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THQ announces that the Windows edition of Darksiders is now available worldwide, offering PC users the chance to play this action/adventure game already out on consoles. Here's word: "Developed by THQ’s in-house studio, Vigil Games™, the Windows PC version of the game has been re-engineered from the ground up to deliver the same great action as the console games, while taking advantage of keyboard and mouse controls." Says THQ's Travis Plane: "It is important that the PC audience get to experience the same great product as the console audience so we pulled out all the stops to optimize this version. If you didn’t previously buy the console version now is the perfect opportunity to try Darksiders for yourself."
The Sims 3 Store now offers Escape to Barnacle Bay, a new expansion for The Sims 3 that offers your little people an island getaway along with new Sims, new items, and new locations. Here's word on what this entails: "An island nestled in the Simuyan Sea, Barnacle Bay is a vibrant vacation getaway with stunning beaches, campgrounds, parks, and a curiously modern downtown. First settled by pirates, fisherman, and artists - the world's inhabitants now enjoy relaxing at Smuggler's Beach and letting loose at The Wanderer's Watering Hole. Will Your trip be a vacation or a staycation?"
Atari GO is a new "games as a service initiative" from Atari that includes affiliate, developer and marketing initiatives "to help game developers navigate the increasing complexities of reaching a fragmented casual and social audience wherever and whenever they play," though "Atari IP Development will also continue as Atari leverages its classic portfolio and new IP for the casual online marketplace." Among other things, they are offering websites the chance to earn affiliate fees by hosting microtransaction-driven games. IndustryGamers talks with Thom Kozik, Executive VP, Online & Mobile at Atari, about the initiative to learn more of what they have in store. Thom offers his perspective on history, saying: "Atari excels at being able to exploit an existing global audience in the tens of millions who are lifelong fans of our casual, MMO and triple-A titles." His command of history isn't perfect, though, as he states: "From most any perspective, Atari invented the casual game marketplace, and this has been at the core of our businesses since 1972," which isn't really very accurate, as the company that currently bears the Atari moniker started life in 1993 under the name GT Interactive, later becoming Infogrames, and only adopting the Atari name in 2003.
38 Studios announces they have leased office space for their move to downtown Providence Rhode Island from Maynard Massachusetts in a deal that inludes a business loan. "The new location of 38 Studios will be a significant economic boost to downtown, the City and the State," says Daniel Baudouin, Executive Director, The Providence Foundation. "In addition to the high paying jobs and disposable income that 38 Studios will produce, their downtown location should result in the development of a strong, growing cluster of businesses in digital media and design, two potential targets of growth for downtown and the State."
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter comments to IncGamers on the potential impact of OnLive on the next generation of console systems: "I'm not sure where OnLive will be by then. If they can deliver a similar 3D/virtual reality experience (to Move and Kinect), we may not see new consoles succeed." Thanks joao via Computer and Video Games.
An Escape the Prison Story Trailer from The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings is online, offering a look at gameplay from CD Projekt's upcoming RPG sequel. The clip includes gameplay, some stealth, character interactions, naked boobies, and some Rashomon-style storytelling. Thanks Computer and Video Games.
We Talk To Ken Levine About BioShock Infinite on Giant Bomb (NSFW) is Jeff Gerstmann's lengthy video interview with the Irrational Games designer along with other Irrational staff, going into detail about their ambitions for BioShock Infinite, their upcoming shooter (sort-of) prequel. They discuss the new game environment of the floating city of Columbia, and Ken coyly implies that playing the game will help the player understand how the new game connects with the underwater city of Rapture in the first two BioShock games. Ken also describes their mixed feeling abut multiplayer support as part of an extensive discussion of gameplay concepts. The watchword of the interview is "fantastical."
The Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood interview on UGDB chats with Ubisoft Montreal producer Vincent Pontbriand about Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the next installment in their stealth/action series. Topics include the game's setting, new locations and environments, research, the implications of adding multiplayer support, new skills, new weapons, new missions, side missions, mounts, the Jesper Kyd soundtrack, and more.
Between now and the end of September, receive a $5.00 discount from Direct2Drive on all purchases over $15.00 by using the code "PAX" at checkout.
- Section 8 on Direct2Drive. Save 50%.
- Serious Sam HD: Gold Edition on Steam. Save 75%.
- Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter on Steam. Save 75%.
- Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter on Steam. Save 75%.
- X-Com Complete Bundle on Direct2Drive. Save 60%.
Still on sale. Continue here to read the full story.
A playable demo for ArcaniA: Gothic 4 is now available as a sample of the next installment in this series of role-playing games. Our attempts to install the demo have been thwarted by corrupted files, but we've received assurances that the demo is working properly. There is a reported issue where the PhysX installer may kick out an error message on some systems, but the installation should proceed from there. The 1.7 GB download is available on ComputerGames.ro, FanGaming, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and PCGames.de.
Atomic Games president and former Bungie VP Peter Tamte calls out Bobby Kotick in a letter to the editor on Kotaku following the Activision CEO's recent comment calling Bungie "probably the last remaining high quality independent developer" (thanks joao). Tamte tells Kotick: "If this is true, you're screwed," pointing out that the indie developers that giants like Activision enjoy gobbling up are the source of many of the industry's innovations. In the end, he shifts gears, and challenges the assertion that Activision is a leader in online gaming, connecting this back to the indie theme: You've called Activision the industry's online leader. If you think the newest Call of Duty online experience is that innovative, let players buy just the online part of Call of Duty Black Ops and charge them a fair price.
In fact, we'll make you a deal. Let consumers buy just the online part of Call of Duty, and we'll give you a starring role in our new online game, Breach. Trust me, starring in your own videogame would give you huge street cred. We've even mocked up a screenshot to show you how cool you'd look in Breach.
As an independent developer, Atomic can't spend its way to big sales, like Activision can. We have to innovate. So, if you're confident Activision can innovate without independent developers, this is your opportunity to prove it.
The BioShock Infinite interview on Eurogamer talks with Shaun Robertson, lead artist on Irrational Games' upcoming high-flying shooter prequel. They discuss the game's paranormal elements, adding variety to combat compared with the original BioShock, enemies, visuals, the unclear relationship between Infinite and the previous BioShocks, and more. They also note separately his comment on scripted sequences, which Shaun says will be used sparingly, saying: "It will be a game that'll definitely have a couple of set pieces, but it's not going to be watching a movie and going from big moment to big moment to big moment."
Blade Kitten is now available, offering an action/adventure game from Krome Studios based on the comic book series created by Steve Stamatiadis. Here's word on the game: "In Blade Kitten, a prequel to the comics set three years earlier, players are invited into the world of Hollow Wish where they take on the role of Kit Ballard, one of the best bounty hunters in the business. With her pink hair and tail, Kit is part cat, part girl - and fully lethal. As one of the last of her species, Kit commands her unique 'Darque Blade' hovering sword to defeat enemies. Also along for the ride is Skiffy, Kit’s laid-back sidekick who lends a hand in collecting items, solving puzzles, and when needed, serves as Kit’s protector." The game is available for Windows as well as through the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade. The PC edition can be purchased through the Blade Kitten website, the Atari Website, and Steam. There's also a playable demo, which is available from Atari, Steam, AtomicGamer, and Gamer's Hell.
GOG.com has word that their re-launch is hitting some speed bumps, saying: "Sorry everyone for the delay in the launch of the new website. Our servers, even thou [sic] we've augmented their number, just didn't manage to support the huge interest from your side. We're adding more servers as we speak and everything should start improving. Enjoy the new website, all the features and the newelly [sic] released Baldur's Gate."
Sunflex Europe announces they will release the official FINAL FANTASY XIV controller for PC alongside next week's launch of Square Enix's MMORPG. Word is: "The first product of this agreement is the official FINAL FANTASY ® XIV controller for PC, which for the first time brings together the highly rated and technically superior quality of the official PlayStation-licensed PS2 controller from ZeroG and the range of snakebyte’s PS3 controllers to the PC. This state-of-the-art technology brings the efficient and accessible RPG feeling to the PC."
Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson now offers a rundown of LIVE Activity for the week of September 13, including the list of top Games for Windows LIVE titles (based on UUs). The list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
We caught the first episode of the season for Modern Family last night, and it continues to entertain, offering a mainstream take on Arrested Development-style humor. On a related note, we also enjoyed the debut episode of Running Wilde, the new offering from Arrested creator Mitch Hurwitz starring AD alum Will Arnett. By virtue of being the pilot episode it was a little exposition-heavy, but it looks like a lot of fun too. On a related note, in an interview on the Howard Stern show yesterday, Arnett once again stated that the Arrested Development movie will definitely happen. I'm not sure how this will turn out after all this time, but I'll eagerly give it a shot if it happens.
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