Valve's TF2 Japan relief promotion raises $300K (and counting...), Team Fortress 2 PC News

Valve has posted a heartfelt thank you to its Team Fortress 2 community for helping it studio raise in excess of $300K in support of relief efforts in Japan through the purchases of TF2 special edition Japanese headwear.

Last week, Valve releasedthree limited-run Japanese headgear itemsin its Mann Co. store, promising to donate all proceeds (minus tax) to the American Red Cross Japanese relief fund. They include the"Benefactor's Kanmuri,"the"Humanitarian's Hachimaki,"and the"Magnanimous Monarch."Yesterday, Valve revealed the charity promotion has been a resounding success, writing:

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Update: Metacritic removes developer career scores, PC PC News

Metacritic has made changes to its controversial developer ratings. In response to community concerns over the legitimacy of assigning an average career score based on an incomplete (and disproportionate) list of reviewed games, the site has removed the overall rating from its individual developer profiles.

Effective today, the entries will no longer feature a career ranking for each developer. They will, however, still list their credited games, associated aggregate review scores, as well as the best and worst reviewed games according to Metacritic's database.

Above: David Jaffe's profile before (top) and after (bottom) Metacritic's edits. Spot the difference.

In a message posted to the site today, Metacritic's games editor Marc Doyle acknowledged the score did not paint a complete picture of a developer's history, explaining:

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BioWare considering environmental HUD, new enemy designs for Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect 3 PC News

Commander Shepard may be taking a page from Isaac Clarke's book. BioWare Senior Designer Brenon Holmes told Mass Effect fans this weekend the studio is tinkering with the addition of an environmental HUD system for Mass Effect 3, much like the one last seen worn by the delusional engineer of note in Dead Space 2.

“That's one of the things that I love about Dead Space; the interface... it feels really immersive. I just want to touch the hell out of those buttons. So we are still investigating ways of putting some of our HUD elements into the environment... we'll see what we end up with,” wrote Holmes in a back and forth chat with BioWare's Mass Effect community.

Holmes said BioWare had played around with different prototypes for a health and shield indicator on Commander Shepard's armor during the early phases of ME2, but weren't able to find a way to do so without having it obscured when players took cover in the middle of the action.

In a later response to criticism over ME2's use of a fuzzy red screen-'o -death to indicate low health, Holmes confirmed this was something the studio was“actively iterating on.” He also noted the sequel would feature more variety on the battlefield, explaining,“One of the things we're trying for ME3 is to make it a lot easier to identify the various types of enemies. Silhouette of the character is a huge component of that, and our character art/animator guys have done a pretty awesome job. I'm pretty excited for when we get to start showing off some of the really cool creatures we've been working on.”

Holmes avoided discussing specific examples, but emphasized any character design changes would be done to suit an actual purpose - gameplay, plot or otherwise - and not just for the sake of mixing things up.

Over and above demonstrating BioWare's open relationship with fans, Holmes' chat over the last few days on BioWare's forum hints at promising improvements in the way of gameplay and design. Small improvements, sure, but ones that could make a difference when the intergalactic crap hits the fan.

{Source: BioWare forums via Scrawl}

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Free-to-play Dungeon Fighter Online heading to XBLA, Dungeon Fighter Online PC News

Following in the footsteps of the PS3's addition of the free online title FreeRealms, the Xbox 360 is about to get its own open-world, free-to-play experience -Dungeon Fighter Online.

As part of the transition from PC to Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft will help translate Nexon's game into eight different languages, opening the title's availability not only to a new crowd of gamers but entire new populations.

Korean software company Softmax is also helping port the game to the Xbox infrastructure. And, just like on PC, players will be able to download and play without spending a dime, but in order to get new items and upgrades, they'll have to pay.

The"freemium"business model has hit the PC, smartphones, and tablets, so it was just a matter of time before it starting creeping into consoles.

{Source:Destructoid}

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GR’s weekend giveaway: Big Daddy Bouncer Plush and EVE Hypo Syringe from Entertainment Earth, BioShock 2 PC News

Do you see that Big Daddy plush doll and EVE needle up there? Don’t you think they look cool? If you agree, it’s probably because you also think BioShock is cool, which we think makes you cool. In fact, we think you’re so cool that we want to give you the chance to win these excellent BioShock-themed curiosities provided by the good folks at Entertainment Earth. Find out how to enter below.

Above: The EVE Hypo Syringe Prop Replica and BioShock 2 Big Daddy Bouncer Plush Doll are also available on Entertainment Earth’s online catalogue

To enter, just leave a comment on this article by 9:00 am (Pacific Time) on Monday, March 28. You can read our official contest rules here. US and Canadian residents only please. Our apologies to all readers from other countries.

The winner will be selected at random and can expect to receive a PM from one of our administrators early next week. Don’t forget to check your inbox on the site to see if you’ve won!

Good luck!

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Supertrailer: Week 03/20 - 03/25, Trine 2 PC News

Not a lot of great trailers this week, but the one’s that were awesome were REALLY AWESOME. Most notably, the Crysis 2’s launch trailer, which is where we stole the song“New York, New York” by B.o.B. Find all of the trailers showcased below in their entirety…

CRYSIS  2 - Launch Trailer

MORTAL KOMBAT - Kratos Trailer

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SUPER SOLDIER - Reveal trailer

PORTAL 2 - Investment Opportunity: Panels Trailer

DISSIDIA 012 {DUODECIM} FINAL FANTASY - Launch Trailer

TRINE 2 - Gameplay trailer

RIDGE RACER 3D - Launch Trailer

GHOSTBUSTERS: SANCTUM OF SLIME - Launch trailer

WWE ALL-STARS - Honky Tonk Man trailer

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Akihabara killer gets death penalty, PC PC News

Tomohiro Kato was sentenced to death in the Tokyo District Court today. In 2008, Kato drove a truck into a crowd in Tokyo's Akihabara district before continuing his murder spree with a knife in 2008.

Kato's spree left 17 dead and many more injured. After the incident many in the Japanese media blamed videogames, manga, anime, and other forms of entertainment popular in Akihabara. In response, police opened the neighborhood’s main street to traffic (it had previously been closed on Sundays for otaku to gather in what was called 'pedestrian paradise.')

Kato, from Aomori in the north of Japan, discussed his plans to 'kill people in Akihabara.' online before the attack. The incident raised awareness of such messages online. Since then, numerous individuals have been arrested after making similar threats.

Kato will be held in solitary confinement under bright florescent lights for 24 hours a day until he is sent to the gallows (all executions in Japan are carried out by hanging). The wait takes six years on average, but in some cases lasts longer than thirty depending on the appeals process. Executions in Japan are carried out in secret and without warning. Prisoners are not informed of their hanging until minutes beforehand.

{Source:Asahi (Japanese)}

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Former Bizarre Creations devs open new micro-studio, Hogrocket, PC PC News

Like the Hydra of legend, the decapitation of Bizarre Creations at the hands of Activision has resulted in the birth of two new studios in its place: Lucid Games, led by Bizarre's former senior manager Pete Wallace; and now Hogrocket, a brand new micro-studio founded by another handful of ex-Bizarre elite.

The new studio is based out of North-West England and headed by Stephen Cakebread, father of Geometry Wars; Ben Ward, Bizarre's former community manager; and Peter Collier, the senior level designer who worked on The Club and James Bond 007: Blood Stone. As announced in a recent studio tweet, they are supported by a contracted team of“experienced and talented freelancers to help out in a variety of areas.”

Hogrocket is billing itself on its website as an indie game developer with a focus on creating games for 'connected platforms' including mobiles and desktops. Further tweets say development on the studio's first game is already underway, with an official announcement expected in April. 

Godspeed, Hogrocket. May you and Lucid Games build a home for all of Bizarre Creations' lost children (and make great games in the process).

{Source:Hogrocket}

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Dead Island box art sanitized for North America, Dead Island PC News

Dead Island developer Deep Silver has redesigned the game's logo for the North American box art. The original box art logo (pictured right) featured a hanging man or zombie that formed the capital‘I’ in 'Dead Island.' The newly redesigned art features a walking zombie in its place. Deep Silver confirmed the box art change to IGN yesterday, but did not discuss why the decision was made to change it. It is not known whether the revision was made voluntarily or in response to an ESRB request.

It’s possible that the image was changed, not to because it was too gruesome, but because of worries racially-charged imagery. The silhouette of a man hanging from a tree could be construed as a depiction of a lynching. However, Deep Silver has not confirmed this. The original art will still appear in-game in the North American version and on the European box art.

Above: An example of the new logo from the official website for Dead Island. Note that the hanging man is replaced by a stumbling zombie to form the letter‘I’

Above: The one with the dead girl. It's always worth watching again

Dead Island’s gruesome imagery was also the center of discussion when the last trailer for the game released. The artful CG video begins with a young girl falling to her death from a hotel room window.

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Homefront conquers UK sales charts, Homefront PC News

It'll take more than a little controversy and negative press to keep Homefront down. Despite tepid reviews, ill-advised promo stunts, concerns over its subject matter, campaign length and PS3 performance, Kaos Studios' alternate reality FPS managed to rise above its oppressors and snag top spot in UK's sales charts.

According to UK retail analyst firm Chart Track, Homefront has ousted Dragon Age II as the bestselling multiformat title for the week ending March 19th, marking the first time its publisher THQ has landed in the coveted top spot since the release of UFC 2009.

The full top 10 was:

1 Homefront (360/PS3/PC)

2 Dragon Age II (360/PS3/PC)

3 Pokémon White (DS)

4 Total War: Shogun 2 (PC)

5  Pokémon Black (DS)

6 Fight Night Champion (360/PS3)

7 Just Dance 2 (Wii)

8 FIFA 11 (PS2/Wii/360/PS3/PC/DS/PSP)

9 Killzone 3 (PS3)

10 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (360/PS3/PC)

Homefront's strong debut was due in large part to Xbox 360 rebels who accounted for 70% of the total sales, followed by PS3 fraggers at 26% and PC run-and-clickers at 4%.

Stateside, THQ's new IP appears to be faring equally well. Last week, Homefront sold over 375,000 copies on the first day of its North American launch. Prior to that,  the publisher's VP of Core Games Danny Bilson declared Homefront had become THQ's most pre-ordered title yet.

The Homefront hype train has been chugging along for some time now, so to sell like gangbusters on its first week may be more of a victory for THQ's marketing department than anything else. Now that critics and players have had a chance to actually spend time with the title (and not just its trailers, dev diaries, making-of videos, etc.), the true test of Homefront's mettle will be if it can hold its position.

{Source: Metro}

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APB: Reloaded closed beta key giveaway, APB: Reloaded PC News

UPDATE:

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GR’s weekend giveaway: Portal Test Candidate Hoodie from ThinkGeek, Portal 2 PC News

You could always make your own official Portal Test Candidate Hoodie. No one’s stopping you. But when was the last time you handcrafted a 100% cotton hoodie that was this cool and comfy? Yeah, that’s what we thought– and that’s why we’re here giving you a chance to win this most excellent piece of warmth wear thanks to our friends at ThinkGeek.

Above: TalkRadar’s Chris Antista rocking the Portal Test Candidate Hoodie from ThinkGeek. See that paper craft companion cube in his hand? You can print out the template here!

Above: Want to double your chances at winning? We’ve got one more Portal hoodie to giveaway. Listen to the latest episode of TalkRadar to find out more

To enter, just leave a comment on this article by 9:00 am (Pacific Time) on Monday, March 21. You can read our official contest rules here. US and Canadian residents only please. We apologize to anyone who is not eligible to win. 

The winner will be selected at random and can expect to receive a PM from one of our administrators early next week. Don’t forget to check your inbox on the site to see if you’ve won!

Good luck!

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Jack Thompson emerges from hiding to threaten Valve over school shooting mod, PC PC News

Ever since his disbarment, the world of videogame news has been refreshingly Jack Thompson-free. Unfortunately, a new Source Engine mod by the name of School Shooter: North American Tour 2012 proved enough to bring everybody's least favorite ex-attorney out of hiding.

In a letter to Valve's Gabe Newell, Thompson warned of vague and dire consequences for the company should it fail to stop the third party mod by 5PM Eastern today.

The full text follows:

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Valve hires famed Thief designer, Thief 4 PC News

Valve has strengthened its creative ranks and confirmed that famed game designer Doug Church has been hired. Church's resume is impressive. His most recent game, a cooperative project with Steven Spielberg called LMNO was canceled. But before that, his last title was Tomb Raider Legend. Past hits that Church has contributed to include both Thief and Deus Ex games, Freedom Force, System Shock 2, and Ultima Underworld I and II.

Besides confirming the hiring of Church, Valve is not releasing specific details as to what he will be working on. It’s possible that Church is joining an ongoing project or heading up a new one. We have reason to believe that Valve is currently working on at least three separate titles at the moment: Defense of the Ancients 2, Half-Life: Episode 3, and Counter-Strike 2. Portal 2, while not yet released, is finished.

{Source: Gamasutra}

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New Battlefield 3 gameplay trailer takes the fight to the roofs, Battlefield 3 PC News

Thefirst Battlefield 3 gameplay trailerfollows a group of soldiers into a ground battle, and ends with, of course, a big explo-BVVZZZGHH. Right, and the second, released today, takes things to the rooftops for a full look at the sniper hunting scene we glimpsed in the first teaser - naturally, it also ends wi-BVVZZZGH. Check it-BVVVVZZZGHT...

Lovely, isn't it? Shallow as it may seem, I'm still in awe of the way BF 3 looks. 'Just another war shooter' or not, you've got to admit there's

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Zynga: Your mom is the new 'hardcore gamer', FarmVille PC News

Forty-year-old women are the demographic that spends the most money and time on Zynga games, according to head of brand advertising Manny Aneka. This marks the end of the stereotypical image of dedicated gamers as young men, and the beginning of thinking of them as older women.

Aneka, who spoke at South by South-West (SXSW), the annual music, film, and interactive conference and festival held in Austin, said that the average Zynga gamer plays for 68 minutes a day, and with more women playing then men, a 40-year old woman is the“new hardcore gamer.”

Aneka cited Cityville, which has over 100 million players, as an example. He claimed that Zynga is changing the 'gaming landscape.'

{Source: WebProNews}

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Prey 2 scheduled for release in 2012, Prey 2 PC News

It's an announcement that won't surprise a whole lot of people, but Bethesda has just officially confirmed the sequel to the Xbox 360/PC hit Prey. Prey 2 will be coming out some time next year.

Actually, we've known for some time that Prey 2 was in development. 3D Realms, the producer of the original Prey, announced a sequel in 2008. However, the rights to the franchise were transferred to Bethesda, leaving some question as to the fate of Prey 2.

Despite being in limbo and then thrown into a new environment, the game is still very much on the table. Developer Human Head Studios remains at the back end, so players can expect consistency with its predecessor.

 

Above: The original Prey, released in 2006

The game creators described the sequel's storyline saying,"This time, abandoned and framed for the disappearance of his family and girlfriend, Tommy escapes an Earth that no longer wants him for a future that cannot survive without him."

Prey originally came out in 2006, and there have been a lot of advancements in game development since then. Developers say Prey 2 will use"the cutting edge id tech engine from id Software,"so we can hopefully expect some pretty decent visuals.

Aside from a release confirmation and a very blank 2012 target, the only other major detail to be confirmed is that it will be on the Xbox 360 and PC, and will also be going multiplatform this time, on PS3.

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American McGee plans to work on free-to-play titles after Alice, Alice: Madness Returns PC News

Development on the long awaited sequel, Alice: Madness Returns seems to be going smoothly with a release scheduled for June 14. But once the Electronic Arts published title from Spicy Horse studio ships, famed game designer American McGee plans to focus work on free-to-play, casual, online games.

Speaking in an interview with Joystiq, McGee explained that Spicy Horse, the Shanghai-based game studio founded by McGee in 2007, will be restructuring its organization."Well, we don't see that the future for us is in triple-A console games,"said McGee."We actually are trying to make games that are online, free-to-play, 3D advanced casual games, so as we finish this we're going to transition the company back to where we were intending to be when we finished Grimm."

Above: Art work for Grimm, a twisted fairytale adventure

According to McGee, Spicy Horse originally planned to continue developing episodic titles, like the dark, fantasy/adventure Grimm. But Electronic Arts’ offer to work with Spicy Horse on a sequel to Alice was too tempting to turn down. But it’s not exactly a return to business as usual.

While Grimm was an episodic adventure released through GameTap, Spicy Horse will be working on 3D free-to-play online games for release in Asia post-Alice."So, we restructured for two years, we built the game, we did a great job, we're gonna ship it on time, on schedule, we never had a crunch and it's been really awesome. But now, it's back to what our belief is in terms of where things are going, so it's going to be all about free-to-play, 3D games for Asia,"explained McGee.

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3D Doom movie is on the way, might actually be based on the game this time, Doom PC News

Doom fans probably still have sour memories over the 2005 film adaptation of the classic FPS. After netting a lot of criticism and grossing less money than the movie cost to produce, it did nothing but add to the list of failed video game-based movies.

 

Above: 2005's Doom movie was, in a word, terribad

Despite all that, Universal has decided to take another stab at recreating the lore and intensity of Doom on the big screen. Reports also say it'll be in 3D, so that should put some more asses in sea... oh what's that?

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Swedish techies building 1000-player FPS, PC PC News

Pikkotekk, a network technology company based in Sweden, is attempting to break the record for most players in a multiplayer match by developing a browser-based shooter that will allow up to 1000 users to battle it out at the same time.

It's a tall order to be sure, but in his chat with Rock, Paper Shotgun, Pikkotekk's Christian Lönnholm insisted the 1000-player concept for their upcoming game, Robots Vs Tanks, is very doable given the right equipment and data management strategy. Specifically, Lönnholm explained the company plans to set up a Pikko architecture comprised of a Pikko Server and various cell servers which will effectively juggle the game information back and forth similar to how cell phone towers work together to seamlessly handle mobile data.

The project is still far from completion, but for a vague idea of how Robots Vs Tanks might come together, Pikkotekk released this early-stage teaser:

Tech talk aside, Lönnholm said that Pikkotekk's true motives are to go where no tech company has before, explaining,“About one year ago, we were talking with CCP and we came up with this idea that if we made a MMO FPS in Unity, the technical achievement would be of such magnitude that it would even impress random women in bars.”

What about the ordered women? Don't they deserve companionship as well?

{Source: Rock, Paper Shotgun}

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StarCraft II player on a mission to reach the diamond league with a“garbage”strategy, StarCraft II PC News

Real-time strategy games are supposed to be about

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New Homefront multiplayer trailer, TV spot, and dedicated server details revealed, Homefront PC News

THQ's Homefront hype-brigade has been marching across the world like an army of North Korean invaders, only its weapons are NEW ASSETS! You can't click anywhere lately without seeing new Homefront trailers or details. Guess what?! We have new Homefront trailers and details!

Above: The game's TV spot, which debuted yesterday

Speaking in connectionwith the news that the game has just gone gold, THQ core games VP Danny Bilson offered another verbal push for the title, saying,"Homefront is set to become one of THQ's most successful original IP launches. The team at Kaos have spent three years building an FPS that competes with the very best, offering a thrilling and original single player experience and hundreds of hours of multiplayer."

Above: The multiplayer trailer, released today

Additionally, Drew Como, THQ's director of infrastructure, detailed the game's dedicated server support.

"We're providing dedicated servers for both console and PC versions of the game,"said Como."Dedicated servers allow us to support 32-players on large maps with infantry, vehicles and drones, and level the playing field compared to titles that rely on user-hosted games."

Homefront is out March 15 in North America, and March 18 in Europe. Thegame's first review, published in OPM Italy, called it"One of the most intense, emotional experiences of 2011,"and scored it a 9/10. We're glad to hear it... both that the game is apparently good, and that the marketing push is nearing its finale. Stay tuned over the next couple weeks for our review.

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Battle: Los Angeles game announced one week before movie releases, PC PC News

The plot for the upcoming invasion thriller Battle: Los Angeles is screaming for a video game adaptation. We were actually wondering why no one had bothered to squeeze a licensed game out as part of the media blitz, when suddenly Konami stepped up and said it "jumped at the opportunity to team up with Columbia Pictures and publish the Battle: Los Angeles video game."

Konami has teamed with Saber Interactive, the company behind other sci-fi shooters like TimeShift and the upcoming Inversion, to bring the extraterrestrial assault on modern-day LA to XBLA, PSN and Steam."We love the movie and it was a great experience working with Saber - there were some great ideas about how to expand the story into a game,"said Konami Digital Entertainment VP Careen Yapp.

Konami has not announced a release date, but we assume it'll be somewhere near the film's March 11 release. Yes, that's one week from now, which doesn't bode well for the game's quality. Hey we'll wait until we play it to pass judgment, but waiting until the last minute to tell anyone about your game? Sounds fishy to us. But hey, the movie trailer still looks like a ton of fun!

{Source: Press Release}

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Mass Effect 2 'Arrival' DLC apparently confirmed by Dragon Age 2 box insert, Dragon Age 2 PC News

Last month, a Mass Effect 2 PS3 patch outed an upcoming DLC add-on when it introduced several mystery Trophies to the game. That pre-mature reveal now appears to have been confirmed in a Dragon Age 2 unboxing video which shows off an insert which reads,"The arrival has begun."Skip to 1:38 to see it:

Among last month's leaked trophies was 'Covert Action,' which bears the description,"Rescue Dr. Amanda Kenson without attracting hostile attention."Dr. Kenson was mentioned in a Cerebus Network update from around the same time. So, for all your rampant speculation needs, here's the text:

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Best of GR videos: GamesRadar's 24 Hour Marathon encapsulated in 2 glorious minutes, BioShock 2 PC News

For two years now we’ve thrown health, sleep and sobriety to the wind in order to bring you GamesRadar’s 24 Hour Marathon! If you’ve missed out on the shenanigans thus far, the whole point of this video is to make you feel horrible about it. With the exception of StarCraft II, I sacrificed my hard drive to record everyone playing everything with me, intentionally doing the stupidest shit imaginable in Halo 3, Red Dead Redemption, Gears of War 2, BioShock 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Blur, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Modern Warfare 2, Super Street Fighter IV, Uncharted 2. Looking back on everything I’ve ever done at GR, this video might be the thing I’m most proud of:

Cliched though it may be to call it“the most rewarding thing we do all year,” it very much

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“Exiled Prince”DLC trailer launches for Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age 2 PC News

Do you know any Videogame Liars? You know the type: they've got killscreens on all the old arcade cabinets (yet never with a camera handy). They've fought Shen Long (in SF2) and Noob Saibot (in MK1). They've beaten all six regular GPs on Mario Kart, scoring enough points to unlock the secret Cake Cup. And doubtless, they've even completed Dragon Age 2 a week before its launch, and are already in need of a new challenge. Perhaps, then, it's this lucrative Videogame Liar demographic BioWare is targeting with full-fledged DLC for the game.

Above: The“Exiled Prince” DLC trailer for Dragon Age 2

Above: Vael adds formidable archery to your party's skills

“The Exiled Prince” adds a new follower to your DA2 party: the titular excommunicated monarch, whose friends call him Sebastian Vael. Sworn to a monastic life of celibacy, Vael is forced onto the path of revenge when his family's brutal murder leaves him the sole heir to an unattainable throne. How do we know so much about this Sebastian character? Well, he's only the subject of a three-page shot story penned by BioWare head writer David Galder, available on the pack's website.

Above: The brooding Vael in a rare vengeance-free moment

Besides royal intrigue and vengeful anguish, the pack adds several new missions to play through as Sebastian's story unravels, adding the prince– an accomplished archer– to your party for the duration. The pack, available as soon as DA2 launches on March 8, also includes extra items to be discovered in-game. Are you so into Dragon Age 2 as to install DLC sight unseen? What do you think of the trailer? Let us know.

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Battlefield 3: New gameplay footage looks intense, amazing, Battlefield 3 PC News

Brand new footage of EA's Battlefield 3 has emerged and it appears to be Semper Fi to the US Marines currently serving in the Middle East. This intense few minutes seems to suggest a far more enclosed Battlefield than ever before - we're feeling claustrophobic just looking at it.  

Enough talking. Let's see the business end of some FPS action...

For our money it's already rivalling Killzone 3 in the looks department and this serious edge to the proceedings seems set to provide the serious edge that Medal of Honor promised, but didn't fully deliver. So what do you think? Is it far too samey to current shooters? Do the visuals give you a tingle in your dingle? Or are you simply done with the FPS genre and nothing short of being able to fire a lava cannon from a flying unicorn will ever pull you back in again? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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Gaikai goes live, brings Mass Effect 2 and Dead Space 2 demos to browsers, PC PC News

The Gaikai game-streaming service has officially gone live. According to David Perry, Gaikai's CEO, the PC cloud-gaming technology that allows players to test drive AAA computer games through their online browser is now available in 12 countries, with a handful of high-profile EA titles standing in as the system's first guinea pigs.

The launch was announced on Perry's blog last Friday and included links to Gaikai demos for Mass Effect 2, Spore, Sims 3 and Dead Space 2, the latter of which requires you to fill out a painless survey before playing. Each game is delivered in a Java window designed to grant internet users access to a high-fidelity PC gaming experience.

In the post, Perry explained,“Our thinking is somewhat like YouTube, as instead of just building a portal to go and watch videos, they decided to focus on putting videos everywhere on the web. We are doing the same with games, so when you read a review on a game, you can try playing it right there on the same page as the review.”

Unlike OnLive's similar game-streaming outfit, Gaikai is positioning itself as a digital advertising platform geared towards providing publishers and developers the means by which to embed game demos into their websites or social networking portals.

"Nobody else in the world has achieved this kind of streaming performance directly into browsers," touted Perry, adding, "It's technically the most advanced interactive advertising unit in existence, and I'm incredibly proud of my team's accomplishments."

Perry promised a high-end demo of Gaikai's full capabilities will be showcased at this week's GDC conference in San Francisco. Until then, we're interested to hear how the service works for you...

{Source: David Perry}

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