Author - Jerry Paxton

Crysis 2 DirectX 11 Ultra Upgrade Out Now

Crytek has released their highly-awaited DirectX 11 update as well as Patch 1.9 and the optional High-Rez texture pack for Crysis 2 on the Windows PC platform. Also, checkout the DirectX 11 trailer, just released today, after the jump!

Patch Notes

v1.9 Changes

  • Added Contact Shadows
  • Added DX11 benchmark level
  • Added DX11 support for Crysis 2 (the following features only work when downloading the optional DX11 package):
    • Tessellation + Displacement Mapping
    • High Quality HDR Motion Blur
    • Realistic Shadows with Variable Penumbra
    • Sprite Based Bokeh Depth of Field
    • Parallax Occlusion Mapping
    • Particles Motion Blur, Shadows and Art Updates
    • Water Rendering improvements and using Tessellation + Displacement Mapping
  • Added Realtime Local Reflections
  • Added support for Higher Res Textures Package
  • Added various new console variables to whitelist
  • Fixed bullet penetration, which had been broken by a bug introduced with the DLC 2 patch
  • Fixed issue in MP where player stats weren’t always saved at the end of a game
  • Fixed issue in MP where player stats would sometimes randomly reset
  • Fixed issue with MP time played statistic, which would sometimes be too low on leaderboards and in stats
  • Fixed issue with JAW rocket not firing through window’s containing broken glass
  • Fixed rare issue where a user could not access MP with a valid CD key if they had previously used an invalid CD key
  • Improved advanced graphics options menu
  • Improved anti-cheat measurements: fixed exploit which could prevent vote kicking working against a user
  • Improved multi-GPU support
  • Improved Tone Mapping
  • Re-added possibility to enable r_StereoSupportAMD via config file (unsupported)

Download Links

Nvidia

Worthplaying

Trailer

FEAR 3 Tips & Tricks from Day 1 Studios

FEAR 3 developers, Day 1 Studios, have released a 2 page-long tips & tricks sheet for their new horror-shooter, FEAR 3.

 

Tips and Tricks

1.    Maximize your score by fulfilling multiple challenge requirements, playing on higher difficulties, and completing each level as fast as you can.  Use your special abilities often and combine the challenges to make sure you maximize each kill.

2.    Exploration is crucial – search each level extensively for hidden ammo caches, psychic link bodies, and the all-important Alma doll.  The psychic links and Alma dolls appear in random locations, so make sure you fully explore on each playthrough.

3.    When playing co-op, psychic links can be shared or stolen.  If you’re looking to set an individual high score, steal them.  If you want to set a team high score, share them.  Even though you only get 750 points for psychic links, since you both receive the reward it adds a total of 1,500 to your team score.

4.    Ranking-up improves various stats including things like ammo capacity, health, and slow-mo. Maximizing your Rank is essential to play on the Insane difficulty.  Replaying a level with a higher rank also makes it easier to set a high score and compete for the top position on the leaderboards.

5.    The ranks are determined by your total score and the perks are universal in main campaign, co-op, and multiplayer.  If you are having trouble in one mode, go spend some time in another to rank up and then try again.

6.    The Arc Beam weapon reflects off of walls and floors to hit nearby enemies, and can hit more than one at a time – very useful when Armacham Soldiers are hiding behind cover.

7.    The Phase Caster is one of the toughest enemies in F.E.A.R. 3.  Make sure you kill him as soon as possible.  The Phase Caster will keep calling in reinforcements as you take them out.

8.    The Scavengers can be difficult for Fettel to defeat.  One method to quickly dispatch them is to levitate the enemy, get close, and push melee for the instant kill.  At the same time, if there are multiple Scavengers, you can always suspend one while killing another with the stun blast.

9.    In multiplayer mode ‘F**king Run!,’ sending a teammate ahead with a Riot Shield is a good way to add an extra layer of protection to the rest of the team.

10.    Also in ‘F**king Run!’ multiplayer mode, the slide tackle is your strongest asset.  Not only does it keep you moving forward, but it also takes out enemies.

11.    Plan ahead when playing multiplayer mode ‘Contractions.’ Storing all of your ammo on the top level of your safe house will take longer, but pays off in later waves.

12.    Don’t try to stay in one body when playing multiplayer mode ‘Soul King.’ Body to body possession is a strategic part of the mode.  You can escape other players by jumping from body to body across large portions of the maps.  If you’re going to die, possess a new body with full health.  If you see an enemy getting the drop on the competitor, possess it and get the kill.

13.    Multiplayer mode ‘Soul King’ is designed to be competitive all the way until the end.  The last 30 seconds of each round are the most hectic and critical. You should try to stay in second or third place so that you can sweep in for victory in the closing seconds of the round by killing the King.

14.    In multiplayer mode ‘Soul Survivor,’ getting a kill while in Last Stand will revive you.  However, ammo is limited, so try not to use your Last Stand handgun ammo unless absolutely necessary. Have squad members revive you whenever possible.

15.    The “We’ll Try Again Tomorrow” achievement / trophy is easiest to get in the first 3 waves of The Commute multiplayer map.

F1 2011 Developer Diary #1

Codemasters Birmingham studio has released the first developer diary for F1 2011, which is due out on September 23, 2011.

The first developer diary features work-in-progress gameplay footage from the game as key talent in the development team explain how F1 2011 will be “a far more complete package this time around.”  Stephen Hood, Chief Games Designer says, “This is the next step for us and we keep pushing forward.  Some people think it’s just about updating the teams and drivers and you just ship the next game out.  It’s nothing like that at all.  There’s a stack of new stuff in there.”

GamingShogun Podcast 1

Here it is, the second first ever GamingShogun.com podcast! Each weekend we plan to give you a  brief rundown of the week’s geek and videogame news as well as a healthy dose of geek-chat. So, enjoy, and please let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments below!

 

PodCast Uber-Player

[podcast]http://GamingShogun.com/GS-podcast-1.mp3[/podcast]

Runtime: About a half hour.

Le Tour de France Official Site Launched

Would-be cycling managers take note – Focus Home Interactive has launched the official website for their upcoming Le Tour de France on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms. Additionally, Focus Home Interactive sent out a reminder that the game will be released on July 1.

Official Site

Screenshots

Wasteland Angel Teaser Trailer + Screenshots

Meridian4 has released the first teaser trailer and screenshots from their upcoming post-apocalyptic actioner, Wasteland Angel. The game is due out this Summer on the Windows PC platform.

Screenshots

Battlefield Heroes Extraordinary Heroes Trailer


Electronic Arts has released a new “Extraordinary Heroes” trailer celebrating the Summer of Heroes campaign for online shooter, Battlefield Heroes. The Summer of Heroes will see bonuses for veteran players as well as new character packs and bonuses for new players to the game.

Anarchy Online Turns 10

Funcom has announced that sci-fi MMO, Anarchy Online, will turn 10 years old on June 27, 2011. The developer has announced that they will be celebrating this milestone with special raids, new in-game vehicles, and even an in-game developer party/concert.

When Anarchy Online launched ten years ago nobody would have predicted where it would go, and that we would even see this day are all thanks to the dedication of our players and our community”, says Colin Cragg, Game Director on Anarchy Online. “I have so many fond memories from the years with Anarchy Online, and there are so many people to thank. The span of time and the way our world has touched the lives of so many is something we will always cherish. The fact that the kids of couples who met in AO are now playing our game says it all. I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of Anarchy Online, and can’t wait to see what the future holds in store for us all.”

 

ArmA: Cold War Assault Announced

Bohemia Interactive has announced that their original, smash-hit wargame Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis (which was published under Codemasters) has been brought back into the fold and will be re-released on Windows PCs as ArmA: Cold War Assault. The game will be released this Summer and will also feature the game’s Resistance expansion pack.

“After all these years of continuous support and improvements we are delighted to be able to unite our lineup of military simulators for PC under the Arma brand,” says Marek Spanel, CEO of Bohemia Interactive. “This step will not only avoid potential confusion amongst users and the wider gaming public, but it will also preserve what is now a classic PC game for years to come as it could no longer be available under its original name.”

Screenshots