Arma 3’s main campaign will be released as free DLC in three episodes after the game’s official launch. Bohemia Interactive has announced that the first episode, Survive, will be released “within the first 4 weeks” of launch. The other two modules titled Adapt and Win will follow in the months after the first episode.
One of the reasons given for the campaign’s episodic release schedule is that Bohemia feels that a focus on smaller deliverables allows them to react to player feedback and implement changes as needed before moving on to other stages of the project. The lengthy Alpha and Beta periods have already resulted in positive changes to the game such as a stance indicator and 3D scopes. Unfortunately, another reason for the delay of the campaign is that members of the development team were apprehended and held by the Greek government on accusations of spying in September 2012.
This is not to say that the project has been without issue. Arma 3 started life with a very different team and a very different scope and direction. Since 2012, we’ve seen the number of developers working on the game double, absorbing the Mnisek studio and bringing in a bunch of talented new hires in key positions across all 3 studios. And, later on in the year, we found ourselves in a position to conduct a thorough project review, which fundamentally re-evaluated the direction that the project was taking.
This turnaround was made no easier by some of the unpredictable events of last year. The uncertainty that was produced and the impact it’s had – on both a professional and personal level – cannot be emphasised enough. It made a tough time exponentially more difficult. In the end, this process culminated in the successful release of the Arma 3 Alpha, and, despite some tough, pragmatic choices, we believe that it’s put us in a much better long-term position.
Bohemia has posted a summary of launch content when the game releases in September.
Like many decent sequels, especially when they’re on a Nintendo system, Pikmin 3 is just more Pikmin. The basic experience doesn’t differ from the usual slight cute puzzles, all very Nintendo, all very Wii, all very candy colored and conveniently soluble and cheerfully chirping and rather irresistable, all very Pikmin. But there are four things to recommend Pikmin 3 over the previous Pikmins.
I am Lady Useless, the fourth of my name. I am a strange combination of beast and man. Though this is no fault of my own, some call me an abomination. Perhaps that is why my family has forced me to enter this castle, to hide their shame. I am hopeful that if I succeed in my mission, I can restore the reputation of my family, and live on in my family’s memory. I carry my father’s sword, but what good are swords when you can breathe fire?
The Russian distributor for Company of Heroes 2 has stopped selling the game. Relic Entertainment’s real-time strategy sequel set in the World War II Eastern Front has drawn criticism from Russian players for perpetuating stereotypes of Red Army cruelty and incompetence. Polygon notes that 1C-SoftClub has ceased all sales of the game and is analyzing the complaints. The game’s publisher Sega responded by issuing this statement:
“Sega and Relic are aware of the press stories circulating concerning Company of Heroes 2 and the historical context of the game from a Russian perspective. At this time we cannot offer any further comment, however we are taking this issue very seriously and are investigating these concerns thoroughly with all relevant partners.”
The objections to Company of Heroes 2 center on the exaggerated depiction of brutal Red Army generals, the negative portrayal of the soldiers, and “Hollywood” myths that discredit Russian and former-Soviet countrys’ national heroes. Relic has stated that while the game is based on historical research, they had to “choose specific battles and incidences to deliver the breadth of the narrative.”
That’s Willemus. He’s from Creative Assembly’s upcoming strategy game Total War: Rome II. He’s now in the PC version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed thanks to a little franchise-hopping within Sega. The free addition to Sonic Racing brings the PC version’s character count up to 29, making it officially awesome.
Serendipitously, Sonic Racing is on sale at Green Man Gaming as a 4-pack for $14.99. Grab three of your buddies, share the price, and get karting with some on-track violence. If I see you online, I’ll throw some bees at you.
Sorry, Australians. Even though we had good news about Saints Row IV finally being approved for release Down Under, you won’t be playing Saints Row IV with friends outside of your region. Volition and publisher Deep Silver broke the bad news on the official Facebook page.
“Due to the changes we were forced to make, this version is different than the version rated by rating boards like the ESRB, USK, and PEGI, which is why it will be incompatible with those versions in co-op.”
The publisher’s statement also clarified that the Rectifier alien anal probe weapon is a bonus item in the Saints Row IV Season Pass and they aren’t yet sure if they can include it in Australia’s version of the DLC. The Rectifier was one of the objections mentioned in the original Classification Board’s rejection of the game.
Coincidentally, it’s been confirmed that the EU version of The Last of Us has partially censored multiplayer. In a long thread on the official PlayStation forum, perplexed European players noted differences between EU and NA versions of the game which included the EU version having notably less gore. In an email response to one person, a Naughty Dog representative acknowledged the censored material.
“The gore and violence ratings are subject to local regulatory boards in various countries, so the game must be slightly changed in order to accomodate those choices.”
Take heart! Singleplayer violence remains unchanged between the different versions of The Last of Us.
The F-4 Phantom IIs in my squadron, which consists of nothing but Phantoms and a single E-2 AWACS on overwatch, are veritable mules of war, what with all the stuff you can cram up under their wings. Missiles, rockets, guns, bombs, fuel. These were A-10s before A-10s were even invented, but instead of so-awkward-they’re beautiful, they’re simply beautiful. Simultaneously bulky and sleek, with stubby wings, jutting air intakes flanking the cockpit like be-pauldroned shoulders, and frowny downturned horizontal stabilizers that defy the usual neat empennage (empennage is the word for the little wings on an airplane’s butt). The Phantom looks like a spaceship someone thought up in the 1950s. In this wonderful solitaire boardgame of Vietnam era air strikes, I am their leader.
After the jump, not your grandfather’s Cuban missile crisis Continue reading →
I am Sir Jimmy, the second of my name. Though many of my family members have perished to the demon Ponce De Leon in the tower above the castle, I have set my sights on challenging the monster. Speaking to the strange “architect” outside the castle, I lock the castle down, knowing that this means I will not have to wait to know my fate. I grudgingly pay Charon his toll and enter the castle. Stepping onto the strange mystical pad inside, I will myself to the room outside Ponce De Leon’s Lair. Steeling myself, I step inside.
I love the guns in the Metro games. Awkward, ruthless, post-apocalyptic testaments to the harsh reality of scavenging. Namely, that a good gun isn’t a pretty gun. These so-ugly-they’re-beautiful Frankenstein firearms are the most memorable weapons you’ll find this side of your Borderlands locker. The first round of downloadable content for Metro: Last Light, called the Faction Pack, has some grand new additions, like the Reich’s pneumato-electro-whatever sniper rifle (pictured) and the last-resort single-shot flare gun for the Polis ranger. Firing these ungainly beauties was nearly enough to make me not care that two thirds of the Faction Pack is brainless shooting minus Metro’s somber storytelling. I’m here to shoot funky fugly lovely guns and chew bubblegum, and the apocalypse burned up all the bubblegum.
EverQuest Next has been revealed and it’s voxel-based. Sony Online Entertainment presented information on their next-gen MMO at SOE Live in Las Vegas and they’re not just going to revamp the engine and pretty things up. They’re building a whole new MMO on technology that encourages player creation as well as destruction. Director of development David Georgeson explained to Kotaku how the voxel-based engine will enhance gameplay.
“Everything is made out of pieces. We can literally destroy anything at any time. We might not let you destroy it. For instance, a player-city we might not make player-destroyable but monster-destroyable. Otherwise, it would be a player parking lot.”
“We have a procedural system that can generate all these lost cities and ancient temples and buried areas and so on and so forth. And then we have occasional earthquakes in the world that destroy areas and reconstitute them so that players can constantly be finding new content as they explore.”
Along with terrain and structural destruction, EverQuest Next will have better NPC and monster AI. Monsters can be added to the world and dynamically decide where to set up camp or attack based on what’s around them. Georgeson said this procedural AI will help make the world feel alive instead of rigidly keeping monsters rooted to where they appear.
Before you play EverQuest Next, SOE wants you to jump into EverQuest Next Landmark and help create stuff for the main game. In Landmark, players will claim a plot of land, gather materials, and craft voxel-based items that can then be submitted to a Player Studio. Other players can purchase those creations using real-world money and the creator will collect a percentage of the sale! The best items that stay within the guidelines for Norrath’s style will be chosen for inclusion in EverQuest Next.
PS3 owners will get to fly supersonic jets in raging combat while high-strung wingmen yell at them in clipped sentences for free soon. Namco Bandai announced that Ace Combat Infinity is being developed exclusively for the Sony PS3 as a free-to-play title. Olivier Comte, Senior VP of Namco Bandai Europe, explained the new franchise direction
“The Ace Combat franchise has evolved dramatically over the years, but never before have we been able to offer its amazing graphics and tactical action for free. The team at Project Aces listens very carefully to its players, and is bringing the best the series has to offer to Ace Combat Infinity, with plenty of new surprises too.”
Solo campaign missions and online co-op multiplayer will be offered when the game launches later this year. Based on previous games in the franchise, paid DLC will likely include skins and other customization options. What’s more awesome than a smiling anime girl painted on the wing of your $28 million strike fighter?
What a great set of expressive faces in this music video for The Doubleclicks‘ “Nothing to Prove”! I could do without the random dudes showing up, but otherwise, this is a lovely parade of lovely people proudly displaying lovely messages.
World of Tanks developer Wargaming.net has purchased the rights to both Total Annihilation and Master of Orion. Wargaming.net’s CEO Victor Kislyi confirmed the purchase during a press conference held in the company’s home city of Minsk, Belarus.
“Total Annihilation and Master of Orion are strategy game classics. Although it’s too soon to disclose any details, we are more than willing to give a new lease of life to these games most of us grew up playing. It’s exactly where our major focus will be. Definitely, whatever we do, and whatever games we make with those franchises, they will be big AAA, massive titles with all of Wargaming’s Power behind them.”
According to court documents, Wargaming.net acquired the licenses to the games in July when Atari auctioned off the majority of their holdings. The ownership of Total Annihilation would seem to fit in Wargaming.net’s portfolio since they also own Chris Taylor’s studio Gas Powered Games. Taylor founded Cavedog Entertainment, the studio that originally created Total Annihilation.
What a difference a day makes! Yesterday, we reported that Saints Row IV had been denied a rating from the Australian Classification Board for the second time. Take heart Saints! The board has finally approved the game for release in Australia following Volition’s edits to the game. Saints Row IV will have a “MA15+” rating when it hits the shelves for Aussie gamers albeit in an edited form. Publisher Deep Silver clarified what was cut from the game to pass muster.
“To achieve this rating one loyalty mission featuring the character Shaundi has been removed. This mission has been widely reported on and contains the use of alien narcotics to obtain certain superpowers. This mission represents approximately 20 minutes of gameplay out of the hours available to purchasers. The removal of this mission has no negative impact on the story or the superpowers and will not detract from the enjoyment players will get from their Saints Row IV experience.”
The alien Rectifier anal probe weapon was also removed from the game, based on the objections of the board when Saints Row IV was first submitted for approval, but will be available to Australian players as part of optional add-on content.
