Author - Jerry Paxton

Paradox Announces Wing Commander-like Dark Horizon

2008/05/29

Paradox Interactive has announced what they are calling a space combat sim in the same vein as Wing Commander and Freelancer. The game will be titled Dark Horizon and features 22 missions as well as full-ship customization and original weapon construction. Dark Horizon is due out in the third quarter of 2008.

Official Release:
Paradox Interactive today announced the release of Dark Horizon, a stark and atmospheric space combat simulation that aims to hurl its audience through an action-packed adventure, piloting its own ship through the perils that only space could have to offer.

‘Dark Horizon follows along the same lines of classics like Wing Commander and Freelancer, and it will be a great addition to our portfolio this year,’ said Paradox Interactive Executive Vice President Fredrik Wester.

Dark Horizon is a plot-rich experience; 22 challenging missions, laced with special features such as full ship customization, original weapon creation, joystick support, and several modes of combat.

Dark Horizon is scheduled to ship worldwide during Q3, 2008. To learn more about this game or other Paradox releases, please visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com

Pro Cycling Manager 2008 Trailer – Screens

2008/05/28

Jerry Paxton

News

A new trailer and some screenshots were released for the upcoming Pro Cycling Manager 2008 (due out in Europe this June). You manage your team over the course of 180 different real-time races and events. A North American release has not yet been officially announced.

See the trailer here at the official website.

New screenshots after the break!

Official Release:
Pro Cycling Manager 2008 reveals itself today with the release of the official trailer and nine new images. This is an occasion for all fans of the title to discover more of the new features of the game.

The 2008 edition features improved racing graphics, a new lighting system, more detailed backgrounds and incredibly realistic rider models and animations during the races. The management aspect also offers more depth and realism due to the new tools and systems available. Plus, for the first time, as shown in the trailer, you can now compete in professional track cycling.

ID Software Parts Ways With ESA

2008/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

Looks like the latest developer to jump off the ESA ship is Doom-creator ID Software. They might release an official statemen ton this matter later today. We are also attempting to reach ID Software for the status of their E3 attendance this year as I type this. This is the latest in a series of developer departures from the ESA recently and there are rumors that more ESA exits are inbound.

Via Gamepolitics

Stronghold Crusader Extreme Gone Gold

2008/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

Stronghold Crusader Extreme has gone gold and is all set for May 28th release for your PC gaming pleasure. This latest version of the venerable series features enhanced graphics, AI, maps, and more. There is nothing quite as satisfying as searing your enemies with pitch from on high…

Official Release:
Indie-publisher Gamecock Media Group announced today that Firefly Studios’ ‘Stronghold Crusader Extreme’ has gone gold. That means fans of the series have less than a week wait before they can get their hands on all new Stronghold gameplay, now, more extreme than ever.

Stronghold Crusader Extreme takes all the medieval mayhem of its predecessors and kicks things up a notch. With new features like opponent AI and maps, an all new extreme trail, and full-scale epic warfare with over 10,000 units, gamers won’t want to miss out on any of the action.

Stronghold Crusader Extreme releases May 28 at a PC retailer near you.

GamersGate to Host Imperium Romanum Addon

2008/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

GamersGate will host the debut of the expansion to Imperium Romanum, Roman-times city builder which we reviewed here. The Conquest of Britania will feature for new missions and a ‘plethora of game updates’. It is scheduled for release on May 30th.

Official Release:
Today GamersGate announced that it will host the worldwide download premiere of the first add-on to the critically acclaimed historical city builder Imperium Romanum. The Conquest of Britannia adds four new missions and a plethora of game updates as the player faces the challenge of conquering the British Isles.

Published by Kalypso Media, the add-on is scheduled for release on May 30 and has a Suggested Retail Price of €4.99/$5.99

GamersGate has also updated the Suggested Retail Price of Imperium Romanum to $29.99 / €29.99 effective immediately.

Watch Ubidays Live Coverage Via UPLAY

2008/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

The Ubidays’ opening conference will be streamed live via UPLAY.com at 7pm on Wednesday, May 28th (Paris time). Ubidays is a large conference put on by Ubisoft to promote the company’s upcoming game line-up.

Official Release:
Today Ubisoft announced that the UBIDAYS® 2008 opening conference will be broadcast live on www.uplay.com on Wednesday 28th May at 7 p.m. Paris time. Taking place on the 28th and 29th May in the heart of Paris’ world-famous Louvre museum, UBIDAYS is Ubisoft’s unique yearly event which presents the company’s upcoming line-up to press and business partners.

The opening conference of UBIDAYS, an innovative, customer-oriented event, will be dubbed simultaneously in four languages: French; German; Spanish and Italian, allowing gamers around the world to take part in this exceptional experience.

Gamers will also have the opportunity to watch all UBIDAYS 2008 videos on Uplay.com, Ubisoft’s new video portal which launches on the 29th May. This new video portal will feature all of Ubisoft’s videos, as well as additional interviews which will be released exclusively on Uplay.com.

Opening live conference schedule:
London: 6 p.m. 28th May
Los Angeles: 10 a.m. 28th May
New York: 1 p.m. 28th May
Paris: 7 p.m. 28th May
Shanghai: 1 a.m. 29th May
Sydney: 3 a.m. 29th May

Bethsoft – Splash Damage Partnership

2008/05/22

Jerry Paxton

News

Bethsoft has penned a ‘long-term partnership’ with Splash Damage, a United Kindom-based studio most well known for their Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. Their next project will be announced in ‘coming months’.

Official Release:
Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax Media company, announced today a long-term development partnership with the award-winning U.K. studio, Splash Damage™.

Splash Damage has been recognized by the industry for the quality of its titles and particularly for its skill in creating cutting-edge multiplayer games. The studio has received numerous accolades and awards for Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory™, including Game of the Year nods from GameSpy, IGN, and PC Format. Their latest game, Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars™, won over 80 Editors’ Choice, E3, Most Wanted, and Game of the Year awards and nominations.

Bethesda Softworks continues to expand its development and publishing reach, with investments in a library of AAA titles and the opening of new offices in Europe and Japan in the past year. Best known for its 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, Bethesda has in development a number of compelling titles, including the highly-anticipated Fallout® 3 due in Fall 2008.

More details about Splash Damage’s brand-new project will be provided in the coming months. For more information on Bethesda Softworks, visit www.bethsoft.com. For more information on Splash Damage, visit www.splashdamage.com.

Warriors Orochi Ships 1.5M – Orochi 2 in the States this September

2008/05/21

Jerry Paxton

News

KOEI has announced that their Warriors Orochi has shipped more than 1.5 million units since its release and that they will be bringing the game’s sequel, Warriors Orochi 2, to North America this September for the Xbox 360 and PS2 platforms.

Official Release:
KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, announced today that the company has shipped a combined one and a half million units worldwide of WARRIORS OROCHI™ across all video game platforms. The hit game is a crossover of two of the company’s biggest franchises, DYNASTY WARRIORS® and SAMURAI WARRIORS®.

“This milestone is a significant testament to the global impact not only of this game, but also to the tremendous admiration that fans worldwide share for the DYNASTY WARRIORS and SAMURAI WARRIORS characters,” said Amos Ip, Senior Vice President at KOEI Corporation. “As we celebrate, I would like to recognize and express our thanks to the video game world’s greatest fans for making this achievement possible.”

WARRIORS OROCHI is available for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system, Windows-based PC, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

KOEI also announced that it is bringing WARRIORS OROCHI 2 to North America. The game will be available for the Xbox 360® and PlayStation®2 in September 2008. WARRIORS OROCHI 2 is not yet concept approved by Microsoft.

Race Driver: GRID Demo – Over One Million Downloads

2008/05/21

Jerry Paxton

News

According to Codemasters, their demo for the the upcoming racer, Race Driver: GRID, has been downloaded over one million times for on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC platforms. The racer will be released on June 3rd in North America and May 30th in PAL territories. Aside from the original Xbox 360, PS3, and PC releases, Codemasters is also planning a Nintendo DS version sometime later.

Official Release:
Race gaming has never been so fierce or closely fought as Codemasters® today announced that the Race Driver: GRID™ playable demo has roared past the one million downloads mark across the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows® formats since its launch on May 8th.

The Race Driver: GRID demo is now available to download from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and PLAYSTATION®Network with the Games For Windows® demo available from http://community.racedrivergrid.com/. The Fastest Final Lap Challenge is exclusive to the console editions of the demo.

Taking players to dramatic and beautifully realised race locations over three continents to compete in an exhilarating variety of racing events, Race Driver: GRID is set to launch May 30th across Europe/PAL regions and June 3rd in North America for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows with a Nintendo DS™ edition to follow.

Cities XL Point, Shoot, and Win Contest Announced

2008/05/20

Jerry Paxton

News

Monte Cristo has announced their ‘Point, Shoot, Win!’ contest for their upcoming city-builder, Cities XL, today. We got the chance to conduct an interview with the Project Director of the game which you can find here. To enter the contest, simply take a photo of a current residential building and submit it to the official forums here.

Official Release:
Monte Cristo is launching an exciting new contest today for their upcoming next-generation city-building title, CITIES XL?. In the new ‘Point, Shoot ? Win!’ contest, you need only submit a photo of a current residential building to the forums at www.citiesxl.com to enter. Starting on May 28, members of the CITIES XL? community will begin voting on the submitted images, with three winners being announced on June 10. The winning entries will be included in the final version of CITIES XL? when the game goes on sale in 2009.

Only images of residential structures (homes, apartment buildings, etc.) may be submitted, and no trademarked buildings, monuments or other current intellectual properties may be entered into the contest. Before submitting a photo, please read the complete rules and submission guidelines at www.citiesxl.com. Grab your camera, as a building you choose (or maybe even your own home) could be included in CITIES XL?.