The PC Spotlight 10.30.08
Posted by Chris Vicari on 10.30.2008
Stardock developing their own form of DRM, Old Republic looks to dethrone WoW, World at War multiplayer beta has arrived, and more.
Hey everyone, welcome back to another Thursday with the PC Spotlight. There are some good bits of news for you guys this week and I'm sure we're all enjoying Fallout 3 and Red Alert 3, both of which have received stellar reviews from both critics and players alike. And just yesterday, the new Penny Arcade game was released. While nothing of note hits shelves in the upcoming week, the new Call of Duty game and the WoW expansion make their debuts the week after.
Stardock developing non-DRM security technology for PC Games Story bits courtesy of Edge Online
PC publisher Stardock Inc., supporter of the critically-acclaimed Sins of a Solar Empire game, is currently hard at work developing a non-intrusive copyright protection program for PC games.
Citing an interview with CEO Brad Wardell, Edge Online reports that Stardock is developing the solution for other publishers. You may remember when Wardell, along with Gas Powered Games head Chris Taylor, famously known for Total Annihilation, Supreme Commander, and Dungeon Siege, released the controversial Gamers Bill of Rights during PAX 2008. It's apparent now that Wardell isn't stopping there.
"While Stardock doesn't put copy protection on its retail games, the fact is that most publishers are never going to agree to do that. So the publishers are telling us, 'Put your money where your mouth is. Why don't you guys develop something that you think is suitable that would protect our IP, but would be more acceptable to users?'
We're investigating what would make users happy to protect their needs, but also provide some security for the publishers. ... We're actually developing a technology that would do that."
Wardell refuses to coin his new project as DRM though:
"The problem with 'DRM' is that it's so loosely defined... Stardock's products use activation, and I wouldn't say that it's DRM. We're just verifying if you're real customer... We want that [game user] license to be yours, not per machine... It's not your machine buying the game. It's you...
Publishers should have the right to be stupid [about DRM] if they want. That's their right. And it's the right of the consumer to choose not to buy."
Damn straight. I'm very intrigued to see what Stardock can cook up. Can it be the savior of the whole DRM/pirating debacle? Let's hope so.
Hellgate: London shutting down on January 31
Barely a year after the game's release last Halloween, Namco Bandai confirmed on Oct. 24 that the ill-fated action-RPG will be shutting down at the end of January. Ironically, January marks the game's 15th month-long lifespan, and if you payed monthly since the beginning, the monthly fees equate to $150 which equals the cost of a pre-order Founder's fee. How about that?
This news should be of no surprise to anyone who has followed the game since July when Flagship underwent severe layoffs, costing the company most of its staff. Blame rests on post-launch bugs, the pay-to-play scheme and lofty yet impossible to meet expectations. While Hellgate's demise is certain, the future of Flagship's side project, Mythos, is anything but. There has been no word yet one way or another.
Far Cry 2 and Antivirus Grisoft (AVG) software don't mix
There have been unconfirmed reports floating about the internet and the Ubisoft forums that when installing Far Cry 2 onto a system protected by AVG, a Trojan virus is detected. After doing a little research, it turns out to be nothing more than a false positive, unless of course you're installing a pirated copy of the game. Apparently, SecuRom and AVG aren't on good terms with one another. Solutions? Simply disable AVG when attempting to install or update the game.
Star Wars: The Old Republic aims to dethrone WoW, but I don't see that happening
Whenever a new MMO hits the scene, you can be sure that someone on the Dev team or the company itself will outright claim that their game will dethrone the WoW juggernaut. This has yet to happen, but this didn't stop EA and LucasArts from making their ballsy little claim. They have set their eyes on the competition and in an interview with Videogaming247, president of the EA Games Label Frank Gibeau, divulged his company's confidence.
"We have very high expectations for this," said Gibeau. "Just look at the base of Star Wars fans, plus what BioWare can do. Trust me: we want to win. EA's reputation is for wanting to win. This is going to be a powerful category and there's lots of ways to compete in this category. [Blizzard] created a much larger opportunity for everybody else, but that doesn't mean it's going to stay that way."
While Gibeau may think Old Republic is their golden ticket to the top-spot, this three-company "partnership" has quite a few disadvantages. Here's why I think the crown will not change hands:
1. EA has a horrible track record with MMOs, not counting Warhammer and Dark Age of Camelot, which are developed by Mythic. Ultima Online, Motor City Online, Earth and Beyond, and The Sims Online have all been mishandled by the company and are either canceled or in the toilet.
2. LucasArts and Star Wars Galaxies, need I say more? Maybe they've learned from their mistakes though.
3. Bioware has zero experience developing online games and I wonder if they will be able to deliver the game as advertised. Perhaps Mythic will throw them a few pointers.
Two companies, that are notorious for fuxxing up their MMOs, and another with no experience in the genre. My hopes aren't as high as Gibeau's. Of course, all of my "evidence" is trounced by the fact that this game is far too off to tell one way or another. We'll see what happens though.
Grand Theft Auto 4 release pushed back?
For those of us waiting on the PC release of GTA4, it seems we may have to wait a little longer. According to Joystiq, online retailers are now listing the PC game for December 2, two weeks after the original release date of November 18. Rockstar has yet to confirm if this new date is solid, so we may be able to see it in November after all.
Warhammer prepares for first in-game event Story courtesy of Warhammer press release, shortened
This Halloween, the armies in Warhammer Online have a new threat to contend with as the Witching Night descends upon the land. Beginning on October 29, players can take part in WAR's first-ever live in-game event and tackle four new Public Quests, along with a host of other frightening new content to earn special, seasonal rewards including rare costume masks, unique titles, potions, trinkets, and special, event-only cloaks. Some of these unique rewards can be looted from the corpses of enemy players during Realm vs. Realm play, so the combatants of WAR are urged to do their duty this Witching Night and continue their assault on the opposing Realm!
Good luck to them and I hope the their first event is a good one.
Call of Duty: World at War Multiplayer Beta now available! Sign up to play today!
Last week, Activision and Treyarch announced the details on how to sign up for the multiplayer beta and now it's ready to go. If you haven't signed up yet, head on over the game's official website and get your key. Once that is all situated, head on over to Filefront, or just click the picture below to download the installer. See you in there soldier!
Oh yea, here are some specifics about the beta:
• The beta gives you and service providers the option of hosting your own servers; however, dedicated servers will be Windows only for the duration of the beta. According to the website: "GSP's will be able to sell beta servers and put up as many dedicated servers as they'd like. All of this will function as if it were a regular multiplayer game."
• Registered users will receive a special key that will allow them to create a profile name and play the beta. This offer also includes people who sign up after the beta has already started.
• Your globally unique user name will be very important, because for the first time ever the PC version will be incorporating invites and your friends list so that the squad mechanics will work just like the console versions. Clan tags can also be added as a prefix.
• Just like with the Xbox 360 version of the Beta, all accounts, experience and friends lists will be deleted after the beta is concluded.
Digital release of F.E.A.R. 2 in conjunction with retail release Shortened press release
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution announced yesterday that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin will be available for digital download via partners in North America in conjunction with the game's retail release. The game will be available through IGN Entertainment's digital retail store, Direct2Drive, and Steam.
"More and more gamers are taking advantage of digital distribution to access videogames," said Thomas Gewecke, President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "Digital distribution is going to be an important facet of the gaming world and we are glad to be a part of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's efforts to offer additional, convenient, and flexible options for players."
Developed by Warner Bros. Entertainment's Monolith Productions for the Xbox 360, PC and the PlayStation 3, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin fans will be able to get a hold of the game on February 10, 2009.
Pre-ordering Left 4 Dead gives you first chance to play demo Story courtesy of Ramon Aranda
Valve has announced a special promotion granting those who pre-order Left 4 Dead early access to the official demo.
Early access begins Thursday, November 6 on both the Xbox 360 and PC. This pre-order promotion applies to all Steam PC pre-orders and all Xbox 360 and Windows-based PC pre-orders from participating retailers in North America. The demo will feature single player and co-operative modes, supporting 1 to 4 player games.
On November 11 the demo will be made available to all Xbox 360 and PC owners, with no obligation to purchase. The demo concludes on November 18, when Left 4 Dead will be made available at retail outlets across North America and worldwide via Steam.
Don't forget that pre-ordering the game yields a 10% discount off the retail price.
Official White-Wolf fan club and EVE: Online community raises $4,000 for Get-Well Gamers charity Story courtesy of Gamepolitics.com, minus the errors, and the Get-Well Gamers Foundation
A press release issued this past Wednesday morning by the Get-Well Gamers Foundation reports that the official fan club of White-Wolf, The Camarilla, raised $4,000 for the charity by holding silent auctions and raffles of donated items during gatherings, namely CCP's Fanfest.
CCP exec Val Massey commented on the donation:
"The generosity of The Camarilla continues to amaze us. It's entirely to their credit that this donation was made possible. Get-Well Gamers is such a worthy cause and we are in awe of their tireless efforts to bring some much-needed fun to young people who need it most. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to act as a conduit to connect these two incredible groups."
GWG president (and longtime GP community member) Ryan Sharpe praised the EVE Online community:
"Given the recent economic climate, especially in Iceland where CCP calls home, this is a particularly poignant donation. We cannot begin to thank CCP, White Wolf and The Caramilla for their generous support of Get-Well Gamers and other worthy causes. They truly show how online communities can be used as a force for good."
The Get-Well Gamers Foundation accepts donated console games and equipment as well as hand-held systems and the games which it then re-distributes to children's hospitals. Donations are tax-deductible.
Dead Space sequel already announced?
It hasn't even been a month since the game's initial release and EA is already hinting at a sequel. In an interview with Variety magazine, EA Redwood Shores studio general manager Glenn Schofield made it abundantly clear that the franchise will see at least one more installment, and production is already underway.
That's it for the news
Pre-Purchase Opportunities Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009 - $29.99
- Receive a voucher for 10% off at Subside Sports Available on Nov 14 Football Manager 2009 - $34.99/$39.99/$49.99/$54.99/$59.99
- Receive a voucher for 10% off at Subside Sports Available on Nov 14 Left 4 Dead - $44.99, regular $49.99 (10%) Available on Nov 18 Empire: Total War - $49.99/$54.99 Free copy of Rome: Total War Gold, Available on Feb 3
Thanks for reading everyone and have a safe and fun-filled Halloween!
