Demigod 1.1 update download coming sometime today
After dealing with big multiplayer online networking issues for the first month, the team at developer Gas Powered Games is set to release its first gameplay patch for their recent RTS title Demigod. The patch is set to be made available to download later today via Stardock’s Impulse client. The patch will include new features such as improved computer AI, a random Demigod feature and more.
In a message board post, Stardock CEO Brad Wardell stated that they are already looking ahead to patch 1.2 which will include native modding support, clan support and robust replay support. He also has a wish list of what he would like to add to the game in the future (more demigods, more maps, new favor items, etc) but ultimately it will be up to strong continued sales of Demigod for those plans to come to fruition.
Gallery: Demigod
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/24/demigod-1-1-update-coming-sometime-today/
Booth models that play games? Yep
When we and other web sites post up galleries of booth models for events such as E3 2009, it’s always assumed that the models are there just for eye candy. Surely the babes know nothing about the products they are trying to sell, right? Well, not necessarily. CNBC’s web site has a feature on a booth model agency that prides itself on hiring models that also happen to be gamers.
The agency, Charisma+2, was founded in 2008 by Yvonna Lynn (pictured above) who felt there was a niche to be filled by creating a company of models for events like E3, Comic-Con, QuakeCon and others. It can also be a way to break into the game industry. Lynn states, “”The main idea is to help these guys and girls get their foot into the door in an industry they normally would not have access to That’s especially true with the ladies, because this is such a hard industry for women to break into.”
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/24/booth-models-that-play-games-yep/
Dawn of War II map editor coming in next DLC update
Relic announced a few days ago plans to release a major update for their sci-fi RTS game Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II. At the time Relic revealed plans for eight new maps, a new observer mode and unit balance changes. Today they revealed that the update will also include the game’s official map editor.
That means anyone will be able to create their own multiplayer maps for Dawn of War II. Players will also get a sample map and documentation for the map editor which will support the creation of levels for two, four or six players. The update, which will be released until the title “There Is Only War” is due out in early July.
Gallery: Warhammer 40,000 Dawn Of War 2
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/24/dawn-of-war-ii-map-editor-coming-in-next-dlc-update/
New Cities XL beta test begins
A promised a few days ago, Monte Cristo has now launched a new closed beta test for their upcoming urban city simulation-MMO Cities XL. People who have already been invited to the beta can go ahead and download their copy and other beta keys are being given out at various web sites.
The beta has both the single player campaign as well as the MMO features where players act as “mayors” of their city and trade with other player cities and even team up to build larger structures. The game is set for a 2009 release in Europe but there’s still no word on a US release. Check out the game’s beta system requirements after the jump:
Gallery: Cities XL
Minimal Configuraton
Desktop
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.5 GHz and AMD equivalent or higher
RAM: 1 Go (XP), 1.5 Go (Vista)
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 6600GT / ATI Radeon X1600 or higher (256 Mo video memory minimum
Laptop
Platform: Intel Centrino 2 with Intel graphics chip
RAM: 1.5 Go(XP), 2.5 Go (Vista)
All Support
Sound: DirectX compatible
DVD ROM: 2x
Hard Drive: 8 Gb Free
OS: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 or Microsoft Windows Vista SP1
DirectX: 9.0c
Recommended Configuration
Desktop
Processor: Intel Core 2 or higher RAM 1.5 Go (XP), 2 Go (Vista)
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3850 or higher (512 Mo video memory minimum)
Laptop
Platform: Intel Centrino 2 w/ nVidia or ATI GPU w/ 512 MB VRAM
RAM: 1.5 Go (XP), 2.5 Go (Vista)
All Support
Sound: DirectX compatible
DVD ROM: 2x
Hard Drive: 8 Gb Free
OS: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 or Microsoft Windows Vista SP1
DirectX: 9.0
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/17/new-cities-xl-beta-test-begins/
Dragon Age: Origins PC hardware specs revealed
We still have to wait until October 20 to get the game, but Electronic Arts and BioWare is apparently ready to reveal the PC system requirement specs for their long awaited fantasy RPG Dragon Age: Origins. A post on the game’s official web site has revealed those specs for Windows XP and Windows Vista so now folks have an idea if their gaming PC rig can run the game when it ships to stores. There’s no word yet on Windows 7 specs which will be released two days after Dragon Age: Origins. Check out the hardware requirements after the jump:
Gallery: Dragon Age Origins
Windows XP Minimum Specifications
OS: Windows XP with SP3
CPU: Intel Core 2 (or equivalent) running at 1.4Ghz or greater
AMD X2 (or equivalent) running at 1.8Ghz or greater
RAM: 1GB or more
Video: ATI Radeon X850 128MB or greater
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB or greater
DVD ROM (Physical copy)
20 GB HD space
Windows Vista Minimum Specifications
OS: Windows Vista with SP1
CPU: Intel Core 2 (or equivalent) running at 1.6Ghz or greater
AMD X2 (or equivalent) running at 2.2GHZ or greater
RAM: 1.5 GB or more
Video: ATI Radeon X1550 256MB or greater
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB or greater
DVD ROM (Physical copy)
20 GB HD space
Recommended Specifications
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz Processor or equivalent
RAM: 4 GB (Vista) or 2 GB (XP)
Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
DVD ROM (Physical copy)
20 GB HD space
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/17/dragon-age-origins-pc-hardware-specs-revealed/
Atari and Threewave comment on lack of multiplayer in PC Ghostbusters
Gamers were upset when it was learned a few days ago that the PC version of Ghostbusters would lack the multiplayer features that its Xbox 360 and PS2 counterparts have. We asked the game’s publisher Atari for comment on this issue and they sent over a response from Dan Irish, the CEO of the game’s multiplayer developer Threewave Software:
Multiplayer for the PC version of Ghostbusters is something that Threewave and Terminal Reality always wanted to do. However, our focus was on making the console version the best that they could be - an experience that allows multiple players to re-live and re-fight many of the themes from the movies. When we looked at the resources necessary to pull off multiplayer on the consoles and the PC, it became a question of what could we do and still be excellent in our execution. We couldn’t do all versions with multiplayer simultaneously with the resources that we had available - there was simply too much to do. Something would have to suffer. Therefore, we kept our focus on making the console versions deliver on the promise of being an integral player on the Ghostbusters team.
We have yet to receive a response to our other question on if Atari plans to add multiplayer support for the PC version of Ghostbusters via a patch.
Gallery: Ghostbusters
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/17/atari-and-threewave-comment-on-lack-of-multiplayer-in-pc-ghostbu/
Other Sega Aliens games still alive in some form
Earlier this year rumors hit the Internet that Sega had decided to put two game projects based on the Aliens movie franchise on hold in favor of a new Aliens Vs Predator title. Now comes word that both games are still in production but question remain about one of them.
Kotaku reports that Gearbox Software is still working on their FPS Aliens: Colonial Marines. However the title, which was first announced three years ago, won’t be released in 2009. Meanwhile while our sister site Joystiq is reporting that the other Aliens title, under the code name Aliens RPG, is still in development according to Sega questions remain as to whether the game’s announced developer, Obsidian Entertainment, is still working on the project.
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/15/other-sega-aliens-games-still-alive-in-some-form/
Midway’s UK development team fights for its life
Several weeks ago Midway announced plans to hold an auction to buy their assets and development studios. They already have a $33 million bid from Warner Bros. Interactive for their Chicago and Seattle based developers and the Mortal Kombat game property. However the same cannot be said of Midway’s San Diego and UK based offices.
With a deadline looming, the UK based developer, Midway Newcastle, has decided to make a last minute attempt to get publishers to get interested in their team. Develop reveals the details on their new open world action game called Necessary Force. The developer has even launched a web site for the game containing a teaser trailer. The game itself is about a play-by-his-own-rules style of detective but studio head Craig Duncan insists ” . . we don’t think anyone’s managed to capture the essence of those choices and consequences in games.”
Will these actions be enough to get someone interested in keeping the team alive? It’s certainly an interesting way of setting themselves out from the crowd.
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/16/midways-uk-development-team-fights-for-its-life/
E3 2009: Game Critics Awards reveals their Best of E3 2009 nominees
Even though we have mentioned that the idea of a standard awards set-up for E3 is like giving a movie after showing a two minute trailer, a group of both mainstream and gaming enthusiast media have once again gathered to give their picks for the 2009 edition of the show.
The biggest award for “Best In Show” has three games slated for the PC in the list (Mass Effect 2, Modern Warfare 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction). In the specific Best PC Game category the nods went to DC Universe Online, Dragon Age: Origins, Left 4 Dead 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Supreme Commander 2. Check out the web site for all of the categories and nominated games; the winners will be announced a week from today.
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/16/e3-2009-game-critics-awards-reveals-their-best-of-e3-2009-nomin/
Left 4 Dead box art required thumb biting?
We are not sure if Valve is just pulling our finger (pun intended) but in their latest blog post on the Left 4 Dead site they talk about how they created the image of the four fingered hand for the box cover to their zombie co-op shooter. Valve didn’t want to use Photoshop so they got one of their artists, Andrea Wicklund, to bite her thumb for reference pictures.
Valve then claims the ESRB ratings board didn’t care for that kind of dedication to the art, saying they “cited some fake-sounding legal loophole about it being illegal to take pictures of people biting off parts of their hands.” For the upcoming sequel Left 4 Dead 2 Valve says they simply tucked in two fingers for the box design (which you can see after the jump). Valve does say ” . . .it took lopping the fingers off two staff members’ hands to get the lighting reference perfect, but since those didn’t appear on the box, we think we’re legally in the clear.” We think they are joking.
Gallery: Left 4 Dead
Go to Source: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/06/16/left-4-dead-box-art-required-thumb-biting/
