The PC Spotlight 11.13.08
Posted by Chris Vicari on 11.13.2008
7-Eleven dismisses release date again, CCP makes multiple headlines, more corporate take-over, WTF news, and much more.
Heya, welcome to yet another Thursday with The PC Spotlight. I've been busying myself with the Left 4 Dead demo, which I've played non-stop all week so far. If you haven't played it yet, do yourself a favor and do so, it's one of the best games I've played in some time. In regards to PC releases, I'm sure all the WoW junkies are enjoying their new expansion, so have fun raiding and pvping in the new content. Also the new Call of Duty game recently hit shelves so go kill some Nazis. There's a lot of good news for the PC market this week, as well as a few bits that are just downright unexpected. In any case, let Mortal Kombat begin!
Pardon the lack of custom pictures this week. My computer ran into some trouble over the weekend and I was forced to wipe it, leaving me without Photoshop at the moment. Perhaps next week I'll be able to show off my phenomenal
The CCP News Hour equals more EVE news
Icelandic developer CCP, known for its award-winning EVE: Online MMO, has garnered quite a few headlines this week. Three stories are below.
For those unfamiliar with the game, EVE Online is a player-driven persistent-world massively multiplayer online game set in space. Players pilot customizable ships through a universe comprising over five thousand solar systems. Players are able to participate in any number of in-game professions and activities, including mining, manufacturing, trade and combat – both PVE and PVP. The range of activities available to the player is facilitated by a character advancement system based upon training skills in real time, even while not logged in to the game.
Thank you Wikipedia.
CCP working on EVE Online FPS for consoles Story courtesy of Eurogamer
At CCP's annual fanfest this year, CEO Hilmar Petursson and senior producer Nathan Richardsson showcased some new game footage portraying "a Halo-like shooter on a daylit, Earth-like planet surface. The architecture and gun designs were clearly redolent of the space MMO's art style." Both execs explained CCP's current focus on EVE's next expansion, which is due in March, but said they still had a "game console strategy." Supposedly, the game is coming for the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, but not anytime soon.
I'm not too sure about this idea. While I am a big fan of the MMO, trying to make an FPS out of it feels like money grabbing. Also, the game will probably have a lot of competition when it eventually comes out, and it isn't exactly a good idea to rely on one product when you have little or no experience producing a game in that genre either.
Atari to distribute EVE Online MMO to shelves, all expansions included
Atari and its parent company Infogrames have had a fairly busy year, but it doesn't look like the two companies are stopping anytime soon. At CCP's annual fanfest this year, it was announced that Atari is partnering up with the EVE Online developer to help bring the game to store shelves, as EVE is currently only available through digital distribution.
I'm not exactly sure why CCP all of a sudden decides to bring the game to stores five years after it came out, but whatever I guess. If you want to play it now, just go download it from their Web site: www.eve-online.com. 14-day free trial included along with every expansion, since they are always free.
Quantum Rise expansion goes off without a hitch
This past Tuesday, EVE Online servers were taken down to update the game with its latest expansion, Quantum Rise. Hours later, the servers were back up and players started pouring in. It was one of the smoothest updates the game has experienced thus far, and with it came many highly-debated changes which were hot topics for nearly half a year. Major changes include: Use of new technology such as StacklessIO and EVE64 making the game virtually lag free, ship speed rebalancing – the hottest topic of all, a new capital industrial ship, graphic updates, and much more.
The next expansion for the game is due out in March, and will of course remain free.
Codemasters Online & NetDevil announced on Monday that beta signups for the upcoming space combat MMO, Jumpgate Evolution (JGE), sequel to Jumpgate: The Reconstruction Initiative from 2001, has now exceeded 150,000 with numbers continuing to rise. Gamers can continue signing up for the chance to participate in the upcoming beta at www.jumpgateevolution.com.
Unlike most of the MMOs out there, Jumpgate is a purely twitch-based game. According to their Web site, a player relies on their own skills instead of a fictitious set of skills and abilities. In doing so, JGE will not have an action bar or cooldowns. Damage will be constant a predicatable, provided you hit your target – or in the case of larger ships, hit the right parts. Ordnance has a set amount of damage. Shields and armor have a set durability. Provided the ordnance strikes the target, the outcome is not the least bit random.
Key Feature Include:
• Engage in Dog-Fights - Jumpgate Evolution offers a unique twitch-based combat system which allows you to challenge thousands of foes with your own skill and determination, offering the most exhilarating, jaw-dropping experience in online gaming to date.
• Explore a huge and varied universe - Each jump will take you to exotic new locations with exciting new adventures. The universe is a vast and dangerous place and as old threats never die you'd be wise to remember this. Pirates, brigands, and opposing faction members are just some of the dangers present in the Jumpgate universe.
• Highly Accessible - Although graphically stunning, Jumpgate is highly scaleable, allowing the game to run flawlessly on low end PCs. Jumpgate also offers joystick and peripheral support, adding to the immersive online experience.
• Huge Space Battles - Fight against thousands of players online in epic large-scale player vs. player real-time battles.
• Three Playable Nations - Become a pilot for any of the three playable nations. Join the corrupt, power-hungry Solrain Commonwealth, the disciplined, combat ready Octavian Empire or the spiritually-led Quantar Paths.
• Advanced Gameplay Systems - Jumpgate Evolution offers limitless game play and content with a unique mission generator capable of generating thousands of fresh and immersive missions for players to embark on.
• Player driven world - Players are given ultimate power as Jumpgate offers a fully immersive player driven economy. Protect a merchant vessel on its trade route by intercepting enemy players or answer a battle stations call for help by delivering them much needed supplies.
Perhaps it could be a good replacement to the deceased Earth and Beyond MMO. From what can be ascertained from the game's Web site and Wikipedia page, it doesn't look like it'll be similar to EVE: Online much at all. This could bode well for the game.
Ubisoft buys Massive Entertainment Story courtesy of press release
Publisher Ubisoft recently acquired Massive Entertainment, the Sweden-based studio behind real-time strategy games Ground Control and World in Conflict. Here is part of the press release.
The Swedish developer was originally a part of Vivendi Games; however, the company was put up for sale on August 6 after merger details between parent company Vivendi Games and publisher Activision were ironed out. The union ultimately formed Activision Blizzard. As a result of the merger, several intellectual properties like Ghostbusters and Brutal Legend, among others, were put up for sale. World in Conflict: Soviet Assault, an expanded version of the original game, was originally set for a fourth quarter 2008 release on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, but the fate of the series was left up in the air after Activision Blizzard formed.
"We are delighted to welcome the talented team of creators at Massive into the Ubisoft family," said Christine Burgess-Quemard, executive director of worldwide production studios at Ubisoft. "Ubisoft is growing at an intense pace and our strategy is to ensure the strength of our global creative teams. Massive has put together a group of some of the most confirmed and recognized creators in the industry and I know that their talent and innovation will allow them to seamlessly integrate into our worldwide network of production studios."
"Massive's development team places great importance on its freedom to innovate and create games of the highest quality," stated Martin Walfisz, president and founder of Massive Entertainment. "We are fortunate to have found in Ubisoft a publisher who shares the same values and understands our mindset. I have no doubt that our future together will offer significant mutual benefit and synergy."
Hopefully Massive's new owners won't change the upcoming World in Conflict expansion too much.
Midway experiences $76 million quarterly loss Stock information courtesy of Gamespot.com
The hits just keep coming for the Chicago-based publisher, and on Nov 10, Midway posted its final earnings report revealing a drop far worse than last October's estimates. By the end of September, Midway reached a deficit of $75.9 million, or $0.83 per share, on revenues of $36.7 million. More than twice the $33.5 million, or $0.37 per share, the company lost during the same period a year ago. In a statement released by Matt Booty, the company's permanent president and CEO, the company believes its upcoming holiday lineup will slow its financial troubles some. A $0.20 per share loss on $105 million in annual revenue is expected.
Midway hopes that their highest-profile 2008 release, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, will be its saving grace from bankruptcy. The game ships next week.
If you recall in last week's Fact or Fiction, I wrote, "I hope the game fails and Midway goes down with it." I realize now that this statement is harsh and the company does not deserve such a fate. If it isn't too late to take what I said back, I'm doing that now. Hopefully the game does well for them and Midway will hang around for a while longer.
Stardock aims to avoid holiday rush with re-occurring Q1 releases and pushing back Sins of Solar Empire expansion
You'd think that companies would want to try and release their hottest titles during the holiday rush in a bet to acquire more sales. Apparently though, Stardock doesn't think the risk is worth it and company CEO Brad Wardell hopes to avoid the rush at all cost by releasing a game during the first few months of every year.
"What we try to do is we want to release a title every first quarter of every year," said Wardell in an interview with Gamasutra. "For as far out as our schedule goes -- that's five or six years -- there's a game coming out."
If you recall, Sins of a Solar Empire avoided the season by releasing in Februrary, and still performed admirably sales-wise.
In related news, because of Stardock's new holiday-avoidance strategy, the upcoming Sins of a Solar Empire expansion, Entrenchment, has been pushed back. Originally slotted for release on Nov 18, the game is now coming sometimel next year. No set date as of yet, but according to a post made on the game's official forums, it'll depend on beta test feedback. If you pre-order the expansion, you'll have first dibs on the beta.
I was looking forward to the game too, what a shame.
PC Specs for new Prince of Persia game
On Tuesday, Ubisoft release the specs for the new Prince of Persia game coming on Dec. 2. Luckily, they'll be nearly identical to Assassin's Creed.
Here's the minimum requirements:
• Supported OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista
• Processor: Dual core processor 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ or better recommended)
• RAM: 1 GB Windows XP/2 GB Windows Vista
• Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 10.0?compliant video card or DirectX 9.0?compliant card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (see supported list)
• Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0?compliant sound card (5.1 sound card recommended)
• DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0 libraries (included on disc)
• DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive
• Hard Drive Space: 8 GB
• Peripherals Supported: Keyboard, mouse, optional controller (Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended)
• Supported Video Cards at Time of Release: ATI RADEON X1600/1650-1950/HD 2000/3000 series NVIDIA GeForce 6800/7/8/9 series
This week in What The F#ck
A weekly section for news stories that make little or no sense. Two picks this week!
Square Enix partners with Gas Powered Games to create Supreme Commander sequel
Just yesterday, Square Enix announced a partnership with Gas Powered Games that will see to the creation of a sequel to the award-winning real-time strategy game Supreme Commander. Square Enix has yet to specify what role in the game's creation it would play, nor did it reveal any details on platforms, release windows, or gameplay features. All I can say is, WTF?
7-Eleven doesn't care about street dates, again
If you recall just a week ago, 7-Eleven was releasing Gears of War 2 two days before the game's official release date. It looks like the convenience store conglomerate is back at it again, but this time for the WoW expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. Copies of the game were able to be picked up two days before the game's street date, which is today. While not much of an effect compared to the Gears release, since I doubt Blizzard would have "activated" the game early, one must wonder why 7-Eleven has yet to receive any repercussions for their action. Time will tell I guess.
Garriott bails on NCsoft, new aspirations due to space voyage
Another hit to Tabula Rasa publisher NCsoft came just one week after the game's odd price change when executive producer Richard Garriott up and left the company. In an open letter to the Tabula Rasa community, Garriott details his newfound aspirations that were influenced by his recent $30 million space walk.
Many of you probably wonder what my plans are, now that I have achieved the lifelong dream of going to space. Well, that unforgettable experience has sparked some new interests that I would like to devote my time and resources to. As such, I am leaving NCsoft to pursue those interests.
This news is difficult for me to deliver. I am honored to have worked with the team I've had and I'm grateful to the community who makes this game so unique and fun.
NCsoft's response? "See you, space cowboy." There are some Cowboy Bebop fans in there!
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 Left 4 Dead - $44.99, regular $49.99 (10%) Available on Nov 18
- Receive a voucher for 10% off at Subside Sports Available on Nov 14 Empire: Total War - $49.99/$54.99 Free copy of Rome: Total War Gold, Available on Feb 3 Tomb Raider: Underworld - $39.99 Free Tomb Raider: Legend Available on Nov 21 or Nov 24
And that's it for this week. Thanks for reading everyone!
