You heard it here first! Or maybe second. Well whatever, thats not the point. The point is that you now know. Anybody looking to get in on any new Strategy First (Disciples, Jagged Alliance, etc) games you need look no farther than the halls that GameTap built.
As of today a new contract has been signed between GameTap(TBS) and Strategy First that allows GameTap to recieve all of their games exclusively, whether its through their subscription payment plan, pay per download model, or both.
For those that didn’t know, Stategy First and GameTap have always had a very good relationship. Most, if not all, of Strategy First’s games are on GameTap now. For what its worht their games are so-so. I didn’t particularly love them but they did seem to be well-made.
Check out the press release HERE.
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According to IGN, LucasArts is bringing their quasi-popular rollercoaster building sim back to the game consoles and, more importantly, the PC later this year in their second edition. For those that don’t know what Thrillville is; it’s a rollercoaster tycoon game that allows you to have a more personal interaction with your customers and allows the ability to make some truly insane rollercoasters. Seriously, you don’t even have to abide by the laws of physics if you don’t want too.
The original game never came out on the PC, which is odd because this time of game usually ONLY comes out on the PC. I just don’t see the game working or being as much fun on any other system. Good news, though, this version will be hitting our platform. Worry not, coaster-holics, you’ll be able to pick this game up sometime later this year (although don’t be surprised if it gets knocked back).
Check out the full article HERE.
The guys over at GamesRadar have just released some new screenshots and details about the upcoming mega-hit game, Fallout 3. Luckily for us, they came away pretty impressed too. The game looks and acts remarkably like Oblivion (go figure) which definitely is not a bad thing. Oblivion was a great game. Also the tutorial details were revealed. . . all I am gonna say is prepare to be born. . . again.
Aside from the aesthetics and tutorial they also revealed some more information on the V.A.T.S. system of combat. Apparently the game will act like an FPS (thank god), however, when you get enough action points you can use the V.A.T.S. system to stop time and plan out your attack, like a turn-based system. I don’t know how it will play, but I do think it will work well with the game. I am glad they went the more-FPS styled gameplay, Fallout 1-2 were great but that was 10 years ago. The game needed a fresh coat of paint, and it looks like Bethesda is giving it that. Screenshots below.
Check out the article HERE.
Gallery:
I just stumbled across what could possibly be a big piece of news for the MMO crowd. It was actually an accident and a chance visit to a website that I rarely ever visit. In any case, Flying Lab Software, developer of Pirates of the Burning Sea (a pirate MMO), has just signed a publishing contract with SOE. I know, I heard the sound of a million MMO fans die all in one scream too. But don’t worry. The developers at Flying Lab Software has made it very clear that they will still be handling the game itself, unlike what happened with Vanguard. Here’s the downlow:
Flying Lab Software
• Game Development
• Community
• Customer Support
• Server Operations
Sony Online Entertainment
• Billing
• Launcher
• Retail Distribution
• Localization
• Marketing
Sony doesn’t own PoTBS, nor do they have any power to sway what will go into the game and what will come out of it. It looks like it will be ENTIRELY a publishing only effort. Which is good because Sony isn’t exactly the most trustworthy MMO publisher/developer in the world.
Check out the article HERE.
Gallery:
Eve Online, the massively multiplayer online space adventure game, recently announced that their EVE TV has gone live. This is the very first internet television dedicated to an MMO, or so the developers tell us. The plan is to allow players to watch the very game they are obsessed with (believe me EVE players get obsessive). The once a week show will highlight massive battles, skirmishes, and contain player interviews from around the world.
The system is supposed to bring a new level of community amongst the players in EVE. Personally, I don’t see it happening that way. If that were the case then wouldn’t anybody who watched the same TV show feel as though they were part of one big community? It certainly doesn’t happen like that in real life, but despite what reality says the company behind EVE is convinced that it will. More importantly, however, they are probably hoping to drag a few more people, kicking and screaming, into their game. Everybody take a moment for our fallen comrades. . .
Check out the full article HERE.
Gallery:
There is one concurrent theme in all of the Civilization games. That one theme is you play a historical empire and you spread throughout the land to form your own country. It is a simple, yet powerful theme that has kept the game at the top spot for the strategy genre. This however, will get a bit of a mix in the next expansion: Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.
When Civilization IV first came out they had a unique and expansive game customization tool. It was pretty advanced and allowed you to make your own scenarios and such. Well one such team took that to the next level and turned Civ IV into a fantasy world full of dragons, magic, and pirates. The world was popular, probably the most popular mod for all of Civ IV. Because of this Firaxis decided to contact the team to have them add it into the next expansion pack for the game. Now here we are, eagerly anticipating more than just a new expansion from Firaxis, we are now eagerly anticipating an entirely new game sealed within called: Fall from Heaven.
This expansion is seriously getting better and better everytime I read about it.
Check out the full article HERE.
Do you remember the Gamecube game Pikmin? Ya, it wasn’t very much fun was it? I mean if you were older than 8 the entire concept was pretty much lost on you. Sure it had some neat features like controlling a horde of colourful little minions to do your work for you, but thats all they’d do. Move here, pick this up, move there, push that out of the way. *Yawn* Now imagine if you could send those pikmin to ravage and slaughter some helpless sheep. Getting better? How about if you could have a horde of em ransack a town killing everybody and bringing you all the loot? Now we are getting somewhere. . . now we are an Overlord.
I recently downloaded and played the demo for this game and believe me, it will not disappoint you. The game was beautiful, fun, and hilarious. Remember me when you get the fireball spell. REMEMBER! You’ll love it. In any case Codemasters has just recently put up the demo for the PC on their website for everybody to download. The game is a must-have on my list and I think many others as well. Go and check it out, its only 1.06gb.
Download the demo HERE.
So remember how I have always told you guys to get GameTap for its Sam and Max series? And then ditch em once you actually finish the series? Well now you don’t even have to bother. Sam & Max Season 1 is being prepped for retail this August! You can own a physical copy of your favorite dog and bunny detective duo.
In additon to the entire season you also get a bonus CD with various concepts and “behind the scenes” stuff you’d expect. This will be a must-buy for any fan of the series. Sam and Max games are a rare jewel, lets hope they don’t discontinue the franchise yet again.
Check out the full article HERE.
So remember in my previous “New PC Games this Week” blog how I said there was what looked like an X-Com clone thrown in the mix? Well it appears I was more right than ever, and whats even better is that it doesn’t look to be some shoddy half-assed attempt either. The game actually got fairly good reviews by IGN (74/100).
The game looks like a fully realized 3D version of the classic X-Com game and from what I read in the review it plays fairly well too. Anybody who loves the X-Com classic PC games is sure to love this one. I’ll probably be picking this one up for the weekend.
Check out the full review HERE.
P.S. I love being right.
Aww the Sims. I remember when the game first came out, it revolutionized the strategy sim genre as we know it. No more were people bound to virtual pets and tomagatchis (or whatever they were called). With the inception of the Sims game came the inception of being able to live a virtual life. You could be who you wanted and work where you wanted and, given time, you could buy and build what you wanted. It’s no wonder that the game achieved national and international popularity. I can still hear their funny little language in my head today. . .
Now call me old fashioned, but upon hearing that 20th Century Fox picked up the movie rights to this game got me thinking, how will they incorporate that language into the movie? On one hand its an integral part of what made the Sims the Sims and on the other hand nobody will understand what they are saying because its not a real language. And then there is the other thing about the Sims that made it so unique…that being that you are supposed to control your own character and live your own virtual life, something that can not be transferred over into the movie format.
Needless to say there are a lot of issues need to be hammered out and I am not sure if it can be done. It should be an interesting watch anyways.
Read the full article HERE.
