becoming a go-to developer for companies looking for real muscle behind a new IP, Platinum Games is apparently looking to start publishing their own games in the near future.

“We’re becoming more and more interested in the idea of self-publishing and doing our own title,” Platinum Games’ head of development Atsushi Inaba said in an interview with Game Informer.

Inaba noted that until recently, their team worked on properties for a multitude of publishers. When asked what self-publishing would be like for the company, Inaba noted changes over the past year:

“We’ve pretty much opened the company up to ‘Anybody can pitch a game,’ and so over the last year we’ve gotten about 70 design documents from different people,” Inaba said. “So this year has been about us basically diluting which stuff we wanted to focus on and not focus on, and drilling down to the point where we now have two designs that we’re genuinely focused on.”

[...]

Tuesday - December 26, 2017

Abandon Ship - Preview

by Hiddenx, 09:25

EnterElysium checked out the naval strategy game Abandon Ship:

ABANDON SHIP PREVIEW | FTL ON THE SEA Part 1 - Let's Play Gameplay

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Abandon Ship is FTL: Faster Than Light but on the ocean with more cthulhu.

Wednesday - December 20, 2017

Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare - Trailer

by Hiddenx, 20:16

Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare, a unique combination of tactical FPS, grand strategy and RPG, will be released as Steam Early Access on January 18th, 2018. T

The gameplay is divided into two portions: the overworld map and the first-person shooter. In the strategy portion, the player visits locations, trade for money, upgrade equipment, accept missions, engage enemies on the field or lay siege to towns. In the FPS portion, the player enters the battlefield and plays the role of a foot soldier in first person view.

Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare trailer

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Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare is a unique combination of tactical FPS and strategy game, where the player takes the role of a commander, raising funds, building army, skirmishing enemy forces, attacking and defending territories and conquer the world.

Tuesday - December 19, 2017

Non-RPG General News - The History of XCOM

by Silver, 00:19

Arcadology look at the history of X-COM games.

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In this episode we take a look at the history of the X-COM Franchise, from its early beginnings with Rebelstar Raiders and Laser Squad, up through the latest release.

Wednesday - December 13, 2017

2000AD License - Multiple Games in Development

by Silver, 11:16

@PCGamesN Rebellion has confirmed that multiple games are in development which will be revealed in the coming year.

Rebellion opened the door to license out games in the 2000 AD universe earlier this year. That means any developer or publisher can approach the studio and pitch a 2000 AD game - Rockstar want to make GTA: Judge Dredd? Sure. Arkane want to do an immersive sim set in Strontium Dog’s world? Go for it. An indie studio wants to make a 2D platformer based on Ace Trucking? Why not. All they have to do is approach Rebellion, ask, and agree to the terms. 

Rebellion have said previously that they were considering a Judge Dredd game.

Since that announcement, multiple studios have struck deals with Rebellion to make games in their iconic comic book universes. We spoke to Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley to see what we could find out. 

[...]

Wednesday - December 06, 2017

They Are Billions - EA on December 13

by Hiddenx, 20:30

The strategy game They Are Billions will be realeas as Early Access version on December 13:

They Are Billions

They Are Billions is a strategy game in a distant future about building and managing human colonies after a zombie apocalypse destroyed almost all of human kind. Now there are only a few thousand humans left alive that must struggle to survive under the threat of the infection. Billions of infected roam around the world in massive swarms seeking the last living human colonies.

ModDB - Vote for the Mod of the Year Awards 2017

by Hiddenx, 20:21

You can vote for the mod of the year 2017 on ModDB:

2017 Modding Year in Review feature

As we wish farewell to 2017, lets recap on some of the excellent mods released this year.

In a few short hours, 2017 Mod of the Year will kick off, whilst waiting, join us in celebrating some of the amazing creations released in the last 12 months, what mods did you enjoy the most and who will be getting your vote when the polls open, let us know in the comments.

[...]

Thank you for the info, rjshae!

Monday - December 04, 2017

Beautiful Desolation - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 22:40

The latest update for Beautiful Desolation shows off some gameplay.

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Mark has arrived at the entrance to The Kettle: a bustling settlement that sits at the base of the Bulwark, an enormous wall of compacted buildings and overgrown trees.

Our previous games focused on isolation, while in Beautiful Desolation we've opened the doors to our new world, creating environments populated with vibrant and strange characters. We want a living, breathing world for Mark to explore that includes augmented humans, drones, robots, and bizarre animals.

In addition, we've finalized gameplay technicalities such as the UI amd camera control which you can see in action in the video. 

Thanks for supporting us this year.

Have a great festive season and see you in 2018!

The Bros

Please:

Follow Chris on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/StasisGame

Like our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/desolationadventure/

Abandon Ship - Developer Let's Play

by Hiddenx, 20:56

Farflame spotted a gameplay video for the strategy ship adventure Abandon Ship:

Abandon Ship: Developer Let's Play

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Team Lead Gary Burchell plays through 30 minutes of Abandon Ship. The Early Access version of Abandon Ship will be released on Steam in early 2018. This is an Alpha build so there may be bugs or items that will be polished before release.

Fear Effect: Sedna - Preview

by Hiddenx, 20:50

OnlySP is not very impressed with the isometric tactical game Fear Effect: Sedna:

Fear Effect: Sedna Falls Shy of High Expectations

Fear Effect: Sedna aims to be the spiritual successor fans have long dreamed of but falls short in its gameplay and world building. The original Fear Effect was released back in 1999 by developer Kronos Digital Entertainment. Due to the high praise from the gaming community, a sequel, Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix, arrived two years later. More than ten years on, the indie development team, Sushee, took up the mantle and announced it was working on a third entry to the series via Kickstarter, meaning that the project will only have a fraction of the budget of the original games, despite being published by Square Enix.

[...]

The project will no doubt bring enjoyment to the franchise’s fans but fails to be enticing enough to warrant any new enthusiasts. Hopefully, Sushee will do more to build on the existing world as the passion for the source material is definitely alive and well despite the many production delays.

After originally being scheduled for release this year, Fear Effect: Sedna has been pushed back to early 2018 and will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One. In the wake of the delay, Square Enix has also announced a remake of the original game, titled Fear Effect Reinvented, which is also being developed by Sushee and expected to release in 2018.

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - December 02, 2017

Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith - Released

by Hiddenx, 09:37

The turn-based strategy game /God sim Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith has been released:

Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith

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You are a God! You are master and ruler of a loyal nation. You have unimaginable powers at your disposal. You have claimed this world as yours. But there are others who stand in your way. You must defeat and destroy these pretenders. Only then can you ascend to godhood and become the new Pantokrator.

In Dominions you take control of a powerful being that rules a nation and aspires to godhood. The type of Pretender Gods can vary from magically powerful arch mages to huge titans or large monuments. The pretender gods have different strengths dependent on what kind of god you choose and what nation you play.

When you start the game you decide what kind of god you are and how your Dominion affects your lands, followers and sacred soldiers. It is an expression of your divine might and the faith of your followers. If your dominion dies, so do you. Your dominion also inspires your sacred warriors and gives them powers derived from your dominion.

In order to win and become the one true god you have to defeat your enemies one of three different ways: conquer their lands, extinguish their dominion or claim the Thrones of Ascension.

New for Dominions 5 is that a God's bless effects can be customized in detail giving a new set of choices for the aspiring Gods. Battles have also received a major change and now feature simultaneous movement for all participating units. Fireballs and arrows will now fly at the same time as everyone is moving and watching large battles will be quicker than before.

Dominions is set in a fantasy world that draws inspiration from historical nations, cultures and myths. You will not encounter the elves of conventional fantasy in this game. Instead you might lead a nation of vanir from old norse myth. Aztecs, romans, israelites, greeks, kievian rus and lovecraftian horrors are just a few of the inspirational sources of the game.

The first Dominions game was released in 2002 and was well received by strategy gamers. Since then Dominions has been much refined and Dominions series is still actively played making it one of the longest running 4x turn based strategy games.

 

Tuesday - November 28, 2017

Black Mirror - Released

by Silver, 22:29

Black Mirror has been released on Steam with a 10% launch discount.

Black Mirror out now on Steam!

29 November - THQ Nordic
Vienna/Austria, Bremen/Germany - November 28, 2017: The tragic story of the Gordon family gets a new chapter: Today, KING Art Games and THQ Nordic are releasing Black Mirror; a modern re-imagining of the acclaimed gothic-horror adventure series. The new protagonist, David Gordon, must deal with the mysteries of Black Mirror castle as well as trying to find out if there is an ongoing curse on his family.

About Black Mirror

Like in the original graphic adventure trilogy, the Gothic Horror genre and its unique atmosphere of madness and psychological distress remains at the heart of Black Mirror.

The point-and-click gameplay of the original trilogy served as the basis for the re-imagined gameplay, which focuses on close-up investigation and interaction with nightmarish visions that plague the protagonist of the game David Gordon.

Enjoy
Your THQ Nordic Team

Thursday - November 23, 2017

Black Mirror - First Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 08:04

DSOGaming reports that the first gameplay trailer for Black Mirror has been released as well as system requirements.

...
THQ Nordic has also revealed the game’s PC requirements via its Steam store page. PC gamers will need at least an old quad-core CPU with 8GB of RAM and an GeForce GTX660 or a Radeon 7870 graphics card.

Here are the full PC requirements:

MINIMUM:

    • OS: Window 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64bit)
    • Processor: Intel Q9650 / AMD Phenom II X4 940
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GeForce GTX660 / Radeon 7870 – 2GB VRAM
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 11 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:

    • OS: Window 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64bit)
    • Processor: Intel Core i7 3770 3,9 Ghz / AMD FX-8350 4 GHz
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GeForce GTX960 / Radeon R9 290 – 4GB VRAM
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 11 GB available space

The game will release on November 28th.

Enjoy!

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Monday - November 20, 2017

Civilization - The complete History

by Hiddenx, 20:05

PC Gamer penned down the complete history of Civilization:

The complete history of Civilization

26 years of conquest, building and Montezuma being a bit of a dick.

Welcome to the history of Civilization, a series that has been keeping us up until silly o'clock in the morning  since the release of Sid Meier's original game in September 1991. Civ turns all of human history into a playground that you can exploit, turn by turn, to bring your chosen nation to glory. It's a fascinating series because it has been interpreted by a new lead designer in each iteration, including Alpha Centauri's Brian Reynolds, Mohawk Games' Soren Johnson, and of course Sid Meier himself. In the following pages we talk to all of them about how the series has evolved from Civilization through to Civilization VI.

[...]

Thank you for the info, henriquejr!

Friday - November 17, 2017

Endless Space 2 - Diplomacy Revamp

by Hiddenx, 22:33

PCGamesN reports that Endless Space 2 got a diplomacy revamp and a free weekend:

Endless Space 2 gets a free weekend alongside a diplomacy revamp

Whether you’re an old hand at the strategic galactic opera of Endless Space 2 or you want to jump in for the for the first time, this week is full of good news for you. The game will be getting a free weekend alongside and a new free update.

The free weekend starts now, and will run through November 20 on Steam. If you like what you play, you can pick up your progress with half off of the game for the duration of the event.

But if you’re already in on Endless Space 2, the more relevant news is a free update called Galactic Statecraft. New diplomacy options will allow you to more easily resolve situations without bloodshed, and build stronger alliances with allies for more formidable bonuses.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

 

Wednesday - November 15, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Numantia Reviews

by Hiddenx, 22:43

Farflame spotted two reviews for the strategy game Numantia:

PC Aficionado: Numantia Review - Score 6.4/10

Pixel Opinions: Numantia

[...]

Numantia is a solid game with a strong historical narrative and deep strategic gameplay. The battle graphics are somewhat above average for an indie game and the hand-drawn style of the story cinematics makes you want to keep playing just to see the art. At $21.99 CAD, I would suggest this for strategy lovers but would wait for a sale for the average gamer.

Sunday - November 05, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Free StarCraft 2

by Hiddenx, 21:49

Rock Paper Shotgun reports that a free version of StarCraft 2 will be available later this month:

StarCraft 2 launching generous free version this month

A huge chunk of StarCraft II is going free later this month as a sort of big ‘ol demo for the wider trilogy. From November 14th, everyone will be able to play the full Terran story campaign from the original Wings of Liberty, the competitive multiplayer including units from all three chapters, and — with some limitations — the cooperative mode too. If you dig it, you’ll be able to buy the other bits of SC2 separately or in one big lump.

Oh, and people who own Wings of Liberty but skipped Heart of the Swarm will be able to get that Zergy instalment free – if they claim it in time.

So! Free SC2, eh? Yup, Blizzard are turning the heart of it free, with one of the three big story campaigns, all the competitive multiplayer, and most of the co-op. There are, of course, restrictions.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

 

Thursday - November 02, 2017

Non-RPG General News - This Land is My Land

by Silver, 09:35

DSOGaming has some screenshots of This Land is My Land which is a single player western open world stealth action game.

This Land is My Land is a new Western open-world PC game, first screenshots & details

Game Labs has announced that it is working on a Western open-world third-person game for the PC, called This Land is My Land. This Land is My Land a single player open world stealth action game with a living hostile environment.

In This Land is My Land, players take the role of a Native American fighter. The game takes place in the American Frontier, and the main protagonist will be a member of one the tribes. The game will feature several innovative mechanics that, at least according to the developers, will increase variety and create surprises every play-through.

[...]

Tuesday - October 31, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Visceral Games

by Hiddenx, 08:22

Farflame spotted the story behind the closure of Visceral Games at Kotaku:

The Collapse Of Visceral's Ambitious Star Wars Game 

It seemed like a surefire hit: a Star Wars take on Uncharted, published by Electronic Arts and developed by the longrunning studio Visceral Games. But nothing is sure in the video game industry, and on October 17, 2017, when employees of Visceral were told that the company would be closing, some who had worked for the studio found themselves unsurprised. In many people’s eyes, doom was inevitable.
Visceral Games, based in San Francisco, had been an odd fit at EA for several years now. First founded in 1998 as EA Redwood Shores, the studio developed a mishmash of assorted games in the 2000s before finally finding an identity with a horror-action-adventure series called Dead Space. After three Dead Space games (and a couple of spin-offs), the company went on to make the first-person shooter Battlefield Hardline, which came out in 2015.
[...]

Saturday - October 21, 2017

Numantia - Available next Week

by Hiddenx, 08:43

TGG reports that the strategy game Numantia will be available on October 25:

The turn-based strategy game “Numantia” is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC by next week

The Numantine War – one of the least known and most significant conflicts in history – can be experienced for the first time in NUMANTIA, a new turn-based strategy game heading to PS4, Xbox One, and Steam next Wednesday.
[...]

Key features:

  • Experience a narrative-driven campaign set between 153 B.C. and 133 B.C.
  • Choose between the fearless Celtiberian tribe of Numantia or the mighty Republican army of Rome.
  • Lead a massive army of 30 units – such as spearmen, slingers, cavalry, and even siege machines – in epic battles.
  • Take on the campaign solo or fight a friend in a one-on-one battle.
  • Manage a full-fledged army and witness historical events unfold.

Monday - October 16, 2017

Opinion - Rising Costs & Mid Tier Studios

by Silver, 14:24

Gamesindustry ask Brian Fargo and Jeff Pobst about rising game development costs and how they are putting the squeeze on mid-tier studios such as inXile and Turtle Rock.

Rising game dev costs put squeeze on mid-tier studios

inXile's Brian Fargo, Hidden Path's Jeff Pobst and Turtle Rock's Steve Goldstein weigh in on the growing gap between gaming's haves and have-nots

Making games is expensive. Let me rephrase that: making games is really, really expensive.

Obviously, that's no secret, but the numbers involved are even surprising to those of us who follow the industry every day. Last month, Kotaku reported many studios budget around $10,000 per person per month to cover salaries plus overhead. Considering that many of the more polished games on the market can take years to create, budgets can spiral out of control very easily and this has a impact on the entire ecosystem.

Moreover, that $10,000 figure is actually lower than many studios spend, industry veterans Brian Fargo (inXile Entertainment) and Jeff Pobst (Hidden Path Entertainment) tell me.

"I used $10,000 per man-month [for budgets] when I was a producer for Sierra online in 2000," Pobst notes.
brian

Fargo concurs: "I would say [$10,000 is] on the low side. I think Tim Schafer pointed out a couple of years ago that this is why these things cost so much to make. There's a big difference between small developers cutting their teeth that have no overhead versus a team of people who've been in the business for two decades. They have families and expect medical insurance, and so it's not going to be something that costs less than $10,000 on average for my people.

"That's on the low end by maybe 20% or 30%. I don't think we're seeing double that, but certainly it's the trajectory we're all going towards. I think that's a fair number. It's always been a funny disparity. We talk about making a game with a budget of, say, $10 million and the smaller developers tend to look at it and go, 'How do they waste so much money?' And then the triple-A guys say, 'How do they do it for so cheap?'

[...]

Saturday - October 07, 2017

Flash Point: Fire Rescue - Releasing 7th November

by Silver, 11:25

Flash Point: Fire Rescue is an indie strategy game based on a popular board game releasing this November.

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Take charge of a team of firefighters in the digital version of the acclaimed thematic cooperative board game, Flash Point: Fire Rescue. Command your highly trained squad through the hazards of a structural fire in this turn based strategy game to rescue the helpless survivors trapped inside.

About This Game

Use your wits and skills to survive the volatile scenarios with flames running wild, smoke rapidly spreading, fires raging and explosions rocking the very foundations of the building you're in.

In this turn-based strategy game, every move and choice you make has dire life-and-death consequences.

  • Should you open the door with smoke filling the room?
  • Will you risk damaging the structure to create a direct route to what could be a false alarm?
  • Will you extinguish nearby roaring fires or rush past the flames to reach a survivor?

Lives hang in the balance, dependent on your critical decisions!

Monday - October 02, 2017

Warbanners - Releasing October 18th

by Silver, 03:24

Warbanners is a turn-based, tactical strategy game with role-playing elements which will release October 18th.

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"Warbanners" is a turn-based, tactical strategy game with role-playing elements. Managing a squad of mercenaries, the player will experience the story campaign's 42 missions, with the ultimate goal of solidifying their place in the ancient legends.

Key features:

• Create a unique army: hire and equip soldiers, develop their fighting qualities, and learn new skills.

• Hire assistants: although they do not participate in battles, assistants give different bonuses, including a formidable catapult, poisoning enemies, increasing morale, and much more.

• Immerse yourself in a multi-faceted battle system that takes into account a variety of factors, including landscape and lighting, the direction of the unit's gaze, morale, and fatigue.

• Use the environment for tactical purposes: freeze rivers, chop and burn trees, dig trenches, build bridges and barricades, and so on.

• Choose the optimal level of difficulty: from easy for beginners, to nightmarish for sophisticated tacticians. With every step marked by blood and iron, an invisible but deadly threat becomes more tangible. Darkness, brooding in the corners of the soul, becomes ever more palpable....

http://store.steampowered.com/app/650...

https://twitter.com/Vlad_Konung

https://www.facebook.com/groups/warba...

OpenApoc - Open Source Port of X-Com Apocalypse

by Silver, 00:32

@PCGamesN OpenApoc is an open source port of X-Com Apocalypse for Windows which had its first public release recently.

X-Com Apocalypse gets a new lease of life through moddable Windows port OpenApoc

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The third game in the classic X-Com series, Apocalypse, was a strange duck. A hybrid of real-time and turn-based combat, a setting more reminiscent of Judge Dredd than The X-Files and a bundle of ambitious gameplay systems that never quite worked in practice, such as rival human NPC factions with their own agendas.

It was always a game that seemed to work better on paper than in practice, but now there's hope that Apocalypse might some day live up to the promise of its lofty design, as the first public version of OpenApoc - a fan-made source port and foundation for future mod development - has been released.

[...]

Monday - September 25, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Is Fun overrated?

by Hiddenx, 09:09

PCGamesN suggests that the fun in video games is overrated:

'Fun' in videogames is overrated

I finished Ultra Ultra’s third-person action game Echo over the weekend and it got me thinking about the nature of ‘fun’ in videogames. More specifically, it made me consider how our industry places too much value on that word, and how games can use other means to elicit a reaction from us.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - September 24, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Indie Conquered the PC

by Silver, 11:32

PCGamer has an interesting article on how indie gaming conquered the pc.

From shareware superstars to the Steam gold rush: How indie conquered the PC

By Richard Cobbett
We look back at the history of indie gaming, from bedroom coders through crowd-funding to the current crowded scene.

Last week, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds smashed the Steam peak player records. The previous record-holder, Dota 2, while admittedly made by one of the world's biggest and most powerful games companies, began as a Warcraft mod. These days, we barely blink an eye at the idea that a game can come from nowhere and shake through word-of-mouth, clever concepts, a bit of cool technology like Portal's... well, portals... or simply by hooking into some reservoir of good feeling, and accomplish more than any marketing budget can dream of. Minecraft is this generation's Lego. Undertale is one of its most beloved RPGs.

Indeed, the world of indie development is now so important that it's hard to remember that it's only really a decade or so old. That's not to say that there weren't indie games before then, as we'll see, but it was only really with the launch of Steam on PC and services like Xbox Live Arcade that the systems were in place to both get games in front of a mainstream audience, and provide the necessary ecosystem for them to quickly and confidently pay for new games.

[...]

Friday - September 22, 2017

Niche: A genetics survival game - Released

by Silver, 15:29

Niche: A genetics survival game is a turn-based strategy game with simulation and roguelike elements which recently released on Steam.

About This Game

Niche - a genetics survival game is a fresh blend of turn-based strategy and simulation combined with roguelike elements.
Shape your own species of cat/fox/bear/dog-like animals based on real genetics. Keep your animals alive against all odds, such as hungry predators, climate change and spreading sickness.
If your species goes extinct the game is lost and your evolution needs to start anew.

Key Features:

  • Real genetics for breeding system
  • Over 100 genes to shape your species
  • Procedurally generated worlds and animals
  • 4 biomes featuring different predators, prey and flora to explore
  • Game mechanics inspired on population genetics

Games that inspired us:

  • Spore
  • Don’t Starve
  • The Creatures Series
  • Warrior Cats

Educational aspects:

While playing Niche, the player is introduced to the scientific mechanics of genetics (featuring dominant-recessive, co-dominant inheritance, etc). The game also features the five pillars of population genetics (genetic drift, genetic flow, mutation, natural selection, sexual selection). All knowledge is interwoven with the game-mechanics. This creates the effect of learning by playing.

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Thursday - September 21, 2017

The Journey Down - Chapter 3 Release

by Hiddenx, 09:30

The final chapter of the Adventure The Jouney Down will be released today:

The Journey Down

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In the jungles of the Underland, scattered remnants of an ancient culture speak of a great evil that dwells in the shadowy depths of the Kwayerumoshi caves. But even the darkest secrets of this lost age are about to be revealed by the brave actions of three unlikely heroes.

In the final chapter of The Journey Down, Bwana, Kito and Lina explore the vast reaches of the Underland and unravel its long-forgotten history. Their adventure comes to a bombastic conclusion when they learn the true nature of the Great Asili tree and the Armando Power Company.

The Journey Down is a classic point-and-click saga with an Afro-Caribbean vibe. Get ready to embark on an epic journey of brain-teasing adventure!
Features

  • A twisting tale of intriguing adventure
  • Tons of handpainted environments
  • An all original jazzy reggae soundtrack
  • A fully voiced cast
  • HD art and animations

Thursday - September 14, 2017

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - Review

by Hiddenx, 09:08

Polygon has reviewed the action game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice:

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice review

The developers of DmC take on human psychology in this enlightening action game

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice uses everything in its arsenal to perpetuate feelings of dread, anxiety and fear: camera perspective, light, sound, visuals, combat. There are no scary monsters, no jump scares, none of the traditional horror fare. Instead, it taps into something infinitely more terrifying: human psychology. And it is wildly successful.

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Developer Ninja Theory worked alongside a team of mental health specialists, professors of psychology and people recovering from psychosis to convey their experiences. The depiction of main character Senua’s hallucinations and delusions feel vivid, honest and terrifying. From seeing literal fragments of reality to wandering mazes guided by a grieving ghost, every little thing you do skirts the line between myth and a terrifyingly inescapable reality. Every battle and puzzle ties back into the underlying themes and experiences of psychosis.

[...]

WRAP UP

"Hellblade is both a psychological terror and an enlightening experience"

Hellblade is not an Orphean quest to retrieve a dead lover from the underworld. It’s not some epic tale of revenge. It’s an education and contextualization of being psychologically different in the time of Vikings and Celts. Nearly every facet of the game — whether it’s combat, puzzles or exploration — is deliberate, pointing back to the overarching theme of what people called “cursed” during that time. Hellblade successfully weaves metaphors of grief and loss into fundamental game mechanics and rich folklore, and through these I felt like I truly was able to understand how someone else sees the world.

Score: 8.5/10

Monday - September 11, 2017

Beautiful Desolation - September Update

by Silver, 14:30

Beautiful Desolation has a new update for September which shows some skeuomorphic UI that reminds me of classic games and other stuff.

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[...]

The Interface

Apart our trek to the veld, we are at the early design phase of interface implementation. Interface design is extremely important and plays an important part in setting the tone of this world.

With STASIS, we were inspired by the diegetic UI design of Dead Space - something which felt right at home in a horror game. From John’s Quantum Storage Device to the computer PDAs - everything in the game’s interface was designed to keep you inside The Groomlake and form part of the scene.

BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION will see a skeuomorphic interface inspired by the real-world designs of the 70s and 80s and the interface design of Fallout. Wooden panelling, chrome inlays and vacuum-formed plastic have replaced the harsh metal and blood-stained wires of STASIS. However, the idea remains to always keep the player grounded in the game world and sprinkle in some classic game nostalgia to boot.

Take care,

Chris

Sunday - September 03, 2017

Numantia - Release in October

by Hiddenx, 15:20

Farflame spotted the release date for Numantia on XBoxHub:

Turn-based strategy and RPG hybrid Numantia gets an October release date

A long time ago, an important battle took place between Rome and the city of Numantia, but just a short time ago it was revealed that a turn-based strategy/RPG game centred around this event is due to release this October.

Numantia is expected to release in October, 2017, for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC/Steam, bringing a game that takes place in the year 153, during an ancient conflict known as the Siege of Numantia. Players can tackle two different campaigns; one which sees you lead the troops of Numantia against the invaders, and one helping consolidate the power of Rome. Prepare to relive history in epic battles, fighting alongside real historical figures.

[...]

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D&D Lords of Waterdeep - Released

by Hiddenx, 14:47

Lucky Day spotted the release of the strategy game D&D Lords of Waterdeep:

Wizards of the Coast and Playdek present the award-winning Dungeons & Dragons board game Lords of Waterdeep!

Welcome to Waterdeep, the City of Splendors! A city run by a secret society of masked Lords who rule with shady back-door dealings and unmatched political power. In Lords of Waterdeep players will play as one of these masked Lords and will need to recruit adventurers to go out and complete quests for them. The more quests they complete, the more control and influence they have over the city.

Players can expand the city by purchasing buildings that will open up new opportunities within the city walls. Intrigue cards can be used to help the player and may also either help or hinder their fellow Lords in their quest to become the supreme ruler of Waterdeep!

Lords of Waterdeep is a turn-based strategy game played in 8 rounds and can be played against AI or with up to 5 human players. Players take turns assigning their agents to do their bidding, whether it is to recruit new adventurers to their tavern or purchase a new building for the city. Points and resources are gained by completing quests, playing Intrigue cards, constructing new buildings or having other players utilize the buildings you have constructed. At the end of the 8 rounds bonus points are awarded and the player with the most points at the end wins the game.

Features

  • Computer opponents and asynchronous cross platform multiplayer online play
  • Options for 2-5 players (6 players with the Undermountain or Scoundrels of Skullport expansions)
  • AI Opponents
  • Asynchronous or real-time online play (2-5 players)
  • Ability to invite Playdek friends to matches
  • Public or Private online profile statistics
  • Selectable online game clocks
  • "Next game" button takes you to your next asynchronous online game
  • In-game tutorial
  • Rule Book and Card Gallery to review game text and effects
  • Options for Music and SFX and animation speed
  • Animated backgrounds
  • Player ratings system
  • Other player's Online status indicator

Saturday - September 02, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Frostpunk Gameplay

by Silver, 14:39

@GamePressure Frostpunk gameplay from the demo can be seen in this video.

Our footage shows the beginning of gameplay – we find a reactor, launch it, and take care of our people and our base. The game looks nice, but we can see FPS drops of animations. Optimization of the game is without a doubt something that 11 bit studios will deal with in the upcoming months.

Frostpunk, the new production from the devs behind This War of Mine, is to be a chilly strategy in which we build a settlement and ensure the safety of our people in an ice-bound world. Apart from the construction element, the game also emphasizes society management. The choices we make will have a real impact on both economy and gameplay. Further into the game, the players will get to know the reasons behind this new ice age and reveal some chilling mysteries.

[...]

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This 15 minutes video shows gameplay from the Frostpunk game, from the beginning. In this game we're building a base post-apocalyptic city trying to make our people survive in harsh conditions. Game in full version is showing up in December this year.

Wednesday - August 30, 2017

Distrust - Inspired by 'The Thing'

by Silver, 14:07

@IndieGames Distrust released on Steam recently and is described as a survival focused, isometric, roguelike inspired by 'The Thing'.

An alien evil stalks a group of survivors in the wintry expanse of Antarctica, threatening to overwhelm their defenses as hunger and the elements wear them down. This isn't The Thing; it's Distrust, a new isometric survival game inspired by John Carpenter's sci-fi horror classic. But rather than the threat of assimilation, you'll need to fight against sleep to keep your group alive.

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[...]

Tuesday - August 22, 2017

The Long Dark - Review @ Destructoid

by Hiddenx, 19:20

Destructoid has reviewed the exploration survival game The Long Dark:

Review: The Long Dark

Winter is here

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The Long Dark is out of Early Access, and there have been some changes since it was initially released in 2014. Its world has grown bigger, its animal AI has grown smarter, and its story mode has remained a promising yet barely distinguishable figure on the edge of the horizon. Until now.

This review covers both the survival sandbox mode and the first two episodes of the story mode. I'll be back to cover more of it as I keep charting its chilly terrain and as more episodes are released.
[...]
I have to say, one of the best parts of The Long Dark is the feeling of discovery. Being unsure where I'm going as I venture off partially snow-covered roads, and then suddenly coming upon a lighthouse or a whale harvesting plant, is exciting. Since the maps are always the same, that excitement will fade once I've discovered and memorized everything each area has to offer. I have conflicting feelings about that because I want both the excitement of discovery and the comfort of knowing the world I inhabit.

New maps can always be added, and there are challenges within the sandbox mode that you can choose to partake in if you want to shake things up a bit. One of the challenges asks you to spend three days at different locations scattered across all the maps, forcing you to chart the entire world of the game. And there's enough content there that it should keep you busy exploring every nook and cranny for a while.

While the story mode leaves something to be desired, the survival mechanics of The Long Dark's sandbox make it worthwhile. We have three more episodes of Will's journey to weave a wider story throughout the alternately unforgiving and inviting Canadian terrain. In the meantime, I'll be sitting back with my coffee mug, reflecting on my own small stories within The Long Dark.

Saturday - August 19, 2017

Agents of Mayhem - Review @ AusGamers

by Hiddenx, 07:23

AusGamers checked out the action game Agents of Mayhem (which comes with a few RPG elements):

Agents of Mayhem Review

Calling in a vehicle in Agents of Mayhem creates a small circle that your Agent needs to stand-in as their vehicle of choice drives towards them at high speeds. When it gets close enough the Agent jumps into the air, strikes a pose, and then phases into the vehicle where they’re now behind the wheel and ready to drive. It’s a cool little transition effect, and one that you’ll no doubt see often throughout your time with Agents of Mayhem, the new open-world action game from Volition - the studio behind the Saints Row series. The only problem is that after the vehicle transition is completed, the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Which is somewhat of a metaphor for the entire experience, it moves in the right direction but stops short of greatness.

Initial impressions are important. But none more so than with a piece of entertainment like Agents of Mayhem. It’s Saints Row IV by the way of a Saturday morning cartoon. Crude, juvenile, profane, and often very funny. And it feels like a natural progression from Volition’s last outing, Saints Row IV. Where, the GTA-inspired series moved so far from the its source material as to become an almost parody of crime-based open world action games. And in the process become one of the genre’s most consistently entertaining games.

[...]

Going back to initial impressions, the first few hours of Agents of Mayhem are genuinely exciting and entertaining. And funny too. It’s the open-world of high-tech Seoul and the repetitive missions that fail to live up to the colourful Agents and the Saturday morning cartoon vibe. Which is unfortunate. The juvenile sense of humour won’t appeal to everyone, but the same could be said for just about every Volition-developed title of the past decade. And in that sense, the studio’s latest effort is worth considering if you’re a Saints Row fan. For everyone else, imagine a ludicrous ‘80s cartoon built around the profane and juvenile marines featured in James Cameron’s classic film Aliens. Where they’re globe-trotting government agents, and prone to enter fits of gravity defying carnage.

Score: 7/10

 What we liked

  • Saturday morning cartoon vibe
  • Colourful cast of somewhat juvenile Agents
  • The Agent combo of Hollywood, Braddock and Red Card
  • The Agent variety is diverse, as is the surprisingly deep customisation
  • Oh, and it’s funny

What we didn't like

  • Repetitive mission design
  • Automatic difficulty scaling that removes the feeling of becoming all-powerful
  • Which is a feature from Saints Row IV that we loved
  • … But it can be adjusted
  • Open-world of Seoul doesn’t really invite exploration
  • No co-op

Wednesday - August 16, 2017

Warren Spector - Devs must define Success for themselves

by Hiddenx, 19:21

Warren Spector told Gamesindustry:

Devs must define success for themselves

Ahead of his keynote address at Pax Dev, the Deus Ex and System Shock designer warns that it simply isn't enough to "make a fun little game"

Like many entertainment sectors, the world of video games is a business. But it's a business ultimately driven by passionate and creative individuals. And that matters... a lot.

It's especially important to OtherSide Entertainment's Warren Spector, the industry veteran famous for designing Deus Ex, among other classics. Spector will be giving the keynote address at PAX Dev later this month (a conference that excludes the press), and he spoke with GamesIndustry.biz about the message he aims to deliver to his fellow developers.

At the heart of Spector's talk, called "Developer, Know Thyself", is the notion that creators shouldn't let the commercial side define their success. Moreover, developers should be making games that actually mean something to them.

"The big point I'm trying to make is that it isn't enough just to think, 'Oh I'm going to make a fun little game.' For the sake of developer sanity and also for the medium itself we need to be thinking a little bigger than that, and really think [about] what success means.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - August 10, 2017

Beautiful Desolation - Kickstarter Update

by Hiddenx, 20:03

Farflame spotted two Kickstarter updates for the Adventure game Beautiful Desolation:

Tuesday - August 08, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Why do we spend Time playing Games we don't like?

by Hiddenx, 19:59

Rjshae spotted an older interesting article on Rock, Paper, Shotgun:

Why do we spend time playing games we don’t like?

We spend a lot of time playing games we don’t like. Remember The War Z, renamed to Infestation: Survivor Stories after receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews all around? On Steam, it has nearly 14,000 negative reviews which total 507,837 played hours of absolute garbage. Or what about Duke Nukem Forever, which is somehow sitting at ‘Mostly Positive’ at the moment? The 1500-odd Steam reviews that rightly acknowledge it as a flaming trash pile account for 10,013 hours those poor souls will never get back.

I’m fascinated by the lifetimes we cumulatively waste on games we end up hating, and so I decided to dig a little deeper. How long do we typically spend with a game before we decide it’s no good? Do we have to finish it, or do we make up our minds before the credits roll? Does it take us longer to nail down our feelings on a popular game versus an unpopular one? Why on earth don’t we just do something else?

To answer these questions, I took a look at the Steam reviews for a number of big games with ‘mixed’ reception – the kinds of games that defy a simple and immediate classification as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. By averaging out the hour counts of both positive and negative reviews, we can see a consistent trend between the two, with players spending on average two to three times as long with a game they enjoy than a game that leaves them disappointed. Not too surprising, but things get more interesting when we compare the average hour counts with the time it takes to beat these games, as estimated by howlongtobeat.com. Contrasting these values reveals that we often spend enough time with games we don’t recommend to see their credits roll – though whether we actually do reach the end or not is significantly harder to quantify. Judging from sampled review text, though, we push through as far as we can, even when crashes, bugs, and low framerates conspire against us.

[...]

Monday - July 31, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Fear Effect Sedna Screenshots

by Hiddenx, 20:32

Farflame spotted some new screenshots of the tactical action game Fear Effect Sedna on Neptune Games:

Fear Effect Sedna Gets New Screenshots

Fear Effect Sedna features a whole new story and a pausable real-time tactical action style where players will be able to control the team strategically and tackle enemies and puzzles alike

Sushee developers released some new gameplay screenshots for Fear Effect Sedna, the next game in the classic series made popular on the original PlayStation console. The game will features a whole new story and a pausable real-time tactical action style where players will be able to control the team strategically and tackle enemies and puzzles alike.

[...]

Non-RPG General News - StarCraft Remastered

by Silver, 14:15

Blizzard has been busy with Starcraft Remastered and has documented this process in some video logs. Also work has been done on the animated portraits for the Terrans, Protoss and Zerg.

Episode 1

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Episode 2

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Episode 3

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Thanks Luj1!

Saturday - July 29, 2017

The Long Dark - Release Date: August 1

by Hiddenx, 05:35

Hurls spotted that the open world survival game The Long Dark will be released on August 1:

The Long Dark -- LAUNCH TRAILER IS HERE!!

Hello fans,

We're thrilled to be able to share the launch trailer for The Long Dark.

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We can't wait to hear what you think about the game on August 1st, and we hope you find it was worth the long wait.

The Long Dark launches Worldwide on Steam on Tuesday, August 1st at 8AM Pacific Time.

Thank you for your support over the years.

- The Hinterland Team

ABOUT THE LONG DARK
Imagine the lights go out, never to return. Bright aurora flare across the sky, and all humanity’s technological might is laid to waste, neutralized in a kind of quiet apocalypse. Everything that has shielded humanity from the disinterested power of Mother Nature is suddenly wrenched from us, dropping us a few links down the food chain. Food and water are scarce. The roads are no longer safe. And winter approaches…

Welcome to The Long Dark —an immersive survival simulation set in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster. Experience a unique first-person survival simulation that will force you to think and push you to your limits with its thought-provoking gameplay.

Monday - July 24, 2017

Iron Tides - Early Access launched

by Hiddenx, 19:53

The Viking Sim Iron Tides has been released as Early Access on Steam:

Iron Tides

In Iron Tides, you are a Chieftain who survives the anger of the gods. The fury of the sea is against you in an experience designed to challenge your mind. With your steadfast crew, engage in quick turn-based battles and take every piece of loot your ship will hold.

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Game Features:

  • A World Without End: Explore a hand-crafted ocean full of danger and chance encounters. Choose your battles carefully and stay vigilant.
  • Diverse Battlefields: Keep your wits about you as you fight the various denizens of the Iron Tides across broken ruins, ancient temples, and the decks of warships.
  • Encounters Upon the High Seas: Explore dusty ruins, bribe corrupt enemy garrisons, and haggle with lost merchants. Build your own story through narrative encounters with multiple solutions. Will you take the effort to plunder statues when your warriors only want food?
  • A Place to Call Home: After a successful voyage, return to your stronghold of Norhaven. Purchase newly available wares, recruit new warriors, and plan the next raiding season.
  • No Two Vikings Exactly Alike: Each viking has four abilities drawn from a pool of seven. In addition, each warrior has a unique, procedurally generated upgrade path, allowing for a diverse range of possibilities.
  • Dead Warriors Live Only In Memory: The halls of Valhalla sing with glory as each Viking meets their end. Unfortunately for you and your crew, your lost warriors will not come back and help on the next raid.

Thursday - July 20, 2017

Darkwood - Release Date: August 17

by Hiddenx, 19:18

PC Gamer reports that the crowdfunded top-down survival horror game Darkwood will be released on August 17:

Darkwood release date set with eerie live-action trailer

After three years, the free-roam survival horror game has earmarked an August launch.

Remember Darkwood? You know, the successfully crowdfunded top-down survival horror game that entered Early Access in 2014? That's right, the wonderful scare 'em up that was sort of reminiscent of Teleglitch but with a far more robust tool system whose slower pace in turn cranked its tension up to 11. Yeah, that one—it's now got a launch date. When? August 17.

To mark the announcement, developer Acid Wizard Studio has released the following live-action trailer:

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[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Crystal Dynamics - Celebrates 25 years with Sale

by Silver, 10:03

Crystal Dynamics 25th Anniversary Campaign is selling all its games cheap with the proceeds going to charity.

To celebrate Crystal Dynamics 25th anniversary, we are offering a discounted limited edition bundle featuring new and classic Crystal Dynamics games. Save over 75% with this Crystal Dynamics 25th Anniversary bundle which includes PC Steam keys for 12 games! 100% of proceeds from the event will go to GameChanger Charity and support children facing life-threatening illnesses.

Games Include:
1. Tomb Raider (2013)

2. Tomb Raider: Underworld

3. Tomb Raider: Anniversary

4. Tomb Raider: Legend

5. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

6. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris

7. Legacy of Kain: Defiance

8. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

9. Blood Omen 2: Legacy of Kain

10. Project Snowblind

11. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2

12. Pandemonium

$25 donation- receive all 12 games
$15 donation - Tomb Raider & Lara Croft games (6 games)
$1 donation- Receive games 7-12 listed (Legacy of Kain, Blood Omen, etc)

For a $50 donation, you will receive a GameChanger Charity swag pack & the 25th Anniversary Game Bundle!

Monday - July 17, 2017

Plague Tale - Interview @ Gaming Bolt

by Hiddenx, 20:02

Gaming Bolt has interviewed Chief Creative Officer David Dedeine about the stealth game Plague Tale:

A Plague Tale: Innocence Interview: ‘We Really Want To Tell A Great Story’


Many interesting games graced the carpet of this year’s E3, but there was something interesting about developer Asobo Studio’s A Plague Tale: Innocence. A game of two children locked away in an old building surrounded by thousands of on-screen rats and the inquisition. With the right path to find and a puzzling challenge to figure out just how to get out, it’s up these two children to escape.

Having to walk through swarms of disease infested rats is no easy task. Taking influence from 14th century French architecture, with the creepy darkness and shadows to go along with it, we had to find out more. We had a chance to talk with Chief Creative Officer David Dedeine to find out what lies behind the creepy walls of this foreboding game.
[...]

The central theme focuses on innocence and doing what’s necessary to survive in Plague Tale. Will players’ decisions to kill influence the overall course of the story and the ending?

It doesn’t influence the course in a sense where you will not change the ending of the game. The story is basically linear. There is no branching. We really want to tell a great story. This tale, this nightmare needs to reach the public, talk to the public. We will not try to branch much, we try to focus on this [linear] path.

What are some of the tasks players will have to perform? Is the game primarily focused on stealth and sneaking past patrols?

It’s a mix. It’s still an action-adventure game. So you will have sneak phases, we will have action phases, and also puzzle mechanics.

[...]
Thanks Farflame!

Peregrin - Announced

by Hiddenx, 19:41

Neptune Games reports that Peregrin - a puzzle adventure with RPG elements has been announced:

Peregrin: puzzle-adventure with RPG elements Gets New Screens

[...]

According to developers, the story of Peregrin is a moving take on the struggle to overcome both personal and collective loss, beautifully realised in an epic mythical style. Peregrin’s art department and play mechanics seem to be like a hybrid between Below and The Flame in the Flood

During the adventure we will take control of Abi as she leaves her scavenger tribe to embark upon an epic journey into the wastelands of the divide. Mysterious monoliths and strange artefacts await her there, revealing the secrets of these fallen lands. Peregrin’s absorbing gameplay revolves around the use of Abi’s arcane powers. Use them to take temporary control of the creatures you encounter – from simple animals to the divide’s hostile guardians. Turn the unique abilities of each creature to your advantage in solving puzzles and surviving battles.

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - July 14, 2017

IGN Unfiltered - Warren Spector

by Silver, 09:34

IGN interview Warren Spector about his career in gaming.

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The creator of Deus Ex, System Shock, Ultima Underworld, Epic Mickey, and more sits down for an hour-long interview about his entire fascinating career.

Sunday - July 09, 2017

They Are Billions - Steam Page

by Hiddenx, 08:35

The RTS They are Billions has a steam page now. The game will launch this fall:

They Are Billions is a Steampunk strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic planet. Build and defend colonies to survive against the billions of the infected that seek to annihilate the few remaining living humans. Can humanity survive after the zombie apocalypse?

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Monday - July 03, 2017

Elite: Dangerous - Review @ COG

by Hiddenx, 19:43

COG reviewed the space sim Elite Dangerous:

Elite: Dangerous Review – Beautifully Crafted Yet Complex Space Travel Experience

Elite: Dangerous Review
Space is both a majestic and a terrifying place. The stuff of dreams and nightmares, exploring space has always captivated the imagination of the would-be intrepid explorer. Some believe space to be a place of serious endeavours, the future of a proper and professional civilization more advanced than our own. Others see it as the next wild west: a vast open plain to pillage, plunder, and carve out for your own. Elite: Dangerous manages to saddle up in both of these worlds, offering you the freedom to do as you please but with grave and serious repercussions. It sounds like one hell of a ride to take; however, it takes itself just a little too seriously for the casual gamer.

[...]

Elite: Dangerous is a well crafted and complex space simulation in flight, combat, and a number of RPG elements such as resource management, questing, and upgrading gear. With real world science creating the games universe and some very nice graphics, the game’s downfall comes from the overly complex controls used for flight, making the game difficult for newcomers who may be expecting a more user friendly experience. These controls also limit the fast paced action many would hope for in space combat, however for those looking for a game grounded in realism, Elite: Dangerous may just be the perfect one for you.

Score: 72/100

 

Tuesday - June 27, 2017

The Guild 3 - Preview @ Hardcore Gamer

by Hiddenx, 22:26

Hardcore Gamer checked out The Guild 3:

E3 2017: Build Your Own Dynasty in The Guild 3

So many fantasy games use the middle ages as a template that is easy to forget that life in this time period was not all powerful wizards assisting gallant knights in rescuing beautiful princesses from evil dragons. Life in the middle ages sucked. People took baths once a year, just about everyone except royalty was poor and life expectancy was short due to poor medical care, lack of hygiene, and wars and plagues breaking out all the time. And based on historical records, dragons and magic did not exist, though we like to classify that so-called history under the category of old fake news. The Guild 3 may not be 100% historically accurate (editor’s note: neither is your description of the middle ages or anything else in this article), but it’s more realistic than most fantasy games.

The Guild 3 is a combination of strategy game, eco-simulation, historical life simulation, and RPG all rolled into one. The Guild 3 starts in a version of Europe as the middle ages come to an end and make way for the Renaissance, where the despotic domination by nobles and clergy gives way to prospering, independent cities with a free trade mindset. The primary objective is to build a dynasty that will last for centuries. This is most easily done by finding a mate and creating offspring that will carry on whatever sort of empire the player starts to build for themselves, but should the player choose to create an unlovable wretch there is an option to adopt from the orphanage.

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Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - June 25, 2017

Endless Space 2 - New free Content

by Hiddenx, 08:53

PCGamesN reports that Endless Space 2 got a new questline:

Endless Space 2's new hero is trapped inside a neutron star

[...]

As you might infer from its title, the Stellar Prisoner’s new questline concerns a mysterious figure who is literally imprisoned in a neutron star. It also appears that neutron stars will be objectives in a battle arena mode, conferring special bonuses to whomever controls them.

Features include:

  • Neutron Star: a battle arena that provides bonuses to players who control this special node.
  • A new quest triggered upon the discovery of the Neutron Star.
  • A new Endless Virtual hero.
  • A new Cravers Prime hero, unlocked by the community during an ARG.
  • Two new, unique planets.
  • Modding improvements, including the ability to edit visuals (hero, quests, events) and textures (planets, ships).
  • General performance and AI improvements - there's a full set of patch notes here on Steam.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - June 22, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Before the Storm Q&A

by Hiddenx, 19:56

A new Life is Strange game is in the making - some questions and answers:

Before the Storm - E3 2017 Q&A Stream

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This stream first aired during E3 on the Square Enix Presents channel and was hosted by Toby Palm (Life is Strange Community Manager) and Chris Floyd (Game Co-Director).

Monday - June 19, 2017

Devolver Digital - Sums up the Industry

by Silver, 14:49

Devolver Digital had a 'conference' at E3 this year which came after the Bethesda presentation. Irony knows no bounds. Thanks Luj1!

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Sunday - June 11, 2017

SteamSpy - Your Target Audience Doesn't Exist

by Silver, 23:53

SteamSpy has combed through its figures and come to some interesting conclusions.

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The rise of INSERT_TERM_HERE

I get it. It makes for a good headline "The rise of MOBA". "The fall of core gamer". "The rise of China". And it's usually an interesting read, filled with data. Data that's both well-described and convincing, because if MOBA are on the rise and core gamers are no longer the majority, it makes sense to apply this knowledge somehow, right?

And of course you should, but don't target any new market or new audience just because you've suddenly realized it exists. Dota 2 audience exists, there are around 55 million gamers that have tried it and 9.5 million gamers have played it in the last two weeks.

Does it mean they're enjoying MOBA? Yes.

Does it mean they will even take a peek at yours? Nope, they're too busy.

And same goes for the lucrative Chinese mobile market, by the way.

[...]

Monday - June 05, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Open Worlds don't make Games better

by Hiddenx, 15:38

XboxEnthusiast thinks that open worlds don't always make games better:

Open worlds don’t make games better . . .

It seems that every game coming out at the moment is either an open world game or trying to find ways to give you more freedom to play the way that you want. For the most part, this is a welcome move, giving choice to players is nearly always a good thing, however this market saturation is leading towards the point where even games that have no right in being open world or always online feel the pressure to shoehorn it in. So what do developers need to beware of when implementing an open world?

The first and most important question that developers need to ask themselves is what benefit is there to the player in having an open world? Interestingly Ubisoft is both a champion and a villain with this criterion. Two of Ubisoft’s new IPs last year went the open world route to great effect. Tom Clancy’s The Division had me hooked (and still does as I often revisit it) because of the world that it created. The open world continually reinforced the dire circumstances that you were in and allowed the online focus of the game to blend seamlessly. The same is true of Steep. It’s not the first winter sports game to have an open world (Amped had this years before Ubisoft ever dreamed of their game) but the way that it encouraged you to just mess around in the world made this open world choice a winner. On the other hand I have often thought that both the Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs series would be better as linear games without an open world. I don’t see what the open world really adds to these titles. Imagine if Watch Dogs was a linear game (obviously with choices about how you complete a level à la Deus Ex), the hacking could be more substantial and more impressive as it wouldn’t have to be the one size fits all style hacking that is currently used. With Assassin’s Creed the number of people who complete each game is quite low, this is especially concerning when the series has a continuing storyline. If they made these games more linear (again with options of how you complete each level) they could really focus on the story telling and give us a much more engaging and gripping tale.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

No Trace - Isometric Stealth Game

by Silver, 13:01

PCGamesN surveys No Trace which looks like an isometric style Hitman game.

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Developed by Square Mountain, No Trace sees players taking the role of a covert agent who has splintered off from their clandestine organisation. As a rogue entity, it's now your job to fulfill specific contracts without being detected by your targets or ex-employers.

The environmental design of No Trace is very much like Hitman, with each area having its own unique layout and ways of taking out your targets. The office building has you coming in through the parking garage, sneaking past guards, and taking out CCTV camera on the way to your target. The Brazilian favela has you moving between different elevation, surprising your targets from either above or below. You'll have to vary up your approach based on each new locale, with clever agents being rewarded for carefully using their environment.

[...]

Friday - June 02, 2017

They Are Billions - Announced

by Hiddenx, 19:30

Numantian Games announced their new RTS game They Are Billions for 2017:

Numantian Games, independent game developer of Lords of Xulima, is proud to announce the upcoming strategy game, They Are Billions, coming to PC in 2017.
They Are Billions mixes a world where the zombie apocalypse has taken over the planet and throws it into a Steampunk / Victorian setting.
Prevent the infection from spreading into your colony and its inhabitants. Once a building is infected, the workers turn, rabidly spreading the infection further. And just when you think it is safe, thousands more come in hordes to wipe out your colony - each with individualized AI.
 
They Are Billions Game Features:

  • Real-time Strategy with Pause Mode: In Pause Mode you can build your structures and setup commands for your army. This game is about strategy, not quick key commands.
  • Oversee a Colony: Build, Fight, Defend, and Gather Resources for your colony. Don’t let the infected take over!
  • Build an Army: Train and contract mercenaries to protect your colony and destroy the infected - unique mercenaries with their own set of skills and personalities!
  • Thousands of Units on the Screen: Defeat billions of zombies. The custom engine can handle up to 20,000 of the infected in real time.
  • 4K Graphics: Steampunk and Victorian Style Graphics. Dozens of units with more than 1,500 frames of animation.

Only a small population of humans remain alive. Grow your colony and fight through the billions of zombies left on the planet.

Thursday - June 01, 2017

Gray Skies, Dark Waters - Release Day: June 9

by Hiddenx, 18:42

The Point'n'Click Adventure Gray Skies, Dark Waters will be released on Steam on June 9:

About the Game

Gray Skies, Dark Waters drops you into a world of secrets, unanswered questions, and (just maybe) the supernatural. Search to reveal the truth—or, at least, your version of it.

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What does it mean to truly disappear without a trace? In this modern interpretation of centuries-old folklore, that’s the question that seventeen-year-old Lina Garrett has to consider after her mother vanishes. Take Lina on a thought-provoking journey through her small Chesapeake Bay town of Avett's Landing to unravel the mystery of her mother’s disappearance and explore what it means to be part of a family - even a troubled one.

Fans of story-based games like The Path, Life is Strange, and To the Moon will love this story-driven adventure game in which your continuous choices decide the future of the Garrett family. Gray Skies, Dark Waters comes alive with:

  • an original score
  • full voice-acting
  • hand-drawn paintings inspired by children’s book illustrations
  • a 2-3 hour playtime
  • a series of short stories set in Avett’s Landing, Virginia
  • Rich commentary mode that includes interviews with developers and experts in various fields

The game features 3D models interacting in 2D settings, similar to classics like Grim Fandango, The Longest Journey, and Resident Evil 2. Gray Skies, Dark Waters takes literary inspiration from the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O’Connor, Jorge Luis Borges, and Shirley Jackson.

Tuesday - May 30, 2017

Back From Hell - Back on Kickstarter

by Hiddenx, 18:54

Developer Photoplay Games is making a second attempt to get their Point'n'Click Adventure / Action RPG Back From Hell funded on Kickstarter:

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Saturday - May 27, 2017

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Launching 2018

by Silver, 00:41

Red Dead Redemption 2 is set to launch Spring 2018. Check out the screenshots here.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is now set to launch Spring 2018 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans.

We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready. We are really excited to bring you more details about the game this summer. In the meantime, please enjoy this selection of new screenshots from the world of Red Dead Redemption 2.

[...]

Tuesday - May 23, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Fear Effect Sedna Demo

by Silver, 14:16

Fear Effect Sedna, an isometric, real time tactical game is getting close to release and have released a demo on Steam of the first 30 minutes of the game according to the last Kickstarter update.

...

Hands on the game already?

...a demo is now available on Steam! Not an early prototype: the actual demo, which is basically the first 30 minutes of the game.
Introducing the new tactical mode
Introducing the new tactical mode

It will include all that we couldn't show you in the prototype:

  • Infiltration mechanics! Once you enter stealth mode, you'll be able to see the the enemies' field of view.
  • Stealth kills! Easier, faster, deadlier.
  • Better character skills! And this time they'll be really different and complementary.
  • New voice actors! The whole crew is a delight to work with, and we're very happy with this cast led by Natalie Roers - the voice of Hana in last year's prototype.
  • Smarter AIs! With the revamped cover system, they will try to flank you, call allies, move from a cover to another, stay hidden when their health is low...
  • More death scenes! Just because... well, we all like those.
  • Challenging puzzles! Prepare to fail!

And many more minor improvements that we're sure you will notice.

Please note that this demo is not a fully polished version, and that we still have a few things to work on before the full release! But it will give you a lot more faithful glimpse of what Fear Effect Sedna will be.

Friday - May 19, 2017

Endless Space 2 - Released

by Hiddenx, 19:25

The sci-fi turn-based 4X strategy game Endless Space 2 has been released:

Endless Space 2 - Pathfinders Launch Trailer

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Monday - May 15, 2017

Endless Space 2 - Expand

by Hiddenx, 20:20

Farflame spotted a video that explains how to expand your civilization in Endless Space 2:

Endless Space 2 - EXPAND

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Sunday - May 07, 2017

Endless Space 2 - Exploring

by Hiddenx, 10:27

Farflame spotted a video about exploring in the 4X-strategy game Endless Space 2:

Endless Space 2 - EXPLORE

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Saturday - April 22, 2017

Syberia 3 - Released

by Hiddenx, 09:31

Syberia 3 - the final part of the adventure series - has been released:

Trailer:

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The devs are already working on a patch:

Update from the developers

Hello Syberia community. First of all thank you for your support and feedbacks ; both negative and positive. We are really happy to see that Syberia community is so strong. We really hope that new and ancient players will enjoy this new sequel and we would like to strengthen and improve our communication with the community. There is a lot of message and we are reading all of them and take all into account in order to provide you with updates.

We are currently working hard to deliver a patch as soon as possible that will help you to improve your game experience. Here is the list of the known issues we are working on.

  • Controls: we are improving control on keyboard/mouse and compatibility with most gamepad controllers.
  • Russian and Chinese Fonts are too small
  • Voice over and sound issues:
  • Save game issue: some of you have issue loading previous save. Currently the only known tip is to start a new game and load the previous save.
  • Material compatibility.
  • Mac optimization

Thank you for your patience.

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - April 21, 2017

Full Throttle Remastered - Released

by Hiddenx, 19:13

A remastered version of the classic point & click adventure Full Throttle has been released on GOG and Steam:

About:

Released by LucasArts in 1995, Full Throttle is a classic graphic adventure game from industry legend Tim Schafer, telling the story of Ben Throttle; butt-kicking leader of biker gang the Polecats, who gets caught up in a tale of Motorcycles, Mayhem and Murder. Now over 20 years later, Full Throttle is back in a remastered edition featuring all new hand-drawn and 3D high-resolution artwork, with remastered audio and music.

Thank you for the info, Lucky Day!

Wednesday - April 19, 2017

Osiris: New Dawn - Update

by Hiddenx, 20:45

The survival game Osiris: New Dawn got an update:

Update: Coming 4/27 - Proteus II Map Redesign

Hey folks, I know everyone has been fervently waiting for news on our upcoming update and today we are here to pull the curtains back and show you some of what we have been working so hard on! This thing is going to be pretty massive, from entirely new level designs to a reworked melee system to highly enhanced graphics… THIS is what we've been hard at work on!

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Some samples of the work we have been doing for the upcoming update to Osiris: New Dawn.

That’s all that we can show at this time, as we’re in the thick of getting a lot more in for the update. Here’s a list of everything slated to be added or changed for this update. Please note this list is subject to change and only represents some (not all) of the changes coming!
Check it out:

  • Proteus Level Design redux - Complete redesign of Proteus II featuring a wider variety of biomes and locations to discover
  • Mission System - Including quests and dungeons with rewards
  • New Graphics Features – Clouds, SSShadows, etc.
  • New Spaceship
  • Passenger Turret Control on GAV
  • Player Fall damage
  • Autosort when transfering inventories
  • OMPA Target Icon changed
  • Cave ceiling spawning
  • Dungeon AI
  • Vehicles can be damaged by creatures
  • New Mines
  • Dungeon System with parties
  • Vehicles have better colliders
  • Crab Queen end boss
  • Snubbs
  • Alien Eggs
  • Ranger Class
  • HAB Wall Variants
  • Vehicle Suspension Improvements
  • Water
  • Improved Melee system

Now, I know what the hot topic is - the date. And I'm happy (and relieved) to say, you guys only have to wait a little bit longer. We are targeting April 27th for this release, and we hope to have a beta branch live for testing on April 20th! We will let you know as soon as possible if these dates shift or change.
I'd like to say thank you to everyone for sticking with us while work to make Osiris the game we want it to be. For all the latest on Osiris: New Dawn, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Thanks Farflame!

StarCraft - Now Free!

by Hiddenx, 19:42

StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War are now free to download:

StarCraft: Brood War Patch 1.18 Patch Notes

Note: When patching StarCraft, please use the ‘Run as Admin’ option; it is required during your first client run to migrate saves and avoid issues from Windows system admin changes.

StarCraft: Brood War Patch 1.18 Patch Notes

StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War are now free. Follow the links here to begin installing:

General

  • Added windowed fullscreen or windowed mode; use Alt+Enter to switch between.
  • Added UTF-8 support.
  • Added cursor clamping in-game while windowed; unclamped in menus.
  • Added Popular Maps to streamline finding games or game types.
  • Added options to display actions per minute.
  • Added Observer mode.
  • Added opponent information when joining a game lobby.
  • Added autosaving for replays.
  • Added an option to display the game timer.
  • Added UPnP support.
  • Updated to a new OpenGL backend.
  • Improved gameplay responsiveness during multiplayer by increasing turn rate to match LAN speeds over Battle.net.
  • Improved UI layout in Battle.net sections.
  • Improved behavior of available lobbies within the ‘Join Game’ section.
  • Improved compatibility with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10.
  • Improved anticheat capabilities.
  • Improved installation and patching performance.
  • Mac Beta support now available for 10.11 and up.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed palette issues to correct rainbow water, 80s Kerrigan face in the loading screen, and other graphic glitches.
  • Fixed problems with LAN game discovery.
  • Fixed IME support and other text artifacts in Battle.net menus.
  • LAN and Legacy Battle.net fixes.

Known Issues

  • The profile section is currently unavailable.

Thursday - April 13, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Frostpunk Revealed

by Silver, 13:09

@GamePressure takes a long look at Frostpunk and finds its an intriguing new title from This War of Mine developer 11 bit studios.

....

The age of ice and steam

You want some cold facts? Well, I suppose we can safely assume that Frostpunk will be a unique mix of various genres and mechanics: we can notice RTS mechanics, elements of survival, social and urban management, as well as decisions that will influence the lives of individuals and the fate of the entire society. As the devs themselves have said:

"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel; we want to combine the existing genres in such a way that we get something original."

Contrary to what you might be expecting, the game isn't set in the future. It depicts an alternative vision of the 19th century. After a cataclysm has almost wiped out humanity from the face of the earth, it's the players' task to preserve the lives of a handful that survived the disaster. The devs promise that the players will be able to explore the reasons behind the Armageddon - was it a divine punishment, or simply a natural phenomenon?

The technology that will become our lifeline will be based on steam and ice. We really like this idea, as it seems more than plausible to use this unlimited resource offered by a world covered in ice. The 19th-century-ish technology of Frostpunk will have us melt ice to get water and steam, and steam-powered engines will in turn enable us to warm the dying residents. As to the stuff we will do in the new game from 11 bit studios, we can only wonder: resource acquisition and crafting? Perhaps some mining and metallurgy, who knows? What we do know is that our main task will be to efficiently manage the city, make the right decisions, provide for the residents, and... sacrifice individuals in the name of survival of the collective.
[...]

Thursday - April 06, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Brexit: Repercussions on Video Game Industry

by Hiddenx, 20:27

Sorcery discusses Brexit and its repercussions on the game industry:

Brexit and Its Repercussions on the UK’s Video Game Industry

The United Kingdom is home to many, much loved video game companies. Some have spent decades in Britain such as Rare, creators of classics such as Banjo Kazooie, Goldeneye 64 and Perfect Dark. Rockstar North are Scotland based and have worked on many GTA titles and the Red Dead Redemption series. Relatively new studios such as Hello Games (No Man’s Sky) and mobile game creators ustwo (Monument Valley) are also based here. There is a wealth of talent in the UK, both old and new, however a certain referendum had last year is likely to put that in jeopardy.

[...]

When Theresa May triggered article 50 last week she started an arduous process which has never been done before and may turn out to be detrimental to her own country. Meanwhile who knows how many opportunities Britain is now missing out on because of the cloud of uncertainty looming above. Maybe the next GTA will be worser for it, maybe we will never get another Monument Valley, but what is truly scary is that we do not know what opportunities we will miss out on, both during and after the process. In an ever globalising video game industry and world, the risks of Brexit are likely to be vague, uncertain and seismic. Will we be able to say that the UK’s game industry has improved post Brexit? At the moment the stats are pointing south.

Sunday - April 02, 2017

Saint Kotar - Coming soon on Kickstarter

by Hiddenx, 09:18

The point and click adventure game Saint Kotar will be on Kickstarter soon:

Saint Kotar - 2.5D Approach & Early Gameplay Reveal

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The video shows the difference between true 2D and 2.5D approaches, as well as the reasons why we've decided for the latter.
Please do note that the footage is pre-alpha and does not represent the quality and visual look of the final product. All backgrounds (and especially backgrounds), character models and animations, particle animations (like the fog or smoke from the chimneys), as well as UI elements, are still a work in progress and subject to change.

 

Monday - March 27, 2017

Endless Space 2 - Riftborn Update

by Hiddenx, 20:29

Farflame spotted this update for the strategy game Endless Space 2:

Hey everyone,

The Riftborn update [0.3.2] is now live! This major update introduces the Riftborn major civilization, an Early Access iteration of Multiplayer mode (we're counting on your feedback to make this optimal for the release!), new visual elements to bring more life to the galaxy, AI ameliorations, Battle improvements, changes to the Technology Tree, and more!

Check out the new features of Update 3 in this gameplay video:

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Sunday - March 12, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Immersive Sims

by Hiddenx, 10:02

PC Gamer brought some famous game designers together and they discuss complex PC games - so called immersive sims:

The designers of Dishonored, Bioshock 2 and Deus Ex swap stories about making PC's most complex games

We brought together an all-star cast of designers to chat about the past, present, and future of immersive sims. Read, or listen along!

Deus Ex. System Shock 2. Dishonored. Some of the PC's most celebrated games belong to a genre called the immersive sim, which emphasizes creating a complex world with tons of player freedom. They're some of our favorite games to talk about, and at the 2017 Game Developer's Conference we were lucky enough to do just that. We put together a roundtable of familiar faces, all of whom have had a major hand in exploring or creating immersive sims.

Our guests: Warren Spector (Otherside Entertainment), Harvey Smith and Ricardo Bare (Arkane Studios), Tom Francis (Suspicious Developments) and Steve Gaynor (Fullbright).

You can listen to the hour-long audio version of this discussion here or grab it from our podcast feed. Consider putting it on while you play Deus Ex (currently for sale for $3 on GOG) and pretend it's a brand new audio log. Or, if you want the good old fashioned text version, read on. [...]

Sunday - February 26, 2017

Dungeons 3 - Available Fall 2017

by Hiddenx, 07:59

The dungeon management game Dungeons 3 will be available in fall 2017. Farflame spotted  a new trailer at Gamepressure:

Dungeons 3 will let you expand your dungeon and conquer the surface world

Dungeons 3 is in works, Kalypso Media announced today. The third game in the series inspired by Dungeon Keeper will let you build a dungeon and conquer the world above.

Kalypso Media is collaborating with Realmforge Studios on Dungeons 3, another installment in the series of light-hearted strategy games inspired by Bullfrog’s cult classic dungeon manager Dungeon Keeper. The two previous parts were fairly good – actually, the second was better than the first, meaning that developers learned from their previous mistakes, which bodes well for the third one. Dungeons 3 has been announced to come out this fall for PC (Windows, Linux), Mac, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Here’s the reveal trailer:

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[...]

Saturday - February 25, 2017

Genesis Alpha One - New Roguelike, Basebuilder

by Silver, 22:22

@Gameinformer Genesis Alpha One is a roguelike shooter with base building and survival elements.

Team 17, publisher of games like Worms and the upcoming Yooka-Laylee, has announced a new "mix of roguelike shooter, base building and survival" titled Genesis Alpha One.

The game's debut trailer shows off how those disparate elements come together to create a coherent sci-fi thriller. As you build your base through an isometric interface, you'll discover aliens aboard your newly-built station, which means you'll have to take care of them yourself or build limited-use defenses to help you out. With this being a roguelike and all, proving yourself fit to be one of the last remnants of mankind will likely be no easy task.

The trailer also hints a few story details, such as computers determining that in order to save mankind, you'll have to build "a new one." Whether that means repopulating the planet or creating a new species is unclear. The game does not currently have a release date, but will be coming to both consoles and PC.

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Saturday - February 18, 2017

Beautiful Desolation - Interview

by Hiddenx, 09:18

Two Left Sticks interviewed the devs of Beautiful Desolation - The Brotherhood:

Beautiful Desolation Refreshes The Apocalypse – A TLS Interview

True talent, that’s when a creator takes something known and puts a new spin on it. A difficult task, no doubt, but when one succeeds it immediately stands out.  However, developers may find it especially difficult to escape a derivative vision when exploring popular sub-genres.

Take for example the post-apocalyptic sub-genre.  There’s a very definitive idea in the minds of many people of what the world would like if it came to an end, only to then reboot from the ashes.  The Mad Max film series presented a vision in the late 1970s that many creators still look to as inspiration.  Now, the new isometric adventure game Beautiful Desolation is presenting a vision of the apocalypse which could inspire a new generation of developers.

A NEW WORLD

Created by the South Africa-based team The Brotherhood, Beautiful Desolation is the studio’s follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2015 title Stasis.  Now, The Brotherhood sticks with what they crafted so masterfully in Stasis, as they present another vision of a world unlike ours.

“I have been a fan of the post-apocalyptic genre since I first saw Beyond Thunderdome. If there was ever a genre that I felt as passionate about as I did sci-fi horror, it’s post-apocalyptic,” The Brotherhood’s Chris Bischoff said.  Inspired by what he saw at a young age, Chris wanted to capture that sense of wonder in Beautiful Desolation.

“There was this feeling I had when I played Fallout and wandered out into the unknown… that’s the feeling we want to capture in Beautiful Desolation. The openness of a world that is familiar yet alien, that feels tangible, but has a hint of magic and fantasy around it.”

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - February 16, 2017

Grid Cartographer - On Steam Greenlight

by Hiddenx, 21:14

Grid Cartographer is now on Steam Greenlight:

Grid Cartographer 4

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Grid Cartographer is a tool for making RPG maps on unlimited sheets of graph paper. It supports square and hexagonal grid shapes, a wide variety of built-in icons and terrain types plus the ability to import your own custom tiles.

Included are tools to export maps to PNG, scripted data export for game development and even a simple 3D engine to preview from a first person perspective. A dedicated tile map mode has recently been added to make this a comprehensive tool for any grid based map creation.

Grid Cartographer has been in development since 2013 and is currently at version 4. Improvements are constantly being made to improve features, fix bugs and implement user suggestions.

Thursday - February 09, 2017

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Action Adventure announced

by Hiddenx, 19:51

Farflame spotted the Action Adventure A Plague Tale: Innocence on PCGamesN:

A Plague Tale: Innocence is The Last of Us in 14th century, plague-ridden France

The picture A Plague Tale: Innocence paints of 14th century France is one of the most oppressive, bleak and hostile environments ever realised by the medium. Realised by the darkness of a world lit predominantly by candlelight; the cruelty of Inquisition troops; thousands upon thousands of rats pouring forth from every nook and cranny of the environment; and in the middle of it all a 16-year-old girl called Amicia, and Hugo, her five-year-old brother.

The core gameplay mechanic of A Plague Tale: innocence is light. The swarms of ravenous rats won’t go near it, however being in the light or holding a torch will make hiding from Inquisition troops nearly impossible. It’s a familiar mechanic for adventure gaming, but the consequences have never felt so dire, as demonstrated at the very beginning of a pre-alpha gameplay demo.

[...]

Saturday - February 04, 2017

Ama's Lullaby - Coming to Kickstarter

by Hiddenx, 11:13

The point-and-click adventure Ama's Lullaby will be on Kickstarter soon:

Ama's Lullaby - Prologue [Gameplay Teaser]

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Ama's Lullaby is in the style of Westwood Studios' Blade Runner released in 1997 (the famous point-and-click), and features a command-line based hacking system (in the vein of Uplink, as an exemple). The story is about Ama, a young computer-science prodigy living in the 1st colony on another planet. It's about Artificial Intelligence, androids & cyborgs, in a cyberpunk atmosphere. The game features will focus on dialogues, networks hacks, replayability, multi-endings, and a strong audiovisual immersion.

The Kickstarter campaign will begin on Wednesday, February 8th 2017.

Saturday - January 28, 2017

Grid Cartographer - Version 4.0.3 released

by Hiddenx, 10:09

The best mapping tool for old dungeon crawlers - Grid Cartographer - has been updated to version 4.0.3.

Highlights:

  • Game Link profiles for Wizardry II + Wizardry III [dos]
  • [PRO] New region type: Tile Map.
  • Clipped drawing. Setup a limited grid size and prevent drawing outside of this area.
  • New markers: Scroll and Book. Use the switch tool to open/close the book.
  • Horizontal and Vertical flipping of custom tiles.
  • 3 new map themes: Red Vector, Amber Vector and Plain Grey
  • Wand tool now has a Tool Opts. panel. Contiguous selection is now optionally.
  • [Windows] File association support and file icon.
  • Many bug fixes, optimisations and little tweaks.

Monday - January 23, 2017

Warhammer 40k: Sanctus Reach - Interview

by Hiddenx, 20:24

Farflame spotted this interview about Warhammer 40k: Sanctus Reach at GameWatcher:

Warhammer 40,000 Sanctus Reach Interview

Warhammer 40,000 Sanctus Reach, the new turn-based strategy game from Slitherine is set to launch on January 20th. We recently previewed the game and found it to be a solid strategy experience that Warhammer 40k should be interested in checking out. We managed to grab a sit down with the developers of the game for a little Q&A about the title.

GameWatcher :For those who are unaware of what Warhammer 40,000 Sanctus Reach is all about, can you explain what the game is?

Sitherine: The orks of the Red Waaagh have come to the Sanctus Reach and death follows them. Grukk Face-Rippa and his green tide fall upon Imperial worlds, it falls to a few warriors to stand against them. The player commands the Space Wolves and the noble Knights of Alaric Prime for their epic stand against the alien hordes as they struggle to repel the greenskin invaders from their planet. The campaign itself is based off the series of Warhammer 40k novels and campaigns that follow this series.

GameWatcher : How did the project come about? why choose to create a Warhammer 40k game?

Sitherine: We’ve all worked commercially within the games industry for a very long time now, but collectively as a new company, and only being a team of four this was a great opportunity. We are all huge Warhammer fans going all the way back to Chaos Gate and Shadow of the Horned Rat so this felt like a dream come true. We also felt this would be a good springboard for expanding into other parts of the Warhammer 40k universe tackling other great stories and the Space Wolves is a fantastic new start.

[...]

Osiris: New Dawn - Preview

by Hiddenx, 20:18

PCGamesN checked out in which direction the open world space survival game Osiris: New Dawn is heading:

More curation, less procedural generation - Osiris: New Dawn wants to succeed in the genre No Man's Sky created

In my first day on Proteus II I died four times. Twice because I couldn’t figure out how to patch up the breach in my spacesuit - turns out you just use duct tape. I owe my third death to a giant space crab, so it goes. My fourth death, however, was something special. I ventured a mere kilometre from my life-supporting inflatable dome to the edge of a crater. The vista was magnificent, but after pausing for a minute to soak up every last facet of the crater’s abyssal terrain I noticed something rising out of the vista. It was a giant sandworm, and it was coming from the very brink of the horizon to gobble me up. I’d have moved, had I thought for a second that this wasn’t some visual effect developers Fenix Fire had added to spruce up the game’s skyboxes. Turns out that Osiris: New Dawn doesn’t have skyboxes.

 

Immediately, I’m forced to draw comparisons to its most notable competitor, No Man’s Sky. It’s not just me though: CEO and founder of Fenix Fire, Brian McRae can’t avoid the comparison either. “We have a lot of people who are extremely happy with what we're doing,” reflects McRae. “We get lots of pats on the back, like ‘Thank you for making this game', 'This is the game I've been waiting for'. We've heard a lot of, 'This is what I was hoping No Man's Sky would be like'”. They’re both set in space and they both feature survival gameplay mechanics, sure, but while No Man’s Sky revels in the procedural power of algorithms and formulas, Osiris: New Dawn’s giant sandworm proves the importance of curation and direction.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - January 22, 2017

Warhammer 40k: Sanctus Reach - Basic Tutorial

by Hiddenx, 09:00

Learn more about the basic game concepts of the turn-based strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach:

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Video Tutorials

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach has been just released, but even the most experienced and veteran Commander needs some key information before commencing a Battle!

Even if you are an elite Space Wolf or a merciless Ork!

Watch these videos to learn useful tips about basic and advanced gameplay concepts, like combat range, movements, tactics, cover, weapons, morale and more!

loading...

Friday - January 20, 2017

World of Darkness - Werewolf: The Apocalypse

by Silver, 00:53

White Wolf has partnered with Focus Home Interactive to work on Werewolf: The Apocalypse.

White Wolf is pleased to announce its partnership with Paris-based video game publisher Focus Home Interactive for a licensed PC and console game set in the World of Darkness.

The partnership between Focus Home Interactive and White Wolf Publishing concerns the adaptation of a video game based on the acclaimed Werewolf: The Apocalypse. The game will be developed by the game development studio Cyanide (Styx: Master of Shadows, Blood Bowl, Call of Cthulhu...). In the game you will become a Garou, a rage-fuelled Werewolf warrior opposed to urban civilization and the destruction it brings. The Garou are born to fight the corruption of The Wyrm, a powerful supernatural force leading us towards an inevitable Apocalypse.

"The world is dying. When will you Rage? The core question of Werewolf: The Apocalypse is more relevant today than ever before and the cooperation with Focus and Cyanide will finally give gamers the opportunity to revel in the raw power and primal spirituality of the Garou. What is the price of saving the world with fang and claw? Find out for yourself as we explore the darkest corners of a dying planet.", says Martin Ericsson, Lead Story Teller of White Wolf.

"We are pleased to partner with White Wolf to bring Werewolf: The Apocalypse to life in a video game for consoles and PC. We are excited to work on the World of Darkness universe, as this is formidable playground to tell the players a great story. We are also happy to partner with Cyanide Studio in this adventure - they are behind the original wish to adapt this universe, and we are faithful in their ability to create a game that will please both fans of World of Darkness and newcomers", says Cédric Lagarrigue, President of Focus Home Interactive

"The World of Darkness universe has always attracted creatives with a strong passion for telling dark and immersive stories. So to work closely with the great talent at Focus Home and Cyanide exploring the Werewolves of this universe is an absolutely fantastic experience for us at White Wolf and we are more than excited to see this great IP realised in a video game", says Tobias Sjögren, CEO of White Wolf.

More information about this adaptation will come at this year's Focus Home Interactive event, "le What's Next de Focus", taking place in Paris on February 1st and 2nd.

White Wolf contact:

Tobias Sjögren, CEO

Tuesday - January 17, 2017

Shadow Tactics - Review @PCGamer

by Silver, 22:51

PCGamer review Shadow Tactics and find it one of the greatest stealth games of the last decade.

Every enemy encounter is a piece of a huge clockwork puzzle, all orderly and repetitive. To succeed, you need to disrupt the pattern. The fun part is creating chaos with the toy box of abilities and experimenting with them. There’s a lot of joy to be found in playing around with different strategies, tearing out the best parts of failed attempts and stitching them together until you have one that finally works. The ability to save anywhere makes experimentation easier, and a timer lets you know when it's been a while since you last saved.

Sometimes a problem requires lateral thinking. In snowy areas guards take notice of suspicious footprints, which can ruin a plan if you're not careful. However, you can can also exploit guards' inquisitiveness and lay ambushes for those that blindly follow trails into empty corners.

Some problems demand teamwork, and that’s where Shadow Mode comes in. This lets you assign each character a job and activate them all at once. Used correctly, Shadow Mode lets you sweep away large groups of enemies in swift, decisive moves. It’s a thrill to hit a button and see your minions move in tandem.

Wednesday - January 11, 2017

The Plague - New Adventure Announced

by Hiddenx, 22:43

Farflame spotted The Plague on PCGamesN:

Focus Home Interactive and Asobo Studios collaborate on new adventure game, The Plague

It’ll probably take more than a few doses of antibiotics to clear this up. Joining up with fellow French developer Asobo Studios, Focus Home Interactive have teased their new action adventure game, titled The Plague.

This joint effort is set to be revealed at What Next’s de Focus, a special Paris showcase in February which sees Focus Home Interactive unveiling all their projects which are currently in production. The Plague acts as Asobo Studios’ break away from working on ports and licensed titles, having mainly worked with Microsoft on games like Quantum Break, the Young Conker experience for HoloLens and ReCore, as well as various Disney titles.

"Collaborating with Focus Home Interactive on a new, original creation of our team is a major step in the development of our studio," says Sebastian Wloch, CEO of Asobo. For this ambitious project, we needed the full support of a strong and growing publisher. The Focus team, through their professionalism, enthusiasm and openness, have naturally established themselves as the ideal partners to bring the experience we wish to offer to players. "

[...]

Wednesday - January 04, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Are AAA games really failing?

by Hiddenx, 17:33

PCGamesN asks the question -

Are triple-A games really failing?

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that triple-A studios have created some truly wonderful games this year. But, as we’ve learnt many times this year, the deserving candidates don’t always win. Qualitatively, it’s been one of the best years for blockbuster releases in recent memory, but while the disappointing Mafia III became 2K’s fastest-selling game ever, the infinitely superior Dishonored 2 hasn’t managed anything close to its predecessor. Every dismal sales report has been accompanied by a fresh glut of rumours about the decline of triple-A and its potential collapse.

A quick glance across the biggest games of 2016 confirms that a significant portion of the industry’s output has either underperformed or bombed outright. Reports have told a consistent tale of disappointing sales for Watch Dogs 2, Titanfall  2, Dishonored 2, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Quantum Break, Street Fighter V, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Battleborn.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - January 01, 2017

Non-RPG General News - Steam Awards

by Hiddenx, 08:31

And the Steam Awards are:

Villain Most In Need Of A Hug

Portal 2

I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won An Award

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Test of Time

Skyrim

Just 5 More Minutes

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!

Grand Theft Auto V

Game Within A Game

Grand Theft Auto V

I'm Not Crying, There's Something In My Eye

The Walking Dead

Best Use Of A Farm Animal

Goat Simulator

Boom Boom

Doom

Love/Hate Relationship

Dark Souls III

Sit Back and Relax

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Better With Friends

Left 4 Dead 2

Friday - December 30, 2016

Mod of the Year - Players Choice

by Silver, 07:06

@moddb they have announce the players choice of mod of the year. Coming in second was Enderal. Thanks rjshae!

Without further adieu, we are delighted to present your Top 10 Mods of 2016. Also announcing the top Indie Games, VR experiences and Mobile Games you're invited to check them out!

Honourable Mentions

As always you either had to place higher or do a significant update in 2016 to make this list. Here are the 2016 honourable mentions, that just missed out but are still worthy of your praise and attention.

Edain Mod
Ultimate Apocalypse Mod (DOW SS)
Mental Omega
Rise of the Reds
A Clash of Kings (Game of Thrones)
Brutal Doom
Star Trek: Armada 3
Third Age - Total War
MISERY
Republic at War
Project Reality: Battlefield 2
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Lost Alpha
Star Wars: Thrawn's Revenge II: Ascendancy
Sins of the Prophets
Twisted Insurrection
Sins of a Galactic Empire
Tiberium Essence
C&C: ShockWave
Crusader Kings 2: A Game of Thrones (CK2:AGOT)
Forgotten Hope 2
Warsword Conquest

[...]

2nd Place | Enderal
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim mod | Released Jul 3, 2016

Enderal is a total conversion in development for Skyrim and the sequel to Nehrim: At Fate's Edge by SureAI. The story of Enderal is not set in the Elder Scrolls world of Tamriel, but takes place in its own universe, creating a new, interesting world completely unrelated to Skyrim with a complex, dark storyline and thousands of secrets to discover.

Monday - December 26, 2016

Non-RPG General News - Fails of the Year 2016

by Hiddenx, 07:28

Gamepressure made a list of a few fails of the computer gaming industry in 2016:

Fails of the year 2016 – let's get ready to grumble

The gaming industry has definitely witnessed worse years than this, but it could’ve been A LOT better, too. 2016 is coming to end, and it’s the right moment to sit and moan about all the things that went wrong in the gaming biz in the last 12 months.

The ending year will surely not go down in history as the best 12 months of video games. It’s not that it was an unusually bad year – a couple of really good games came out, both in the AAA (Uncharted 4, Titanfall 2) and the indie segments (Darkest Dungeon, Inside, Firewatch). But for every great game that came out there was a new flop or controversy waiting around the corner to even things out. And since we’ve discovered sadistic inclinations within our editorial team, we’ve cooked up a nice little sum-up of the greatest disappointments of 2016 for our readers.

With some of the following stories you’re probably all too familiar, and about others you might have never heard – we discuss games that simply didn’t live up to our expectations as well as calculated schemes. Although most of you won’t be surprised to see No Man’s Sky as number one on this list of shame (let’s skip the artificial anticipation – we all knew who messed up the most this year), a few unpleasant surprises are also listed among the remaining 14 entries. Still, our goal isn’t to beat a dead horse – we just feel there are a couple of things we should publicly denounce to make sure they never happen again.

Let’s quit the stalling. Despite the unpleasant subject, we wish you a pleasant read, and hope that the coming year will generate a much shorter list of failures.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - December 18, 2016

M.E.R.C - Early Access January 17th

by Silver, 20:06

@Wccftech M.E.R.C is a squad based real time tactics game due to release on Steam early access on January 17th.

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TinyMob Games (the creators of Tiny Realms) announced M.E.R.C., a squad-based real-time tactics game that's due to hit Steam Early Access on January 17th, 2017. Pre-orders aren't available yet, but you can check the minimum and recommend requirements on the game's product page.

[...]

About This Game

Welcome to Neotopia - the last city standing. Riddled with corruption and greed of corporations, the city is divided. The forces of Manta have destabilized progress toward sustainability. Your mission, commander, is to recruit, train, and deploy a squad of elite mercenaries and neutralize the Manta threat. Don't shit the bed.

Step into the world of non-stop, real-time tactical engagements with a 4-person squad. Upgrade and recruit units, learn and enhance special abilities, while acquiring better weapons and gear. Take your toughest and bravest recruits into action in co-op multiplayer to kick some serious Manta butt and save the world.

Tactical Combat

Control your mercenary squad as a 4-person team - advance units, take cover, designate units to engage with special abilities. For seriously tricky tactical firefights, break the squad into 2-person pods - Alpha and Bravo and wreak havoc.

Co-op Multiplayer

Team up with other players in co-op multiplayer action. Combine forces by taking your best two units into battle with their best units. Play through story missions, campaigns and side missions together to take down the uprising of Manta.

Managing the Mercenary Company

The Sprawl is a mysterious place, with new dangers around every corner. Anticipate and conquer challenges by managing the composition of your team based on the needs of missions, including unit capability, strength and special ability. Successful missions will be rewarded with financial bonuses and increased reputation. Use the rewards wisely to enable optimal progress for your troops.

Saturday - December 17, 2016

Shadow Tactics: Blades of The Shogun - Review

by Hiddenx, 09:01

IGN has reviewed the stealth game Shadow Tactics: Blades of The Shogun:

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review


A brutal but fun tale of sneaking and stabbing in feudal Japan

It’s rare to find a game that excels in the pillars of mechanics, storytelling, and art as consistently as Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. It has its share of blemishes, most prominent of which being camera controls that made me want to flip an entire hibachi table. But its needle-sharp stealth systems, cast of memorable characters with diverse abilities and personalities, and an uncommonly grounded saga set in a stylized feudal Japan left me with a sense of true accomplishment and a role in a well-told story.

[...]

The Verdict
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun’s uncommon attentiveness to characters and story elevate what is already a really entertaining and mentally stimulating quest across 17th-Century Japan. The near-constant annoyance of the camera definitely hindered my feeling of being a zen ninja assassin. Overall though, developer Mimimi has put together one of the most punishing and clever top-down stealth games I’ve ever skulked through.

Score: 8.2/10

Friday - December 16, 2016

Mods of 2016 - Vote for the Top 100

by Silver, 22:34

@moddb The top mods of 2016 are being voted on until December 21st. Thanks rjshae!

Your nominations have been tallied and the results are in, come check out the players choice top 100 mods of 2016.

Posted by TKAzA on Dec 10th, 2016

After tallying up the 54,933 votes, nominations have ended and voting for the Top 100 mods are underway (see also top games, apps and vr). Now another 10 days of voting begins as the Top 100 Mods battle it out to crown the 2016 winner. You have up until the 21st of December pick who will take away the 2016 Mod of the Year!

Presenting the TOP 100

Popular picks among the Top 100 this year include Enderal, Brutal Doom, Counter-Strike: Classic Offensive and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Chernobyl among many other great mods. It seems many of the classics and community favorites from games like Mount and Blade, Total War, Doom and others continued to chart well and draw us back again and again to these amazing games.

"You can vote for more than one mod, so vote for all your favorites!"

If you made it to the Top 100, don't miss this opportunity to spread the good word and get the support you need to take the winners crown, keep showcasing all your hard work and informing the community of your releases! Congratulations for the huge effort to mods that made the final count and for those that didn't it was very close. Best of luck in top 100!

Tuesday - December 13, 2016

Crytek - Employees Not Being Paid

by Aubrielle, 00:07

Crytek is facing financial problems again, with many employees claiming they haven't been paid in over a month.

Crytek is once again facing complaints that it isn't paying its workers, with some alleging they have not seen a paycheck in more than a month.

The complaints have appeared on social media and have spread through Reddit, all alleging delays and irregularities in meeting payroll over the past six months. In some cases, workers say they currently have not been paid in more than a month.

A person saying he is a current full-time employee contacted Polygon to say that Crytek employees have not been paid for two months, and in the preceding five, pay had been regularly delayed by two to four weeks.

More.

Sunday - December 11, 2016

Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest - On Steam Greenlight

by Hiddenx, 22:27

The hidden object / point'n'click adventure Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest is now on Steam Greenlight:

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The game is a mother's epic frantic journey in search of her lost daughter, to the lost civilization of the Indus Valley - An untold saga of true love.

Civilization 6 - Sean Bean

by Hiddenx, 21:01

Sean Bean's character didn't survive the trailer of Civilization 6:

Sean Bean can't believe he was killed again in Civilization 6's intro

Sean Bean’s characters might be memorable, but they rarely survive. In case you hadn’t noticed, the same is true of Sean Bean’s minor role in the intro cinematic of Civilization VI where he’s shot down as a fighter pilot. Well, thanks to a behind-the-scenes video of the recording process, you get to see the treasured actor’s face drop as he realises that yet another one of his characters isn’t coming back for a sequel.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame for spotting this article on PCGamesN!

Shadow Tactics: Blades of The Shogun - Review

by Hiddenx, 09:23

ACG has reviewed the stealth game Shadow Tactics: Blades of The Shogun:

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-> Steam

Wednesday - December 07, 2016

Shadow Tactics - Release Trailer

by Silver, 03:26

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun has been released on Steam and GOG.

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Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun – real time tactics done right

Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/418...
GOG: https://www.gog.com/game/shadow_tacti...

Features
- Comeback of a genre: Real-time tactics with stealth elements
- Ninja, Samurai, Geisha, Trapper and Sniper – five simultaneously playable characters with unique and versatile skills
- Challenging missions, worthy of a strategical mastermind
- Thirteen missions with a free moving isometric camera perspective
- Beautiful environments of the Edo period of Ancient Japan

Wednesday - November 30, 2016

Non-RPG General News - Signal From Tölva

by Hiddenx, 23:45

Farflame spotted this gameplay video for a FPS with RPG elements: Signal From Tölva.

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Tuesday - November 22, 2016

Shadow Tactics - Demo on GOG

by Silver, 05:29

Daedalic Entertainment have released a demo of Shadow Tactics on Steam and GOG ahead of a release on December 6th. The game is a Commandos like game with a Japanese setting and involves assassins sneaking around between enemies.

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About: Japan - Edo Period; 1620. Five highly specialized assassins fight for the Shogun in his war against conspiracy and rebellion. Take control of this deadly team and sneak through the shadows between dozens of enemies. Choose your approach when infiltrating mighty castles, snowy mountain monasteries or hidden forest camps. Set up traps, poison your opponents or completely avoid contact. You decide!

  • Play as five different characters with unique strengths and weaknesses
  • Find dozens of ways to take out your opponents
  • Plan your moves carefully and execute them with precision
  • Conquer seemingly impossible challenges where you are outnumbered ten to one
  • Jump from roof to roof and climb large buildings to attack the enemy from above
  • Choose from three difficulty levels to match your skill
  • Explore beautiful environments of Japan in the Edo era

Friday - November 18, 2016

Civilization 6 - First Update

by Hiddenx, 22:10

PCGamesN reports that the first update for Civilization 6 is live:

Civ 6's first update is now live: adds DX12, new map types, and fixes exploits

The Civilization VI Fall 2016 update goes live today. It adds DirectX 12 and Logitech ARX support, plus two new map types, a new multiplayer scenario, balance changes, AI tuning and fixes for a whole host of bugs and exploits. If you didn’t totally ruin a game by playing Tomyris and spamming cavalry to sell, looks like it’s too late.

 

The update will install itself automatically when you start Steam. Read on for a full breakdown of what's included.

New features

The update adds two new map types, ‘Four-Leaf Clover’ and ‘Six-Armed Snowflake’, which are balanced for four and six players. These will be symmetrical, competitive maps with several starting zones clustered around a resource-rich centre - ideal for incentivising conflict in a multiplayer game, but also playable offline.

The ‘Cavalry and Cannonades’ scenario is added to multiplayer. This is a combat scenario with reduced unit maintenance costs, no strategic resource requirement for units, and which grants a larger starting army and more techs. The goal is to get the most territory after 50 turns.

DirectX 12 and Logitech ARX support have been added, so make sure your drivers are up to date.

Gameplay changes

A number of nice quality-of-life additions, such as new hotkeys and a notification for Barbarian scouts that have seen your city. Some requested features from Civ 5 also return; you'll now be able to see the next tile a city will claim through culture, and can rename cities.

  • Added additional notifications.
  • Added a “time defeat” for running out of time. This is always disabled if a Score Victory is available.
  • Added additional Hotkey support (next unit, next city).
  • Added the ability to rename cities.
  • Added UI to show the next tile a city will grow to.
  • Added a visual cue for Barbarian Scouts that are alerted to your city.
  • Changed Dan Quayle rankings.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - November 13, 2016

Abandon Ship - Ship Adventure

by Hiddenx, 01:08

Gamepressure reports about the ship adventure Abandon Ship:

Captain a sail ship and survive in Abandon Ship, FTL-inspired tactical game

Abandon Ship will let you become a sail ship captain, roam the seas, and face countless dangers in a procedurally generated world. It will also teach you a lesson on losing everything you've got and having to rebuild your position from scratch.

If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a captain of an 18th-century sail ship roaming the unexplored seas full of enemy vessels and deadly monsters, you should definitely keep an eye on Abandon Ship, a tactical strategy in the fashion of FTL: Faster Than Light and Sunless Sea. In this game by indie studio Fireblade Software you’ll get to command a ship and her crew while exploring procedurally generated world, completing quests, fighting naval battles, and dealing with all sorts of random events.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - November 07, 2016

Don't open the doors! - Release on November 11

by Hiddenx, 21:21

The claymotion action adventure Don't open the doors! will be released on November 11:

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Don't open the doors! is a claymation action adventure in an odd world of talking pumpkins, blue trees and stuff like that.

The city is in danger! The doors came out of nowhere. Everything near them began to talk and almost everything tried to eat you. Solving this problem is no sweat: you only have to find the Main super door and blast it with a super megabomb. As a real hero, you'll have to handle it yourself. However, everything is sure to go haywire!

Game features:

  • An open clayworld: explore it and face different challenges;
  • Odd, talking characters: conversations with mushrooms, bugs, pumpkins etc. will be your common practice;
  • A destructible environment: with a huge hammer in hand, you'll have no chance to be bored;
  • Traps, secrets, bosses. There are no tedious places behind the doors;
  • Out of pop corn gun ammo? Search for cornfields. Looking for a healing compote? Pick some berries!
  • Everything is made from plasticine. Over 8000 photos and an enormous number of editing hours. The game is entirely hand made!

Thursday - November 03, 2016

Prey - The History of TranStar

by Hiddenx, 21:44

Prey is a FPS with role playing elements - here's a new trailer:

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In the alternate future of Prey, President Kennedy survives the assassination, which sets off a turn of events leading to the central conflict. After recovering from the attempt on his life, Kennedy threw his nation further into the space race by taking control of a U.S./Russian joint program and transforming a Russian satellite into a fully functional R&D facility meant to study non-terrestrials. This facility later became Talos I, a highly advanced space station owned by the TranStar Corporation.

After awakening on Talos I, Morgan finds the station overrun by a previously contained non-terrestrial entity called Typhon, which the scientists had been studying and using to improve the scope of human abilities. Aided by strange alien-based powers, Morgan must survive the incursion, uncover the mysteries surrounding the Typhon and save humanity from the impending danger aboard the station.

Prey will launch in 2017 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Monday - October 24, 2016

Sid Meier - Psychology of Game Design

by Hiddenx, 21:26

GDC released an older talk of Sid Meier on YouTube:

Sid Meier's Psychology of Game Design

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In this GDC 2010 talk, Civilization creator Sid Meier explains the importance of integrating psychology theory into game design, and how it can save studios hundreds of millions of dollars if implemented properly.

Thursday - October 20, 2016

Civilization 6 - Review @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 23:39

PC Gamer has reviewed Civilization 6 and they really like it:

Civilization 6 Review

Civilization 6 is the ultimate digital board game. More than ever in the series, the board—the world—is the soul of every opportunity and challenge. As usual for Civ, I build empires, compete for a set of victory conditions, and fend off warmongering leaders like that scoundrel Peter the Great. But I’m also playing for, with, and against the board. Forests and deserts and resource-rich tundras each influence the flow of my civilization, granting us boons and burdening us with lasting weaknesses. Bands of barbarians put my farms in crisis, but also open up opportunities to speed the development of my military techs. The glorious, challenging dynamics that emerge from Civ 6’s redesigned maps left me with no question that the storied series has crowned a new king.

[...]

Sight, sound, and systems harmonize to make Civilization 6 the liveliest, most engrossing, most rewarding, most challenging 4X in any corner of the earth.

Score: 93/100

Thanks henriquejr!

Monday - October 17, 2016

Rockstar - Red Dead Redemption?

by Silver, 09:46

On Rockstars twitter and many other Rockstar sites has been posted a red background with the Rockstar logo in the middle leading many to speculate that a Red Dead Redemption announcement is imminent.

Sunday - October 16, 2016

Shadow Warrior 2 - Review @ OnlySP

by Hiddenx, 07:02

OnlySP has reviewed the FPS Shadow Warrior 2 - some RPG elements are built in:

Shadow Warrior 2 Review – Limbs, Laughs, and Lo Wang

[...]

First and foremost, Shadow Warrior 2 is not just a first-person shooter; it is now an FPS with a healthy dosage of RPG offerings and loot mechanics. I feel that this sentiment must be made very clear because uninformed consumers who purchase this product may be surprised by the extensive depth that has been placed on these mechanics. While the core story remains, one may notice the introduction of side quests and repeatable grinding missions to upgrade their weapons. As someone who loves games like Borderlands, Destiny, and Diablo, I found the introduction of loot elements to offer an interesting variation on the formulaic “attain x weapon after accessing y area.”

[...]

Score: 9/10 Amazing

Shadow Warrior 2 is an excellent entry for the Shadow Warrior franchise, and it may prove to be the second best first-person shooter to be released this year — only time will tell on that one. As it stands, Shadow Warrior 2 is a phenomenal game that builds upon every aspect of its predecessor to offer a more cohesive and enjoyable experience.

Friday - October 07, 2016

Endless Space 2 - Now on Early Access

by Aubrielle, 12:32

The sequel to the 2012 hit Endless Space is now available on Steam's early access.  Endless Space 2 brings the best from Endless Legend, including quests, heroes, and a more immersive rulership experience.

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Friday - September 16, 2016

The Guild 3 - First Look

by Hiddenx, 14:08

Gamepressure checked out The Guild 3:

The Guild 3 first look – The Godfather meets Game of Thrones

The third iteration of the medieval trade simulator is coming. Once again, we will get rich, expand our empire and take care of our family, but this time also compete with secret societies. It's time for a game of merchant thrones.

The Middle Ages, contrary to stereotypes, weren't all that dark whether in terms of scientific progress, tolerance or quality of architecture; they don’t fall short when compared to the cherished antiquity or the Renaissance, which enjoys particularly good PR for some reason – and sometimes it’s the medieval period that comes out on top. If you fancy yourself a fan of the Middle Ages, or simply an economic strategy lover, we have good news for you. After ten years of absence, one of the classics of the genre returns to the scene – the third installment in the warmly-received series The Guild will appear on PC early next year. Once again, we will travel to cities of the northern Europe and guide our merchant family to power and wealth supreme. This time the game is developed by the Canadian studio GolemLabs, but having talked with the developers, we now know that things and changes are going in the right direction, and that The Guild 3 will be worth the wait.

[...]

Middle Ages not so dreary

It’s hard not to notice a recent trend that is a source of joy for hardcore gamers. Apart from releasing impressive productions targeted at a wider audience, big publishers are becoming more eager to take interest in smaller titles. These may not have a huge following, but they attract a dedicated fanbase made of old-school loving gamers, who appreciate a complex experience. Recently Doom made a bloody comeback, and the amazing Cities: Skylines underwent an overhaul of the city development system. Right now the team at THQ Nordic brings back to life the classic titles from its portfolio: Spellforce and The Guild, which comes as another proof that it’s worth it to revisit forgotten genres.

I’ll be happy to check out The Guild 3 when it comes out. Refreshed graphics, focus on sandbox character, and the addition of new elements to previous installments all indicate that aficionados of this peculiar genre mixture have something to look forward to. What seems to be a good sign is also the fact that the creators promise to support the game for a long time to come. Still, even if they fail, there will be tools for modders. And since the title will appear on Steam and will be compatible with is Workshop, there’s nothing to fear. In 2017 GolemLabs is going to take us on a journey to the late Middle Ages and everything seems to suggest that it will be one hell of a ride.

Thursday - September 08, 2016

Jeff Vogel - Video Games are better than Art

by Silver, 04:53

On his blog 'The Bottom Feeder' Jeff Vogel, founder of Spiderweb Software, shared some of his thoughts on videogames. The premise is that video games are better than art and aiming for video games to be art is aiming low.

I used to argue passionately that video games were art.

Then I stopped arguing about it, because why bother? Of COURSE video games are art.

Now I see that it's a waste of time thinking of video games as art. Why would we game designers ever aim that low?

I Don't Want Art. I Want Transportation.

I just finished playing DOOM. Like many, I was amazed by how awesome a game it turned out to be. Penny Arcade had the perfect description for it: "Playable sugar."

DOOM had three of the best boss fights I've ever seen. Punishingly tough and yet scrupulously fair. When I died, I could say, "OK. I know what I did wrong. I won't do that again." When I fought those bosses, I was utterly transported. The rest of the world vanished. When I won, I was sweaty, wrung out, and completely satisfied.

I love literature and theatre. I love great movies. Yet, I can't remember any work of art, no matter how good, that consumed and drained me as much as the Cyberdemon in DOOM.

[...]

We're Doing Fine Without You.

It always peeves me when some blogger says, "Video games are OK, I guess, to the simple-minded. But they're not enough. They are unworthy. They're [string of negative adjectives], and it is up to me, hero that I am, to FIX them at last!"

Get over yourself. Video games are fine. No, they're not fine. They’re doing GREAT, by every possible metric.

Number of titles? The market is gruesomely flooded. (Gruesomely for developers, I mean. For fans, it's an overwhelming embarrassment of riches.)

Number of fans? Video games are popular to the point of global invasion. Find me a human, and I will find a game that can addict them.

Financial success? We're a 100 BILLION USD a year industry. We're huge and getting bigger every year.

Artistic accomplishment? Creativity? Look up any Best Games list from 2014 or 2015. Video games are breaking new barriers in craftsmanship and artistic expression every year and turning profits while they do it.

Diversity? Pick any demographic group, and someone is making games to cater to them personally. It's one of the great advantages of a gruesomely flooded market. (Of course, not every game will cater to you personally, but that's not possible or desirable. Other people get stuff they like too.)

Video games are taking over the world, and they're doing it in style.

We're winning because we offer something better than art. We offer Experience.

Wednesday - June 29, 2016

Microsoft - No More Forced Win 10 Installs

by Aubrielle, 18:43

It seems Microsoft has finally gotten the hint.  After a $10,000 lawsuit over a forced Windows 10 installation, Microsoft will no longer be hoodwinking us into forced installs.

You might have heard the recent news about Microsoft losing a lawsuit and awarding a California lady $10,000 over an unwanted Windows 10 installation. While the tech giant can be mighty persuasive when it comes to making people install and download its Windows 10 operating system whether they like it or not, this news still came as a surprise for many—there are many companies with shadier practices, and most of them are hardly penalised for it.

Perhaps fearing that this would spark off a series of lawsuits it can’t keep up with, Microsoft has decided to stop forcing the Windows 10 installation down its customers’ throats by allowing them to dismiss the upgrade. Previously, if you click on the red “X” at the top right hand corner of the upgrade prompt, Microsoft will pretend that you are playing hard-to-get and download the operating system for you anyway. Now it won’t!

Since we introduced a new upgrade experience for Windows 10, we’ve received feedback that some of our valued customers found it confusing,” said Windows and Devices Group EVP Terry Myerson to The Verge. “We’ve been working hard to incorporate their feedback and this week, we’ll roll out a new upgrade experience with clear options to upgrade now, schedule a time, or decline the free offer.

Ah, thank you for making our computers less complex to use, Microsoft. We are glad you understand that no means no, and clicking the big red “X” on the prompt means “No, I really don’t want to upgrade now, and please don’t ask me to upgrade to Windows 10 ever again for as long as Microsoft exists.”

But juuuuust in case you change your mind, the free upgrade offer will only last one more month. After that, you have to fork up $119 for the operating system.

Source: Pixel Dynamo

Tuesday - June 28, 2016

Driftland - A blend of Heroes and Majesty

by Silver, 01:02

A new fantasy inspired 4x title modelled after Heroes of Might and Magic and Majesty is in the works called Driftland: The Magic Revival and GamePressure have previewed it.

Magicalypse

Driftland: The Magic Revival takes us into a classic fantasy world, which is slowly shaking off the effects of a magic catastrophe which had almost annihilated the planet hundreds of years ago. In a galaxy far away, there was a planet inhabited by four races. It's kind of easy to guess that those races couldn't simply co-exist in peace - war was virtually permanent, only once in a while a fragile, temporary peace was established. Blinded by the war, people abused magic, and the planet slowly began to fall apart - no sooner have the mages managed to reach an agreement. Exhausting all sources of magic, they created a powerful spell holding the world in a relative balance. The civilizations, which up until that moment were entirely dependent on magic, became incapacitated; some cultures have vanished forever, others became savage... Now, as centuries have passed, the shattered magic is gradually returning, and with it beings that are able to control it again: the new mages. They create new nations and try to resurrect the fallen civilization - and so, wars break out again. The players become one of the said mages - the task is to build a country and fight with others for domination over the world.

This simple story is both the background for the campaign, which consists of a series of associated missions (much like in Heroes of Might and Magic or Age of Wonders III), as well as the means to create a really interesting setting. The map on which the game is taking place is made of islands floating above the planet's core. It looks pretty spectacular, and is rather uncommon in strategy games - it reminds me a little bit of Bastion, an RPG by Supergiant Games.

[...]

A silence before a storm?

There isn't much publicity around Driftland: The Magic Revival yet, despite the fact that the game is slowly but steadily heading towards the end of its development. The devs are planning to launch early access on Steam before the end of this year, and the full game will be released in 2017. If everything goes according to the plan, the players will get updates, e.g. introducing new biomes, for free, after the release. The Star Drifters have high hopes for this game, since they would like it to grow into a well regarded franchise, and-as they've said-they're definitely not short on ideas. I really like these guys' attitude, by the way. They promise to release a demo, for those undecided, and here's what they've said about early access:

We think that a game should only enter early access if its technical side is solid. Otherwise, the feedback from gamers will focus on obvious mistakes, going nowhere. The players' opinions can be very helpful, and we're looking for legitimate support from them.

Can you call this the "CD Projekt RED effect"? It's hard to say, but we wouldn't mind it one bit should open mind and prioritizing quality become Star Drifters' trademarks.


The solution of population growth is also interesting. You cannot simply recruit more units, as in other RTS games. Instead, they're born independently of the player's actions - there are two prerequisites: food surplus, and... some free time. So, during the game, you have to manage your units in such a way, that some of them always have some time to spend on procreation. I mean procrastination.


It seems that Driftland: The Magic Revival has all the attributes needed to achieve success, namely: simple rules, solo and multiplayer gameplay modes, original mechanics, free updates... and that's only a couple of examples. The graphics, powered by Unreal Engine 4 are an icing on top of the cake. The few screenshots that we've seen so far suggest that Driftland will get a detailed and eye-catching visual layer. I especially liked the animation of building construction - when a castle was slowly and smoothly transitioning into its upgraded version, a bit like in the intro of Game of Thrones. I hope that the Polish strategy will transition from an unknown strategy into a critically acclaimed hit just as smoothly. Driftland: The Magic Revival definitely has the potential to achieve it.

Saturday - June 18, 2016

Gabe Newell - VR Exclusives Bad For Everyone

by Aubrielle, 08:26

We've all thought about it with some dread: the idea of VR-exclusive games.  This could impact RPGs in the next few years.  Gabe Newell has chimed in on the question.

Now Valve frontman Gabe Newell has weighed in on the matter through an email posted to the the Vive subreddit, in which he was asked whether Valve ever considered doing the same thing for its Vive headset. (Newell confirmed with us that he did in fact send this email.)

“We don't think exclusives are a good idea for consumers or developers. There's a separate issue which is risk. On any given project, you need to think about how much risk to take on. There are a lot of different forms of risk—financial risk, design risk, schedule risk, organizational risk, IP risk, etc... A lot of the interesting VR work is being done by new developers. That is a triple-risk whammy—a new developer creating new game mechanics on a new platform. We're in a much better position to absorb financial risk than a new VR developer, so we are happy to offset that giving developers development funds (essentially pre-paid Steam revenue). However there are no strings attached to those funds—they can develop for the Rift or PlayStation VR or whatever the developer thinks are the right target VR systems. Our hope is that by providing that funding that developers will be less likely to take on deals that require them to be exclusive. 

Make sense?” 

Some of the commenters in the thread don't seem to think so; several responses express concern that developers will take Valve's money and then, as one put it, “just turn around and make a deal with Facebook anyway.” I'm more inclined to give Valve the benefit of the doubt, however. It has a pretty good track record of getting things right, for one thing, but more importantly, it brings the power of Steam to the table. How much money is it worth to keep your new game off of Steam, even temporarily? I have no idea how much cash is in a “shitton,” but it would have to be a pretty big pile to justify avoiding a distribution channel with that kind of reach.

Source: PC Gamer

Wednesday - June 08, 2016

Cayne: A Stasis Story - Will be Free

by Silver, 13:34

If you are a fan of adventure games then you have probably heard of Stasis, a horror adventure game done in an isometric perspective and set in an Aliens style future. Cayne: A Stasis Story is a prequel to that game and is going to be released for free to the public. Backers of the kickstarter will get to play Cayne first however.

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A TALE OF 3 STORIES

The story we'd originally planned for CAYNE was to follow an engineer on the Groomlake, who was fighting to keep the ship afloat. While doing so, uncovering the hard truth of what Project SEED was all about. She'd be hunted by Dr. Malan (you remember him), while on a mission to save herself and a friend, and end up with a rather familiar crowbar through the skull.

Another idea was to follow Yuri, as he was sent from pillar to post through the ship to secure an unidentified 'package'.

Story 3? An expectant woman who goes in for a routine surgery, and wakes up pregnant to term and disorientated.

That last story struck a chord with me. I've been in hospital before, and the 'missing time' aspect of it all has terrified me. Off you are into theatre, count back from 10, and then wake up a few hours later in a different room... You're at the mercy of a surgeon and the nurses. Deeply disturbing. Isn't that what horror is made of?! So those very fears felt like the perfect vessel for a story in the world of STASIS, right? From that seed, CAYNE was born.

CAYNE is a self-contained story. There are threads from STASIS, tethering the two together, while still letting exist apart from one another.

IT IS FREE!

The decision to make CAYNE free to the public was one that we went back and forth on, but we'd love to introduce a taste of STASIS to new audiences. And how better to showcase our new engine framework (built in Unity 5) and what we can do with it?

So look forward to the high quality games that THE BROTHERHOOD plans to produce in the future. Alongside the release of CAYNE, we plan on crowd funding an entirely new adventure game.

(Don't worry, Kickstarter Backers will get access to CAYNE prior to public release!)

Friday - June 03, 2016

Hexen: Beyond Heretic - RPS Retrospective

by Aubrielle, 03:43

Rock, Paper, Shotgun takes a look back at Hexen: Beyond Heretic.

Hexen was released at a time when I bought just about any first-person game that I could get my hands on. In the mid-nineties that meant I had a shelf full of games running on id engines, many of which were made by Raven Software. I still have a soft spot for Raven and always forget that they’re still around, in name at least, working on bits and pieces of Call of Duty. It’s probably a step up from Soldier of Fortune. It’s not a step up from Hexen though. I love Hexen.

Is it a good game? Probably not. Not now. I’m not even sure that it was a good game back when it came out in ’95 but I completed it at least three times and not only bought the sequel but bought Heretic II when that came along as well. If somebody wants to make Hexen III using id Tech 6, I’ll buy that because, good lord, glory kills really do suit fantasy hack and slash adventuring.

The Heretic/Hexen series never quite outclassed id’s only releases but they always built on the engines in interesting ways, introducing destructible environments in Hexen II and movable level architecture in the first Hexen. Of the four games in the series, Hexen: Beyond Heretic is my favourite, but that’s as much a symptom of familiarity as it is of quality, I expect. I never did finish the game as a mage (you can choose from warrior, mage and cleric) because I enjoyed punching and clubbing monsters far too much to rely on fizzly little spells. Perhaps I should go back and play as a mage this weekend.

Source: Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Thursday - June 02, 2016

Microsoft - Win 10 Gaining Traction

by Aubrielle, 00:44

WCCFTech reports that Microsoft's numbers are climbing after their campaign of forced upgrades to Windows 10.

Nagware or not, Microsoft’s Windows 10 update strategies are definitely working in favor of the company. After reports last month claiming the growth of the latest Windows operating system is slowing down, Windows 10 gained some strong numbers in May. The OS has posted its biggest growth spurt since August 2015, and has also managed to replace Windows 7 as the most-used operating system in North America.

Read more.

Monday - May 30, 2016

No Man's Sky - Death Threats Over Delay

by Aubrielle, 00:14

No Man's Sky developer Sean Murray has received numerous death threats since his announcement that the game's release would be delayed until August.

After the news this past week about No Man's Sky being delayed seven weeks, creator Sean Murray has been the target of numerous death threats.

Originally set to release in June, Hello Games' No Man's Sky has been pushed to August 9. Sean Murray gave insight in his PlayStation Blog post, explaining that the "extra polish" is necessary, and that it was a "tough choice to delay the game."

Sean Murray took to Twitter to send an apology to fans, and further explained that due to legal and external reasons, he couldn't speak of the delay sooner. These attempts to soothe and reassure fans, however, didn't hit home with everyone. As Murray pointed out on Twitter, he has since been sent hostile threats because of his decision to delay the game:

I have received loads of death threats this week, but don't worry, Hello Games now looks like the house from Home Alone #pillowfort

— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) May 28, 2016

The space exploration game No Man's Sky was first announced in 2013. Its expansive, procedurally generated universe has been one of its biggest draws and curiosities for many fans. With the immense popularity surrounding the title, it's not surprising to see frustration from the news of a delay, but death threats are an extreme approach.

Source.

Source: Game Informer

Sunday - May 29, 2016

Non-RPG General News - Mafia III Trailer released

by Hiddenx, 11:50

The Open-World Shooter Mafia III should be fun for RPG fans, too:

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Mafia III - Bringing a City to Life

 

Friday - May 27, 2016

Non-RPG General News - Echo Announced

by Silver, 12:48

@gamepressure A new science fiction action stealth game has been announced by Ultra Ultra. A new studio that is operating from Denmark ECHO will be their debut game. The game is set for release this fall and is currently on Steam greenlight.

ECHO-a third person science fiction action stealth game-has been revealed by Ultra Ultra, a new independent development studio from Denmark. ECHO will tell the story of a girl named En who spent a century in stasis to travel to equally mysterious and dangerous place called the Palace. There, "she hopes to bring back a life that shouldn't have been lost" but, obviously, her quest is far from easy. According to Ultra Ultra, ECHO starts out as a character-driven "journey of discovery", although with progress it becomes more challenging, focusing on action and stealth. Sadly, the plot's description is a little vague and doesn't reveal much more both about the game world or its protagonist. Check out the announcement trailer below to get a sense of what ECHO looks like.

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Wednesday - May 25, 2016

Fear Effect Sedna - Kickstarter Update

by Hiddenx, 21:47

Kickstarter update #21 for the action adventure Fear Effect Sedna:

[...]

Things are taking a nice turn!

In the last days, we took a lot of time to benchmark various science-fiction movies, games and concepts. All of this, mixed with the typical Fear Effect elements gives us a more precise idea of where we are headed, and what the overall design of the game will look like.

We also decided which part of the game will be in the demo. Starting to work on a more specific idea makes the team happier and more confident than ever. You will experience all kinds of different gameplays, from puzzles to gun fights and infiltration!

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - May 23, 2016

Matt Chatt #341 - Stellaris Review

by Hiddenx, 20:32

Matt checked out the space strategy game Stellaris:

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Non-RPG General News - Thief 1 HD Mod

by Silver, 10:58

An HD mod for Thief: The Dark Project and Thief Gold has been released.

Thief 1 HD Mod v1.2 is out!

This is the full Installer Setup of version 1.2 - Now also for Thief: The Dark Project version! - New water arrow FX, new gas arrow FX, new smoke FX, new water FX, new explosion FX, new blood FX, new Zombie models...

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Wednesday - May 18, 2016

Unreleased Amiga Games - 22 Games from AmigaJay

by Silver, 02:32

Indie Retro News reports that AmigaJay has made available 22 unreleased Amiga games on his website. These include games from some of the biggest developers of the time like Ocean and Psygnosis. The compiliation is an on-going project and will see more releases in the future.

Amigajay has just made available on his website, a free compilation of unreleased Amiga CD32 demo's and even full games that were canned at the last minute before getting published. Including some of the biggest publishing names that were around at the time, we're talking Psygnosis, Ocean, System 3, US Gold, Acid Software, Grandslam, and more!

[...]

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The included full games are:

Hostile Breed - Side scroller a la R-Type with catchy title tune.
La Storia Ancestrale 1-4 - Point & click adventure.
Liquid Kids - If Rainbow Islands and Mario had a kid together, this would be it!
Mutant League Hockey AGA - Speedball clone
No Buddies Land - Bubble Bobble clone.
Putty Squad - You all know Putty right!? Personally the best game on the disc.
Snow Bros - Couldn't get it to work but super cool Ocean Loader++ tune.
Son Shu-Shi - Very colourful Wonderboy clone with groovy music.

The list of demo games are:

Alchemy
Babylonian Twins
Blaze
Dragons Kingdom
Indigo
Limbo Of The Lost
Nobby The Aardvark
Operation G2
Raiden AGA
Skidmarks 256 Colours
Superhero
Tensai
Universal Monsters
X-Fighter CD32

Tuesday - May 17, 2016

Matt Chatt #340 - Julian Gollop

by Hiddenx, 19:19

Matt interviewed Julian Gollop about XCOM: Apocalypse and more:

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In this last segment, Julian talks about his other projects, including UFO: Apocalypse, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, Laser Squad Nemesis, and Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge.

Monday - May 16, 2016

Total War: Warhammer - Game Guide

by Silver, 22:00

 If your new to Total War: Warhammer you might like to check out this game guide @PCGamesN. They report on the factions, what to expect from the DLC, system requirements, modding  and the release date which is now May 24th. The game itself will come with comprehensive modding tools and has the Chaos Warriors faction as a pre-order incentive.

The big question: can you run it? Given the scale, Total War games tend to have fairly high requirements if you want them to look their best and perform well. Attila's highest settings, for instance, weren't even designed with contemporary PCs in mind, but rather PCs of the future. In the case of the Total War: Warhammer system requirements, it looks like Creative Assembly expect it to run on a broad range of machines, but only if you're willing to make sacrifices.

If you've got 3GB of RAM, an Intel Core 2 CPU and an AMD Radeon HD 5770 1024MB or equivalent GPU, then you've hit the minimum requirements. Unfortunately that means you'll be playing everything on low, and will still only get 15-25fps on the campaign map, which is pretty horrible.

To push the graphics settings to high and get around 50fps, you'll need 8GB of RAM, and Intel Core i5-4570 3.20GHz or equivalent and a GPU like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 2048MB. And if you want the game to look its best and run at over 60fps, you'll need something like a GTX 980 and an i7-4790K CPU.

Sunday - May 15, 2016

Total War: Warhammer - Battle Magic Trailer

by Aubrielle, 04:38

If you're in the mood to add some strategy to your fantasy, Sega's upcoming Total War: Warhammer displays the power of battlefield magic and explains how it works.

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What better way to ease your way into the weekend than with the relaxing sight of jobbing fantasy soliders getting turned into fleshy fireworks? None, is the correct answer. And so to the latest Total War: Warhammer video, which showcases the important role that magic will play in Creative Assembly's upcoming RTS.   

Spells are especially powerful when used in combinations, but expending large sums of magical power in single blows isn't without risk. Spells can also backfire, and familiarity with the relevant lore is vital to ensuring that you drop the proper hammer. Each variety of magic has multiple spells to choose from, some of which can be “overcast,” making them even more powerful. But overcasting has dangers, and your caster could end up doing some serious self-harm.

More.

Source: PC Gamer

Monday - May 09, 2016

Non-RPG General News - Stellaris Reviews

by Hiddenx, 21:21

The first reviews for the 4x scifi strategy game Stellaris are out:

Destructoid:

[...]

This is a game for anyone who has already enjoyed the grand strategy genre or anyone who has always wanted to. There is a strong sense of accomplishment from starting an empire and guiding it along the path you choose, even if it eventually ends in failure. Stellaris is easy to comprehend and exciting to execute, which is a perfect combination for a genre notoriously difficult to break into.

Score: 9/10

Rock, Paper, Shotgun:

[...]

I say that I’d expected something messier and part of me had hoped for something messier. That messiness may come with expansions and DLC, but for now Stellaris is incredibly assured and confident, if perhaps a little too tidy and streamlined. It’s one of the most accomplished 4X space games I’ve ever played, but it feels knowable. Despite all of the randomisation and the extraordinary influence of Fallen Empires and other features that shake the 4X formula hard enough to make it wobble, this is a game that can be understood, analysed and mastered. Doing so has been, and will continue to be, a joy, and yet I crave the early days of exploration before the galactic map became a place on which to exterminate the competition rather than to find new ways of living.

The great experiment of the game was not so much the change of scenery, from history to science fiction, it was the decision to create a Civ-like game of expansion with some complexities and aspects of simulation borrowed from grand strategy. It’s in the simulation of a living galaxy that most of the complexity has been lost, but what has been gained is a precise and finely tuned machine. Less erratic and surprising than its ancestors, but much more elegant in its design.

IGN:

[...]

Stellaris is filled with good ideas, and it’s not difficult to see the outline of a great space strategy game where those ideas could come together. But beyond the early game, it’s only compelling in bits and pieces – it turns into a largely uneventful slog after that. Paradox has developed a reputation of major upgrades to their games for years after launch, and Stellaris is going to need all that love and more to reach its potential.

Score: 6.3/10

PC Invasion:

[...]

Thoroughly alien in presentation, yet unerringly human in many of its galactic power tousles, Stellaris successfully gene-splices the themes of a 4X game with the mechanics and systems perfected over Paradox’s last couple of grand strategy titles. The complexity curve, often a bit of a problem for newcomers in prior releases, will be smooth enough for those who’ve played a strategy game or 4X before; while Paradox veterans will be immediately at home with a star-nation sandbox that shows every sign of being another long-term strategic triumph.

Score: 8/10

Friday - May 06, 2016

Kathy Rain - Review @ Destructoid

by Hiddenx, 18:45

Destructoid has reviewed the Point & Click Adventure Kathy Rain:

'I'm gonna haul ass to Lollapalooza!'

Every great modern detective has a vehicle that sums them up in a visual nutshell. Morse had the Jag, Columbo had that Peugeot deathtrap, Jack Irish had the Studebaker for a while, and to a lesser extent, the Scooby Gang had the Mystery Machine.

Kathy Rain is no different; storming around the quiet town of Conwell Springs on the back of her customised chopper, a.k.a. The Katmobile, in an effort to solve a decade's old mystery. But between all that functional aggression on display, there was an unexpected beauty in the framework and fragility in its rider. Now, I might be skipping to the end of the ride here (if only to stop the puns), but Kathy Rain might just be the best adventure game I've played in a long time.

[...]

No hyperbole, Kathy Rain is yet another milestone in this resurgence of old-school point-and-click adventures. It’s a fantastic thriller, a remarkably deep and adult story about grief, transition, religion, and the personal decisions that make or break us, while being an engrossing adventure game for veterans and newcomers alike. I'd make a terrible bike pun here, but I've got nothing. I just hope Miss Rain comes roaring back with another mystery, real soon.

Score: 9/10 - Superb

Thursday - May 05, 2016

Kathy Rain - Release Day

by Hiddenx, 16:03

The Point & Click Adventure Kathy Rain will be released today:

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Set in the 90's, Kathy Rain tells the story of a strong-willed journalism major who has to come to terms with her own troubled past as she investigates the mysterious death of her recently deceased grandfather. Armed with her motorcycle, a pack of cigs, and a notepad, Kathy begins to delve into a local mystery surrounding her hometown that will take her on a harrowing journey full of emotional and personal turmoil.

As she follows a trail of clues he left behind, questions emerge… What was Joseph Rain really looking for that night all those years ago? What turned him into a mere shell of a man, confined to a wheelchair? What secret did a suicidal young artist take with her to the grave, and why are so many people in Conwell Springs going mad? The truth is dark and sinister…

  • 320x240 (4:3) resolution with crisp pixel art graphics
  • 4,000+ lines of dialogue
  • Full English voice acting directed by Wadjet Eye Games' Dave Gilbert
  • Original soundtrack
  • 40+ hand-drawn environments
  • Compelling narrative with eerie plot set in the 90's

Monday - May 02, 2016

Lovecraft Tales - Demo available

by Hiddenx, 20:26

A demo for the Adventure Lovecraft Tales is now available:

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Lovecraft Tales is independent open world adventure game. First episode (in making) will be inspired by "The Whisperer in Darkness" story. It's been 3 years since beginning, and 1.5 year of hard development. Now, playable demo is finally released!

Download it for free from http://lovecrafttales.com

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - April 26, 2016

Steam - Lionsgate to bring over 100 movies

by Silver, 04:23

The Verge reports that Steam will, in partnership with Lionsgate, bring over 100 movies to the platform.

The Hunger Games, Twilight, and more big Hollywood movies are now available on Steam, Valve's PC-gaming platform. Today Valve announced a deal with Lionsgate, which will bring more than 100 films to the service, and it includes some of Lionsgate's biggest franchises, like Saw, Crank, and Divergent (there's also the entire Leprechaun series, if that's your thing).

At present the titles are available as streaming rentals only, and not for download. You will, however, be able to watch them on all platforms Steam is available on, including PC, Mac, Linux, SteamOS, and even SteamVR. While Valve has previously dabbled in releasing films on the platform, including documentaries like Indie Game: The Movie, this marks the company's first big effort at expanding into traditional blockbuster movies.

Lionsgate says that the number of films available will expand as "the partnership continues to expand worldwide."

Monday - April 25, 2016

John Romero - Starting New Project

by Aubrielle, 17:49

John Romero and Adrian Carmack, the minds behind 1993's smash hit Doom, have launched a Kickstarter for a dark futuristic FPS called Darkroom, set in a holographic dystopia. It is slated for a 2018 release and the producers are seeking a cool $700,000.

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John Romero and Adrian Carmack — best known for their work on the revolutionary 1993 first-person shooting game Doom — today revealed a new FPS project, called Blackroom.

The onetime co-founders of id Software have teamed up to create a game that is set in a holographic world gone wrong. In a release from the game's development house Night Work Games, Blackroom was described as offering a ten-hour single player campaign as well as six multiplayer maps.

Blackroom, due for release on Mac and PC in 2018, will offer co-op, one-on-one deathmatch and free-for-all arena modes. The game will be fully moddable, with player-made maps expected. Night Work Games today launched a Kickstarter for Blackroom seeking $700,000. Romero said he will be seeking investors if the Kickstarter hits its target.

More.

Friday - April 22, 2016

All Walls Must Fall - Cold War Revisited

by Hiddenx, 23:22

Farflame spotted an article about All Walls Must Fall on Killscreen:

All Walls Must Fall to explore the cultural division of Cold War-era Berlin

In All Walls Must Fall, an upcoming isometric action game from newish studio inbetweengames, the Cold War never ended. It’s 2089 and Berlin is still caught in the midst of political powerhouses threatening to push the button. But in inbetweengames’s alternate timeline, the factions of the Cold War have the ability to manipulate time, and are using it to draw out the stalemate.

All Walls Must Fall is a “tech-noir” game, a term coined by James Cameron for his 1984 film The Terminator, “merging classic noir themes with sci-fi, often featuring time travel elements,” inbetweengames co-founder David Hassal told me. He, along with other co-founder Isaac Ashdown, described their upcoming game as “XCOM meets Braid (2008), in cold war sci-fi Berlin.”

[...]

Tuesday - April 19, 2016

General News - GameStop Launches Publishing Division

by Silver, 12:14

mcvuk reports that GameStop has launched a publishing division called GameTrust aimed at serving the smaller developers. They have signed up independent developers Ready at Dawn, Insomniac, Frozenbyte and Tequila Works and are looking at 20 others.

US retail giant GameStop has launched a publishing division called GameTrust.

The firm has signed new games from well-known independent studios including Ready at Dawn (The Order: 1886), Tequila Works (Deadlite, Rime) and Frozenbyte (Trine). The company also announced in March it was working with Insomniac (Ratchet and Clank) on a new game called Song of the Deep, which is due in the summer, but at the time the firm said this was a one-off project.

GameStop has since changed its tune, with VP of Internal Development and Diversification Mark Stanley telling MCV the firm is in discussion with 20 other developers.

In total, the company intends to launch between five and ten games every year.

The new publishing division acts more like a games label (think Curve, Koch, 505 Games or Team17) as opposed to EA or Activision, with developers retaining full rights to their properties and GameStop having no involvement in the creative side of development.

"There is no cookie cutter offer," explains Stanley.

Sunday - April 17, 2016

Gaming Opinion - Okay Games Worse Than a Flop

by Silver, 10:55

@EquityArcade Jess Marsh talks about why an okay game is worse than a flop.

At least with a boring, poorly made, or otherwise weak game it's your prerogative to move away from it and onto something new. Usually backed by a strong fan consensus of poor ratings and feedback, a unanimously labeled "bad game" finds itself in the used and discount bin, and ultimately garage sales across the world. But not always. Sometimes, the only thing worse than a flop of a game is a mediocre game.

We talk often about the games we love, and just about as much about the games we can't stand. The games that fall between the two, however, are often forgotten. The 6.5, 7, and maybe 8 out of 10's; the dust collectors that sit on your shelf that you can't bring yourself to part with because you'll finish it someday. If you suddenly remembered a laundry list of titles, do yourself a favor. Get up from your computer, and take a good, long look at yourself in the mirror. You're lying to yourself, and it is doing you no favors. Dark Souls 3 and Wasteland Workshop just came out. You are not moving backward anytime soon.

[...]

An okay game might have flawless graphics, but an unlikable protagonist. It may have a well-crafted story but have less-than-perfect physics. Sometimes it's too long, sometimes it's too short. Without running the risk of sounding too Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a hit game fits the wants and needs of its players just right.

That fact is, no one tries to find the World's Most Average Hamburger. There are no awards for being in an all-around okay band. The focus of attention is polar in nature, more often than not, regardless of an individual's opinion. Being great, awful, or just okay is a subjective opinion, but an opinion that grows stronger by the numbers. If the numbers aren't backing the game, it's likely to fade away into obscurity. Let us have a moment of silence for the games lost to time, for being neither great nor terrible; for the ones that brought us joy for 12 or so hours before retiring to a shelf for the rest of eternity.

Friday - April 15, 2016

Non-RPG General News - Cayne: A Stasis Story

by Hiddenx, 20:38

Cayne is a new stand-alone dlc/game for the adventure Stasis:

CAYNE – A STASIS STORY

Nic and I have moved our office to Cape Town in the Western Cape of South Africa. Wow! This is a beautiful city, right at the tip of Africa. But amazing ocean views aside, we are now in full game production mode.

CAYNE will not be traditional DLC – you won’t need STASIS to play it. It’s also a self-contained story that ties back to STASIS without ruining the story.

The game itself is starting to draw together with the main framework of the engine already complete. We’re now moving onto the sound design for the completed areas and pushing this aspect further than we did with STASIS. Footsteps have distinct sounds depending on surfaces, sound is now directional and can be played based on distances.

The already completed musical score will be added too! The musical score is incredible, with three different composers providing a unique texture and soundscape.

We have been polishing the game – oh, how obsessed with are will polishing our work! –  with all the small effects that we’d have loved to do in STASIS, but just didn’t have the time or the technology to implement them. For example, a subtle light that our protagonist emits that let’s you find her easily on the screen, and beautiful 2D shader effects to bring liquids to life and particles get caught in shafts of light.

The art asset list is slowly getting shorter. While the overall CAYNE environment is smaller than STASIS, we’re trying to push the visuals into new and varied directions with a focus on both body horror and psychological terror. Ha!

A final draft of the dialogue is almost complete and we’ll be searching for our voice actors to go on this journey with us. Ryan Cooper (the voice of John) is back on the team – and we can’t wait to start working with him again!

The writing of the diary entries is complete with the writers providing some of the most disturbing entries and narratives I’ve ever read.

Multi-platform support is also being implemented from the ground up, and we now have CAYNE playing properly on both Mac and Windows. And, the bonus is, we’re also working on the long awaited Linux port of STASIS! The IOS version of STASIS is also in the works. It is a complete engine re-write by a mobile expert specifically for Apple devices.

We’re planning on crowd funding our next game and think that CAYNE will be a perfect example of what we intend on producing.

PS:
The video documentary reward for backers is also in planning – although I really do need to get a haircut before we start shooting the final video footage.

Thanks Farflame!

 

Tuesday - April 12, 2016

Non-RPG General News - On Fan Project Shutdowns

by Silver, 13:18

@Equity Arcade Michelle McLean talks about how zealous some companies can be about shutting down fan projects and why. 

In 2015, a small group ran a small private server, titled Nostalrius, for those nostalgic for the olden days of World of Warcraft-and boy, there were many nostalgics. Before the order, 800,000 accounts were registered on the private server, of which 150,000 were active.

Of course, typical private servers are disallowed. After all, you're getting to play a game for free, especially in World of Warcraft's case. But Nostalrius was a tad different, as it ran version 1.12-the update right before The Burning Crusade expansion-perpetually. The server was deemed the "Authentic, Vanilla WoW" and even ran for about a year before Blizzard's French and US branches officially filed lawsuits ordering the server to be shut down by April 10, 2016.

Of course, fans didn't take this lightly and even formed a petition in response, which garnered roughly 38,000 supports at the time of this writing... within a single day. This quote speaks deeply though:

"We never saw our community as a threat for Blizzard. It sounds more like a transverse place where players can continue to enjoy old World of Warcraft's games no longer available, maybe until a new expansion appears; a huge and powerful community of fans that remains attached to future Blizzard games, as we have in no other gaming company.

We don't have the pretention to come up with a complete solution regarding legacy servers that you and your company didn't already think about, but we'd be glad and honored to share it with you if you're interested, still on a volunteer basis."

And you know what? The volunteers are absolutely right. How are they a threat to Blizzard and World of Warcraft? After all, it's not like the players are going to start playing the newer version of World of Warcraft if they lose access to the vanilla server.

[...]

The author cites valid reasons for a takedown below.

Fans are making money off the IP
This is another reasonable reason for a shutdown. If the project is not-for-profit, then I don't see a reason for said project to be shut down, but more on that in a bit. Now, if fans are making money off an IP, then yea, there is an issue there. You're making money using a company's rights, which just sounds wrong, and if copyrighted, that could land you in hot water.

Companies are in the midsts of planning something a fan has already gone ahead and established
That's right-sometimes, when a takedown occurs, it's because the company is hiding some big secret. If a fan is crafting an HD remake of a game and a company orders a takedown, it could be merely because there are plans in store for an official HD remake. For instance, the Resident Evil 2 Remake Fan Project. InvaderGames, the group behind Resident Evil 2: Reborn, had once been ordered to abandon the work at Capcom's behest, only because Capcom revealed plans to remake the game itself. However, this actually led to a happy ending, as InvaderGames was invited to meet with the development team of Capcom "to discuss further ideas."

To me, that's awesome and a huge benefit for everyone, and it can happen, depending on the developers.

Thursday - April 07, 2016

Square Enix Collective - How Does it Work?

by Silver, 12:24

Gamasutra talks to Square Enix about the Square Enix Collective and its role in the crowdfunding eco-system.

At the EGX Rezzed event in London that kicks off today, the Square Enix Collective is planning to show off a point and click game about a dead girl searching for her family (Goetia), a puzzle game about an engineer on Jupiter's moon (The Turing Test), a 1-4 player capture-the-flag game where players capture living heads (Oh My Godheads!), and an action adventure in a forgotten industrial world (Black the Fall).

The Square Enix Collective (SEC) is not publishing all of them. Some they're just...helping out on. SEC is a unique twist on the standard publisher/developer relationship.

[...]

HOW DOES THE SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE WORK?

SEC works with developers to help build up a community around the game through their posts on their site, their contacts with industry journalists and professionals, and the audience reach of a large company.

"We have scale," says Elliot. "We can send emails out to millions of people; we can invest into marketing and bring companies like EEDAR and Petrol Advertising into the project; we can use our portfolio and the relationships we have to open up promotional opportunities that might otherwise be very hard to find."

This starts with SEC's weekly game pitches, which are sent in by game developers from all over the world. Games that are selected have their proposals posted on the SEC site. The general public is invited to post comments and feedback on the game pitches, and vote yes or no on whether they would back a project through crowdfunding.

Community votes don't solely decide whether SEC supports a project, but they play a vital role in the decision process. "We want to give fans of Square Enix (and that includes the Western games as well as those from Japan) a chance to have a voice - to give us direction," says Elliot.

Source: Gamasutra

Thursday - March 31, 2016

Gaming Music - Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

by Silver, 09:42

Indie Retro News has posted about the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra playing over an hours worth of popular video game music.

Before the concert starts in the first video, there is a short interview in swedish, where one of the musicians (Håkan Björkman) talks about his experience of the show. He is not that much into videogames, but says that he appreciated the Mega Man music alot, and that it required alot of stamina to play that suite.

Journey - I Was Born For This: 06:00
Assains Creed IV: Black Flag - Suite: 14:05
Amiga Medley: 19:30
Final Fantasy IX - Suite: 28:40
The Last Of Us - All Gone No Escape: 38:10
Super Mario Suite (17 different parts!) - 42:15 And a personal favourite is at 45:06 and a few seconds forward! That face. :)
Bloodborne - Suite: 53:40
Megaman - Suite: 1:02:15
The Legend Of Zelda - Suite: 1:11:54
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - The Dragonborn Comes - 1:31:05
Final Fantasy VI - Aria The Mezzo Carattere: 1:37:55

Video by ornvik481 and thanks to Leffmann from the EAB forums for the heads up! ( Link )

Video by ornvik481 and thanks to Leffmann from the EAB forums for the heads up! ( Link ) - See more at: http://www.indieretronews.com/2016/03/score-beautiful-gaming-music-from.html#more

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Monday - March 28, 2016

Day of the Tentacle Remastered - Review

by Hiddenx, 12:32

PC Gamer has reviewed Day of the Tentacle Remastered:

Day of the Tentacle Remastered Review

Released in 1993, Day of the Tentacle is widely regarded as the best, and funniest, of LucasArts’ beloved point-and-click adventures. Created by a dream team of adventure game developers including Tim Schafer, Dave Grossman, Peter Chan, and Ron Gilbert, it’s the story of an evil tentacle who wants to take over the world, and three time-traveling teenagers on a mission to stop him.

Hoagie, a laid-back heavy metal roadie, is stuck in colonial America. Laverne, a deranged medical student, is trapped in a dystopian future where tentacles rule the world. And Bernard, a stereotypical nerd, is in the present day. But despite the vast temporal gulf between them, they have to work together to stop their squishy nemesis.

[...]

Reasonably priced and passionately restored, Day of the Tentacle Remastered is the perfect opportunity to revisit one of the best adventure games ever made. The final act feels a little rushed, and its roots in ‘90s adventure game design are undeniable, but otherwise it’s hard to fault. You can still play your old copy in DOSBox or ScummVM, of course, but if you want a more streamlined, modern experience, with some fascinating insight into how the game was made, the remaster is worth investing in.

Score: 87/100

Friday - March 18, 2016

The Digital Antiquarian - The Gold Box, Part 2

by Silver, 11:20

@The Digital Antiquarian Jimmy Maher talks about why D&D was not present on the home computer despite being a sure winner.

For much of the 1980s, TSR's tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons was both a looming presence and a baffling absence in the world of computer games. In one sense, this new thing that Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson had wrought early in the previous decade was absolutely everywhere, not only in the many CRPGs that paid it obvious homage but also in many other, less obvious derivatives that owed so much to its vision of interactive storytelling: Infocom's text adventures, Sierra's graphic adventures, even Microprose's flight simulators with their career modes that let you play the role of a single pilot.

Yet strangely absent were computer-game boxes with the actual name of Dungeons & Dragons on them. A licensing deal for this, one of the most recognizable names in nerd culture, would be a surefire winner, as was clear to every executive and marketing MBA in the computer-game industry.

Game Cities - Five Essential Books

by Silver, 10:48

If you've ever wondered what goes into creating game cities your not alone. There are five essential books that every game designer aiming to design a city should read according to Konstantinos Dimopoulos (Gnome) at the Gnome's Lair.

...word of warning though: It would be wise to keep in mind that, what with cities being the incredibly complex and dynamic entities they are, five books could never be enough. Every imaginary urban place project I've worked on, for example, did indeed require quite a lot of fresh research and I've been studying cities since the late '90s.

On to the books:

The City In History by Lewis Mumford. 650 pages of exquisitely written history that go beyond merely presenting readers with the exciting story of urbanism from the neolithic to the modern era, and actually attempt to define the essence of the city. To identify its core and understand its function, while presenting readers with an amazing journey through human evolution, philosophy, architecture, planning, politics and art. If one ever hopes to truly understand any urban environment, one simply has to have read Mumford's classic, definitive work.

Good City Form by Kevin Lynch is, despite its narrower scope, another classic that has defined contemporary urban thought. It may not be as all encompassing and grand in its ambition, but it does focus on the visual aspects of the city and is thus crucial when it comes to the quite visual medium of videogames. Good City Form examines and reviews the physical forms of the city, its image, its planning, its design and its structure and is thus a very handy tool for every designer of places both imaginary and real.

Imaginary Cities by Darran Anderson. A recently released and unexpectedly excellent book that, you'll be happy to know, is not aimed at planners and/or architects. It's a book that effortlessly moves from Cavafy's barbarians and Wright's unrealized projects to revolutionary Hungary, post-revolutionary Russia and the wildest sci-fi urbanism, only to return to Bruno Taut, the pirate utopia of Libertatia and the mad Great War heroics of Gropius. A book that will definitely inspire and get you both thinking and imagining.

City of Quartz by Mike Davis. Often described as the work that predicted the Rodney King riots, the City of Quartz impressively does what it says on the cover: it excavates the future in Los Angeles by exploring an immensely intriguing and very existing contemporary dystopia and its brief but brutal history of breakneck evolution. What's more, the book manages to showcase just how complex, dynamic and vibrant every city is, while simultaneously telling a story involving Chandler, Brecht and some absolutely excellent jazz.

Key Concepts in Urban Studies by M. Gottdiener and Leslie Budd. Back when I was actively teaching people about cities, geography and planning this was the book I had used the most in order to provide students with a spherical knowledge of the field. It's a small, excellently researched and up to date work that swiftly covers an impressive variety of subjects from housing and gentrification to the models of urban growth and suburbanization.

Friday - March 11, 2016

Are there too many Games Released?

by Silver, 11:44

@Equityarcade Matthew Loffhagen looks at the videogame industry and asks the question "Are there too many video games being released?"

To track the number of games released each year, analysts have turned to Wikipedia for a list of all game releases of note, with the justification that if a game is relevant enough, it'll have an entry. Using this method for a rough estimate as to how many games of note come out every year, it's interesting to learn that, according to Wikipedia, the number of notable games releases peaked in 2008.

While 2015 saw 437 games gain their own spot on Wikipedia, 2008 saw the release of more than double that number, 986 titles which warranted their own entry in the online encyclopedia. While this method of measurement is anything but scientific, these results suggest that if anything the number of noteworthy games has dropped in recent years.

At the same time, it's important to note that the games industry isn't exactly in a financial slump. Total revenue for games in the US rose by 5% in 2015, meaning that, rather than being stretched thin, the games market has more money than ever to split between a relatively small selection of high profile big releases.

Thursday - March 10, 2016

The Digital Antiquarian - Joel Billings and SSI

by Silver, 09:54

The Digital Antiquarian looks at the beginnings of Joel Billings and by extension SSI (Strategic Simulations Inc) later known for the 'gold box' games. This article largely looks at their war-gaming beginnings.

Joel Billings, the man destined to bring the culture of dice and chits into collision with that of bits and bytes, had his first run-in with computers early in his time at Claremont College. He wound up, more by happenstance than desire, in a BASIC programming class conducted with the mediation of a big DEC PDP-10. This first encounter didn't rock his world the way it did that of so many characters we've met on this blog - Joel had already found his lifelong passion when he had first played Tactics II all those years ago - but he did find the experience interesting, and found he had a certain aptitude for it as well. It started him to musing about the changes computers might wreak on his own favored hobby. For his final project in the class, he wrote a simple little two-player tank game. It was a wargame in only the most generous definition of the term, but it was a start. In the meantime, he parlayed that class into a six-month internship at Amdahl Corporation, a maker of mainframe computers located in Silicon Valley, during his senior year at university.

[...]

Joel first talked to some programmers who worked for IBM, but they told him flat-out that his idea of creating a wargame reminiscent of the tabletop games he loved on the microcomputers of the day was absurd. Undaunted, Joel hung flyers in several of the local computer shops. With the moment of decision looming ever closer - did he stay here and try to make a computerized wargame or did he go off to graduate school? - he was contacted in early August by one John Lyon. Eighteen years Joel's senior, Lyon was an experienced programmer currently working for Control Data who loved wargames almost as much as Joel. He had never programmed a microcomputer before, but he didn't let that stop him. "This is what opportunity looks like when it knocks," Lyon had told the sales clerk standing by the store's bulletin board. "And I'm going to answer it."

Wednesday - March 02, 2016

Scummvm & Residualvm - Looking to include RPGs

by Silver, 23:57

Scummvm (2d games) and Residualvm (3d games) have been known as classic adventure game emulators. But in future they will also allow you to play classic rpgs and are participating in the Summer of Code hoping to attract coders. (Scummvm can already play Eye of the Beholder 1 and 2 by virtue of support for the engine.)

Yesterday, Google announced the list of accepted mentoring organizations and we have the great pleasure to be one of those.

In previous years, we have primarily focused on adventure games. However, after discussing with our sister project ResidualVM, we are happy to announce that, this year, we will also be accepting RPG tasks.

ScummVM and ResidualVM are now waiting for motivated students, willing to work during this summer on reviving adventure and role-playing games.

Be part of it! Make History and join our best GSoC so far! Take a look at our ideas page or bring your own idea, then contact us: we are waiting for you on IRC impatiently!

One place: Freenode. Two channels: #scummvm and #residualvm

The Return of MoO - Can Retro Games Follow Suit?

by Silver, 10:04

@Equityarcade Steve Anderson talks about Master of Orion and what its return may herald.

If Master of Orion can stage a successful comeback, successful by just about any reasonable standard, that might well open up the floodgates for remakes of all sorts of PC games. Consider what a modern-era Phantasmagoria might look like, or a Harvester. There have already been remake efforts around The 7th Guest, otherwise known as The 13th Doll, and a sequel for Psychonauts did pretty well, clearing $3.8 million of a targeted $3.3 million Kickstarter attempt. So why not bring in the older stuff? Surely if the hype around an updated Doom is going well, why not an updated Quake or Marathon? The time could be right for another Maniac Mansion. I'm not suggesting we lose new game development altogether, but we could be at a time when there's so much half-forgotten fodder from the past on hand that we could take advantage of it and bring back some older material with a new coat of paint.

There's room for the renovated old alongside the new, and taking advantage of that could be just what we need to really light a fire under the gaming market. Today, Master of Orion, tomorrow...a new Star Control? You don't need the Book of Now and Forever to know that would be a welcome return.

Thursday - February 25, 2016

Master of Orion - Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 22:59

Farflame spotted these four gameplay videos for Master of Orion, that will be released tomorrow:

-> Playlist of Paradogs Gamer

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Friday - February 19, 2016

General News - Master of Orion Voice Cast

by Silver, 03:21

@masteroforion The voice cast for Master of Orion has been announced. Some famous names appear such as Mark Hamill, Michael Dorn and John de Lancie. Or in other words Luke Skywalker is squaring off against Q and Worf.

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Troy Baker (The Last of Us) - Klackon Advisor and Psilon Emperor

John Kassir (Tales from the Crypt) - Alkari Advisor and additional voices

JB Blanc (Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy TV Series) - Bulrathi Advisor, Meklar Advisor, and additional voices

Misty Lee (Star Wars: Battlefront) - Silicoid Advisor

Sara Cravens (Halo 5: Guardians) - Additional voices

Sumalee Montano (Fallout 4) - Terran Advisor

Kat Cressida (Fallout 4) - Mrrshan Empress

Nolan North (Uncharted Series) - Darlok Emperor and Sakkra Emperor

John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation) - Human Emperor

Dwight Shultz (Star Trek: The Next Generation)- GNN Anchor

Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation) - Narrator

Roger Craig Smith (Regular Show) - Sakkra Advisor

Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) - Terran Emperor

Fred Tatasciore (Family Guy) - Bulrathi Emperor and Silicoid Emperor

Nika Futterman (Star Craft II: Legacy of the Void) - Darlok Advisor and Mrrshan Advisor

Alan Tudyk (Firefly) - Psilon Advisor

Jean Gilpin (Halo 5: Guardians) - Klackon Empress

Kari Wahlgren (Rick and Morty) - Human Advisor and GNN Anchor

Mark Hamill (Star Wars saga)- Alkari Emperor

Monday - January 25, 2016

Atari Vault - Coming to Steam

by Aubrielle, 14:43

It's not exactly RPG news, but the old-school 1980's gamers among us may want to know that many of their Atari favorites are coming to Steam.

It feels like this should have happened ages ago, but here it finally is: a bundle of 100 Atari classics is coming to Steam in spring (or autumn in Australia). Dubbed the Atari Vault, it's set to include the likes of Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Tempest, and Warlords. Assuming it won't cost an arm and a leg, it'll be worth checking out for Centipede and Adventure alone (the latter hasn't been confirmed, but the collection would suffer without it).

Interestingly, the bundle will feature Steam Controller support, as well as local and online multiplayer bolstered by global leaderboards. Atari claims the Steam Controller will result in "significantly improved precision control", which will be useful if you want to break my record of three consecutive clockings of Centipede.

The bundle is in development by Code Mystics.

More information.

Source: PC Gamer

Wednesday - January 13, 2016

Paragon - Man Blocked; US Watch List Blamed

by Aubrielle, 08:17

We don't cover MOBAs, but this seemed interesting. A man was mistakenly blocked from creating a Paragon Online account due to his name appearing on a US watch list.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has apologised to Muhammad Zakir Khan over Twitter after Khan was prevented from making an Epic account due to a hit against a US Treasury list of Specially Designated Nationals. The SDN list is a register of people and companies that US 'persons' (an exhausting legal umbrella term) are prohibited from dealing with, potentially due to involvement in terrorist financing, trafficking or money laundering, but also as part of US sanctions campaigns against specific countries. Or, in this case, people who want to play the Paragon beta.

"When I went to the website to register for an account, I hit submit and that's when I faced the red text. I was shocked," Khan told Gamasutra. "Initially, I thought I had been hacked. I literally stopped everything and told myself verbally out loud, 'What the heck?' I felt dehumanized and discriminated against. Frankly, it hurt."

@imraansiddiqi @Muzzakh Sorry, this isn't intended. We're working to fix ASAP. Cause: Overly broad filter related to US trade restrictions.

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) January 10, 2016

What's surprising about this incident isn't the existence of the list—it's publicly available and circulated by the Treasury Department to companies trading internationally—but the extent to which it's wired into basic account creation and its reliance on name alone. According to Sweeney, that's an error caused by recycled code from the Unreal Engine licensing process.

"This is bad filtering code. It checks a Federal export restriction list based solely on name!" Sweeney Tweeted. "We're working to figure this out. Ideally, not at signup, but by matching name and billing address at purchase time."

More information.

Source: PC Gamer

Tuesday - December 29, 2015

Non-RPG General News - Terra Invicta

by Silver, 09:00

From the makers of the Long War Mod for XCOM comes the announcement of a new game in development called Terra Invicta.

Terra Invicta is a grand strategy game in which the player leads the defense of Earth during an alien invasion.

An alien force has arrived in the far reaches of Solar System and begun probing Earth's defenses and building an invasion fleet. The player must assemble a council of scientists, politicians, military leaders and operatives who can unite Earth's squabbling nations with the ultimate goal of taking the fight to the aliens in the high ground of outer space.
Status: In pre-Kickstarter development

To accomplish this goal they have formed a new studio called Longwarstudios. Check out the website if you want to keep in touch with the games development.

Saturday - December 19, 2015

Non-RPG General News - Psychonauts 2 on Fig

by Silver, 00:55

This one has been going a while but some of you may be fans. Psychonauts 2 is asking for funds on fig.co to the tune of 3.3 million.

Psychonauts is a classic action/adventure platformer from acclaimed developers Double Fine Productions (that's us!) and written by industry legend Tim Schafer, who created Broken Age, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango amongst many other things. We want to make a sequel!

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As of writing Doublefine has amassed 2.8 million with 24 days remaining. Thanks Format92!

Thursday - December 17, 2015

Star Wars - The Oriental Connection

by Aubrielle, 02:14

ASidCast discusses Star Wars and the Asian mythologies and philosophies that inspired it.  Thanks again, Couch.

The movies were not my introduction to Star Wars, though. That would be Knights of the Old Republic, which I had played shortly before watching the movies on STAR Movies. Knights was one of the first RPGs I ever played, and it blew me away. I knew the game was based on the lore of the movies, and it made me want to watch them. I played the sequel Sith Lords shortly afterwards, and against all my expectations, I loved it even more than the original (except the ending, which was later fixed by the cut content patch). I still prefer Sith Lords more, because (among other reasons) it is not your typical Star Wars story, but it deals with the underlying concepts- especially the Force and morality- in a much deeper way.

Both of the games made me very curious to know about the concept of the Force. It was perhaps mostly due to studying in what can be described as a Hindu missionary school, where we had to study a lot of religious texts and Indian myths, but I found something very familiar in how the Force was handled in Star Wars lore.

The Force has been described as an all-encompassing field of energy that connects every living thing to each other. When I first came across the description, I immediately thought of the concept of what we studied about Brahman. Brahman (not to be confused with Brahmin or Brahma) is a Vedic concept of the ultimate reality or truth, which has been adopted by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other religions. It is also said to be an ever-present energy or entity or concept that connects all life. The concept of Qi is also somewhat similar.

More information.

Wednesday - December 16, 2015

Ghost in the Shell - SAC: First Assault Online

by Aubrielle, 01:32

It's not an RPG, sadly; it's an FPS. But cyberpunk fans will want to know if the new Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex title, First Assault Online, is any good.  PC Gamer has a look.

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First Assault Online is a multiplayer FPS set in the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex universe that’s just launched on Steam Early Access. Stand Alone Complex is an anime series based on Masamune Shirow’s manga about Section 9, a group of cybernetically-enhanced operatives fighting cyber-terrorism in a futuristic Japan. This would be a great setting for a Deus Ex-style RPG, but Korean developer Neople has, instead, used it as the basis for a squad-based shooter.

“Picking a genre wasn't easy,” they explain. “But we were excited by episode 24 of season one, in which Section 9 are tested to their limits and forced to take on an opposing special ops team.” This episode, they say, made them imagine what it would be like to fight together as a perfectly synchronised team, and First Assault Online was born. You can play the Early Access version now for £4, but when it launches it’ll be free-to-play and come with the usual array of optional paid-for content.

The result of Neople’s desire to make you feel like you’re part of Section 9—whose cyber-brains are linked together when they fight in the series—is the SkillSync system. This encourages you to stick together by letting you share your squad’s special abilities including thermoptic camo, seeing through walls, and the ability to transform your arm into a missile launcher. If you’re near someone who has an ability activated, you can hit the E button and use it yourself. It’s a neat concept, and I did naturally find myself sticking close to my team as I played to leech their cyber-powers.

More information.

Sunday - November 15, 2015

Java Master of Orion - Galactic Council essentially done

by Hiddenx, 21:51

Java Master of Orion is a two-man (Ray Fowler and an artist) effort to bring back the original Master of Orion by updating the art and maintaining the original gameplay.

From the homepage of Java MoO:

Code: Galactic Council essentially done

I’ve spent the last two weeks coding up all of the logic for the Galactic Council… when they meet, the order and tallying of the votes, the selection of the leader, declaring final war, and empires being happy or upset if you did or did not vote for them.

In addition, I’ve developed a workable UI that goes through the voting process very much like the original game. I scavenged a lot of graphics from the original game to serve as placeholders until the new artwork is done, so it’s not worth wasting a screenshot on.

However, below is an example of the Alkari very upset that I did not vote for them! All that’s really left of the council vote is a few minor touchups in the code and the eventual incorporate of new artwork.

[...]

-> Steam Workshop

-> Explorminate Q&A: 7-28-2015

The Pillars of Earth - First Video Insights

by Hiddenx, 20:45

Daedalic released some video footage for the Adventure The Pillars of Earth:

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England, 12th century: Philip the monk becomes Prior of the small abbey of Kingsbridge. At the same time, a boy called Jack is raised by his outlawed mother in the woods. His apprenticeship as a stonemason paves his way to become a great architect. Soon, his steps lead him to Kingsbridge where he will build one of the greatest cathedrals England has ever seen. Aliena and Richard have to survive on their own, after the sibling's father, the Earl of Shiring, has been incarcerated and murdered. Aliena vows to make her brother the rightful heir and Earl of Shiring. Like Jack, their way leads them to Kingsbridge. Aliena puts her expertise as a tradeswoman to good use, supporting the cathedral's construction and falls in love with Jack. But Kingsbridge and its people are in grave danger. Philip's rivals, Bishop Waleran and Wiliam, a vengeful noble rejected by Aliena, see the town and its rise to importance as a thorn in their flesh. They want to see Kingsbridge burn.

The game-adaption of the world-bestseller "The Pillars of the Earth" is the first co-operative project of Daedalic Entertainment and Bastei Lübbe. This game will be more than just complementary media to the book and will instead retell the story in a new, interactive way. A team of about 20 people works to create a multi-platform adaption of this bestseller. The writers are also in contact and co-operation with the Follett Office and Ken Follett himself. Daedalic is the only studio at the time adapting such an epic reading-experience into an interactive format.
The game itself will be released in 2017, at the same time the third novel of the Kingsbridge-Series will be published. The game will be internationally available for PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One and mobile devices.

Thursday - October 22, 2015

Woolfe - The Red Hood Diaries - Rebellion takes over

by Hiddenx, 08:36

In Kickstarter update #31 for Woolfe is revealed that Rebellion is the new owner of the IP:

Welcome to the Rebellion family!

Dear Kickstarter backers and owners of Woolfe – The Red Hood Diaries

In August, GRIN’s founder Wim Wouters wrote a brave and searingly honest statement about the sad closure of the studio and the end of Woolfe as they knew it. If you missed this, then we highly recommend you read Wim’s post before continuing. But in summary, GRIN was unable to continue as a business and had to apply for bankruptcy, and so Woolfe (and everything related to the game) was put up for sale at auction.

It has been a difficult time for those involved with Woolfe and for you, the backers, but today we’re writing to tell you that Woolfe is still alive, and now in the hands of a new owner, Rebellion – that’s us! We’re delighted to add Woolfe’s gorgeous, twisted universe to our burgeoning list of indie games and we hope you’ll join us for the ride.

You’re still probably wondering what this all means. Where does this leave backers? What’s the future of Woolfe? Who are Rebellion anyway? 

We’ve tried to answer all your questions below so please take time to read our responses if you can, and if you can’t find an answer to your question then feel free to get in touch with us at woolfe.support@rebellion.co.uk, or hit us up at @Rebellion on Twitter! 

Thank you for reading this, and we hope to meet you in the forums and on social media in the very near future. 

- Jason and Chris Kingsley, Co-founders and owners of Rebellion. 

PS: Feel free to reach out to Jason on Twitter: @RebellionJason

[...]

Will Kickstarter backers receive outstanding rewards? If so, when? 

That’s the plan! When we purchased Woolfe we were also given access to some of the unsent merchandise and backer rewards, both digital and physical.

We’ve still got to do a full stock-take of exactly what rewards we have, and which rewards we’ll have to produce ourselves, but for now it looks very likely we’ll be able to provide all outstanding physical add-on rewards at no further cost to backers. 

Here is a full list of the rewards we will be delivering to backers: 
  • Art book (digital and physical) 
  • Regular DVD copies of Woolfe 
  • Deluxe Boxed versions of Woolfe (including CD soundtrack) 
  • Poster packs 
  • Limited edition stickers 
  • Official documents of enlistment 
  • Original soundtrack (mp3) 
  • Ringtone (mp3) 
  • Wallpapers (HD JPG/PNG) 
  • Custom answering message (mp3)
Our aim is to deliver all these rewards to backers by the end of the year. Some items might take longer than others, and some may have to be changed from their original specification depending on the assets inherited from GRIN, but we’ll keep as close to original designs as practically possible.
[...]

Wednesday - October 14, 2015

Master of Orion Reboot - First Look Video

by Hiddenx, 23:08

Farflame spotted this first look video of Master of Orion:

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Get one step closer to conquering the stars today with an exclusive look at Master of Orion in action. The quirky hosts Galactic News Network are your guide to the fearsome Sakkra and the ancient and intelligent Psilon Quanta. Get a glimpse at game mechanics, warfare and negotiations across a vast and volatile galaxy.
Stay tuned for future episodes to learn even more about the WG Labs’ re-boot of the classic Master of Orion!

Wednesday - September 23, 2015

Non-RPG General News - Voice Actors Considering a Strike

by Silver, 03:16

Gameinformer reports on the potential strike action after negotiations broke down.

A long-running conversation between publishers and voice actors over contract terms may be coming to a head. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors (including voice actors) is currently considering a strike to push the matter to resolution.

Chief among the issues under discussion is the matter of "back end bonuses." These are a trade-off, with lower fees for service, but a percentage of the gross. This is becoming more common in film, and now may become a piece of the gaming landscape.

According the FAQ found on the SAG-AFTRA website, the proposal suggests that residual payments not kick in until a game sells 2 million units. The union says that would protect smaller game developers, while allowing actors to earn a piece of what it labels as "blockbusters."

"We're asking for a reasonable performance bonus for every 2 million copies, or downloads sold, or 2 million unique subscribers to online-only games, with a cap at 8 million units/subscribers," the union writes. "That shakes out, potentially, to FOUR bonus payments for the most successful games: 2 million, 4 million, 6 million and 8 million copies."

Wednesday - September 16, 2015

Non-RPG General News - Amnesia: The Dark Descent Free

by Silver, 00:54

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is free to own forever for the next 24 hours (more like 19hrs at the time of this post.) This is to help promote the imminent release of SOMA.

To help you prepare yourself for the imminent release of SOMA, we have decided to have a sale with an 80% discount on all our previous games. Hurry and you'll get Amnesia: The Dark Descent for free during the next 24 hours and the game will remain in your library forever.

Tuesday - August 18, 2015

RPGWatch - Windows 10 is not compatible with SafeDisc and SecuRom games

by Hiddenx, 06:57

Rock, Paper, Shotgun and other sources are reporting that Windows 10 cannot run games with DRM methods like SafeDisc and SecuRom:

This is a quote from a Rocket Beans TV interview at Gamescom 2015 with Microsoft’s Boris Schneider-Johne:

Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10. There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system needs updating – but the developers are on it already – and then there are old games on CD-Rom that have DRM. This DRM stuff is also deeply embedded in your system, and that’s where Windows 10 says “sorry, we cannot allow that, because that would be a possible loophole for computer viruses.” That’s why there are a couple of games from 2003-2008 with Securom, etc. that simply don’t run without a no-CD patch or some such. We can just not support that if it’s a possible danger for our users. There are a couple of patches from developers already, and there is stuff like GOG where you’ll find versions of those games that work.

Wednesday - August 12, 2015

Master of Orion Reboot - Developer Diaries #1

by Hiddenx, 06:53

WG Labs' first episode of their developer diary for the Master of Orion Reboot project:

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In the very first Master of Orion Developer Diary, learn more about the rich legacy of Master of Orion and what made it one of the most influential strategy games of all time. Developers from the original Master of Orion and the upcoming game share the approaches and influences used in bringing this legend back to the gaming masses. Get an inside look at the game’s creation, from its orchestral score, design, lore, and much more.
Stay tuned for future episodes to learn even more about the WG Labs’ re-boot of the classic Master of Orion!

Sunday - August 09, 2015

Stasis - Release Date: August 31

by Hiddenx, 02:47

The Point and Click Adventure STASIS will be released on August 31.

Trailer:

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STASIS is a point-and-click, sci-fi, horror adventure game played from a unique isometric perspective. STASIS intertwines a gruesome narrative with retro adventure gameplay. Combine items, interact with computers and solve puzzles while experiencing the gritty atmosphere.

In the distant future, aboard a seemingly abandoned spacecraft, John Maracheck awakes from stasis. He must push himself to new physical and emotional limits and unravel the mysteries around him.

John is in tremendous pain, his wife and daughter are missing, and time is running out as the Groomlake plunges further into the swirling blue methane clouds of Neptune.

Sunday - November 30, 2014

Broken Age - Will Release Early in 2015

by Aries100, 17:29

Double Fine announced that ACT 2 of their adventure game, Broken Age, will be released early in 2015.

The goal now is to get all the finale work done so we can hit Alpha on all of Act 2 by the end of the year. That means, as you may have guessed based on recent updates and documentary episodes, the Act 2 ship that will deliver the complete adventure is now looking like it will be early next year. The game is looking really good and the team is working super fast, but we just gotta give the game the time it needs to really deliver on everything we're hoping it will be.

Source: GameSpot

Sunday - November 23, 2014

Video Gamer - Changing Review Policy

by Aries100, 11:25

Tom Orry has written an editorial announcing changes in their review policy.
The reason is this: 

There's also an increasing likelihood that the game we review will have changed by the time it's in your hands on 'Day One'. It now seems more likely than not that a game will receive a patch between the time the disc is printed and it goes on sale. We need to account for this in our reviews. 

Tom Orry announces that the changes in review policy will be these:

We will only award a game a score if we've been able to test all aspects to our satisfaction, offline and online.
We will award a game a score based on the experience at the time. Review conditions will be stated in the coverage.
Review text and scores may be updated once we've tested the game in consumer conditions, with the game released and online servers populated with real players.
Review text and scores may be updated if a title receives significant and game-changing updates post release. This does not include DLC unless offered for free to all.
If review text or score is changed the original text and score will be archived on the page.

Wednesday - July 02, 2014

Dreamfall Chapters - Trailer @ RPS

by Aries100, 16:47

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has the release trailer for Book One of this game.

Adam Amith from RPS has this to say about the episodic format:

The biggest potential drawback lies in the pacing. I like to consume media at my own pace, whether that means waiting for a TV show box set and binging, or stopping a film mid-way through so I can have a nap. Sometimes I read a book in one night, sometimes one lives with me, unfinished, for months. If I want to play Dreamfall as soon as possible (and I do), there are going to be breaks at various points and those breaks could naturally become cliffhangers or otherwise climactic.

 

Monday - June 30, 2014

Dreamfall Chapters - Goes Episodic

by Aries100, 19:22

As many of us enjoy adventure games, I find it relevant to mention news about this game. Ragnar Tørnquist mentions in a Kickstarter Update that the game will be in five parts. He also mentions that Book One will be out Autumn 2014. He talks about the
story as well and how they decided to split the game into 5 episodes:

We initially debated splitting the game in two, like other recently Kickstarted adventure titles. And since our story is already divided into five books, this felt like the natural way to break it up. The shorter wait between books will also, we hope, be easier to endure. This is not going to change the game's story. The five Books will tell the story we always intended to tell; a story that concludes the Dreamer Cycle and Zoë Castillo's role in The Longest Journey saga...but not the saga itself. (Yep, there's more to come.)

They hope to earn money as well by releasing Book 1 this autumn:

By releasing Book One this autumn, we hope to start generating income, all of which will go right back into improving the quality and scope of subsequent books. And by dividing our work into five standalone releases, we're able to give each book the focus, polish and attention it needs. This will benefit the game in terms of quality and stability, and it will benefit the team in terms of how many balls they need to juggle at once.

PC Gamer's Phil Savage has this to say:

However, the traditional downside to episodic releases is the time in between each part. It's not yet clear what schedule Red Thread plan on working towards, with Tørnquist stating that the second episode's release date won't be revealed until the launch of the first part.

Information about

#Non-RPG General News

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