World / Computer Games
Original Civilization Could Have Been Quite Different
12.03.2010 12:13
shacknews.com
In his keynote address at GDC 2010, Sid Meier discussed a few prototype designs for the original Civilization. If these had made it into the final game, the series--and gaming history as we know it--might be very different from what we know and love. Sid Meier's Civilization V Originally, Meier designed Civ as a real-time game. Taking inspiration from SimCity, he wanted to have a player's civilization grow around them. In actuality, players became observers. The mantra was "it's good to be king," but this wasn't coming across in real-time. Then, the game switched to a turn-based design and the "lights flicked on". For a game that has si...
World
Computer Games
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Media Builds Up The Architect
12.03.2010 12:13
shacknews.com
BioWare has released new Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening screenshots and a trailer showing the fantasy RPG's expansion pack villainous Architect, a scheming intelligent Darkspawn. "The Architect is the first darkspawn to develop a will of his own," BioWare explains, "an unusual outcast who seems not to be subject to the call of the Old Gods, nor to the other darkspawn compulsions." How should adventurers approach such a being? Bioware advises that "treating him as anything other than what he is--a darkspawn--would be folly." They probably know what they're talking about. The $40 expansion pack will hit PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in North America on March 16, then March 19 in Europe. As to the franchise's fate after that, we know there's a
World
Computer Games
BioShock 2 MP DLC Already on Disc; 2K Explains
12.03.2010 12:13
shacknews.com
The first piece of publisher 2K's "aggressive post-launch downloadable content plan" for BioShock 2 arrived yesterday, adding some new multiplayer characters, weapon upgrades and a higher rank cap in exchange for 400 Microsoft Points / $4.99. Yes, Louie McGraff has been locked away. You'll need to pay bail to get him out. However, buyers quickly noticed that the download itself was extremely small--23KB on PC, 108KB on Xbox 360 and 103KB on PlayStation 3--suggesting that the download wasn't adding new content, but rather unlocking content already on the game disc. That suspicion was quick...
World
Computer Games
Game Developers Choice Award Winners Named; Uncharted 2 Wins Big
12.03.2010 10:16
shacknews.com
In a double-whammy of awarding goodness, the winners of the tenth annual Game Developers Choice Awards were revealed yesterday evening at Game Developers Conference 2010 following the twelfth annual Independent Games Festival Awards. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and 'Best Debut Game' Torchlight This time around, winners were selected by "a new invitation-only group comprised of 500 leading game creators from all parts of the video game industry" known as the International Choice Awards Network--a departure from previous years, in which "each award [was] decided by thousands of votes from game professio...
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Computer Games
Independent Games Festival Winners Revealed, Co-op Crime Game 'Monaco' Swipes Grand Prize
12.03.2010 10:16
shacknews.com
The "4-player co-op crime caper" Monaco has made off with the Grand Prize in the 2010 Independent Games Festival after the winners were named during GDC yesterday. Other winners include S2 Games' RTS-RPG Heroes of Newerth, puzzle platformer Max & the Magic Maker and the iPhone game Spider: The Secret Of Bryce Manor. All awards come with a $2,500 prize except for the Vision award sponsored by digital distributor Direct2Drive and the Grand Prize, which offer $10,000 and $20,000 respectively.
World
Computer Games
Rob Pardo on Blizzard's Success and Failures
12.03.2010 10:16
shacknews.com
During his Game Developers Conference 2010 presentation, titled "Making a Standard (and Trying to Stick to it!): Blizzard Design Philosophies", Blizzard executive vice president of game design Rob Pardo discussed the company's past games and examined some of the successes and failures within these games. The talk was obviously geared toward game developers, but I found it incredibly interesting to hear a Blizzard executive's opinion on which systems and game features were successes or failures. Additionally, past failures helped the company make improvements in a later game. Diablo III U...
World
Computer Games
Brink Cinematic Trailer Will Blow You Away
12.03.2010 08:24
shacknews.com
A new cinematic Brink trailer by CGI wizards Blur might not be representative of Enemy Territory developer Splash Damage's class-based shooter but it is very attractive. Brink is scheduled for a PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 release this fall, published by Bethesda. To see the actual game, check out last year's trio of gameplay trailers. [video]17562[/video] Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.
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Computer Games
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Announced
12.03.2010 08:24
shacknews.com
Telltale Games has revealed that the mysterious Sam & Max project it had teased last year is indeed a third season of the episodic adventure game series, titled 'The Devil's Playhouse.' 'The Penzal Zone, the first of the season's five monthly episodes, will arrive on April 15 to kick off a tale where "Max has been bestowed with a set of powerful psychic abilities from an unusual ancient source that he'll wield against the strongest and strangest foes the Freelance Police have ever faced." "Telltale continues to excel at channeling Sam & Max's extremely peculiar sensibilities," said Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell in a press statement. "For each subsequent season they somehow manage to toss ever more mind-addling scenarios...
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Computer Games
Deus Ex 3 Trailer Introduces Human Revolution
12.03.2010 08:24
shacknews.com
Deus Ex 3 is now officially named Deus Ex: Human Revolution, developer Eidos Montreal revealed during GDC yesterday with a swish new cinematic trailer. The trailer--created with Square Enix--revels in the prequel's cyberpunk and Renaissance themes and gives a look at some swish augmentations and tech. There's still no word of a release date for Deus Ex: Human Revolution--originally due in late 2009--or confirmation of platforms beyond PC, though PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 editions are expected. We might find out in June, as more details are promised at E3. [video]17559[/video] Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.
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Computer Games
Morning Discussion
12.03.2010 08:24
shacknews.com
Friday already? Fabulous. Finally enough time to give our GDC 2010 coverage a proper read. Now get out of here! Can't you see we don't want you anymore? Why can't you go back where you came from? Now, leave us alone! Go. Go!
World
Computer Games
Free Grand National Content Now Available For Your Website
12.03.2010 06:39
prweb.com
The Grand National is one of the UK's biggest sporting events and is the most famous horse race in the world. It is anticipated that, in 2010, it will be watched by over 8 million viewers in the UK alone and that figure will rise to close to a billion worldwide, primarily due to its broadcasting in China. www.grand-national.me.uk has developed a suite of free content that webmasters can use to tap into this massive audience online. (PRWeb Mar 12, 2010) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/grand/national/prweb3710344.htm
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