This is definitely worth watching in HD, but you might want to download it instead of trying to watch in it your browser if it's choppy.
Mar 21, 2009
Game patches
CRYSIS WARS
Patch 1.4: release notes and download link. You can also update automatically in XP by going to Start | Programs | EA | Crysis Wars | Check for game updates. In Vista, open the game browser, select Crysis, and then "check for updates".
CryEngine Sandbox2 Editor: release notes and download link.
Note that mycrysis.com also has the 1.4 dedicated server updates for Windows and Linux.
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV (PC)
Patch 3: release notes and download link (Fileshack).
Patch 1.4: release notes and download link. You can also update automatically in XP by going to Start | Programs | EA | Crysis Wars | Check for game updates. In Vista, open the game browser, select Crysis, and then "check for updates".
CryEngine Sandbox2 Editor: release notes and download link.
Note that mycrysis.com also has the 1.4 dedicated server updates for Windows and Linux.
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV (PC)
Patch 3: release notes and download link (Fileshack).
Google's Chrome the most secure browser?
From ArsTechnica:
A recent contest at CanSecWest, an event that brings together some of the most skilled experts in the security community, has demonstrated that the three most popular browser are susceptible to security bugs despite the vigilance and engineering prowess of their creators. Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer were all exploited during the Pwn2Own competition that took place at the conference. Google's Chrome browser, however, was the only one left standing—a victory that security researchers attribute to its innovative sandbox feature.
...
[The winner, Charlie] Miller also told reporters that he targeted Safari on Mac OS X because he believes that it is the easiest to exploit. Windows, on the other hand, he claims is tougher because of its address randomization feature and other security measures. As for Chrome, he says that he has identified a security bug in Google's browser but has been unable to exploit it because the browser's sandboxing feature and the operating system's security measures together pose a formidable challenge.
Mar 20, 2009
We heart puppy murder
No we don't!
[A] group of students at a Massachusetts high school are upset about the need to shoot dogs in CoD:WaW. They're taking their protest to Activision Blizzard, which publishes the best-selling game.
I could point out the absurdity of being horrified at the slaughter of bitches with four legs, but not bitches of the two-legged variety. But that would be too obvious. So I'm not going to do it.
No, sir.
Mar 19, 2009
Driver updates
Nvidia Forceware 182.08 beta ... Windows Vista only. It's identical to the previous release, except that it adds an SLI profile for Tom Clancy's HAWX with DirectX 10.
ATI Catalyst 9.3 ... Unified driver for both Windows Vista and Windows 7. There's also a hotfix (9.3) for AGP cards.
Realtek HD Audio 2.19
SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium 2.17.0006 ... For for X-Fi Titanium series (Windows XP and Vista).
nForce 15.25 & 15.26 ... For all nForce 5 and newer motherboards running Windows XP and Vista. 15.26 is for the nForce 9, 7 and 6 chipsets. 15.25 is for the 7, 6 and 5 chipsets.
ATI Catalyst 9.3 ... Unified driver for both Windows Vista and Windows 7. There's also a hotfix (9.3) for AGP cards.
Realtek HD Audio 2.19
SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium 2.17.0006 ... For for X-Fi Titanium series (Windows XP and Vista).
nForce 15.25 & 15.26 ... For all nForce 5 and newer motherboards running Windows XP and Vista. 15.26 is for the nForce 9, 7 and 6 chipsets. 15.25 is for the 7, 6 and 5 chipsets.
Internet Explorer 8
Microsoft has released the final version of IE 8. Windows 7 users be warned: this is not for you.
Mar 18, 2009
TF2 update
Added Multicore Rendering
■ This initial release is aimed at testing compatibility, so the option is OFF by default
■ To turn it on, go to the Options->Video->Advanced dialog, and check the "Multicore Rendering" option
Other Changes
■ Several performance improvements to decals and client bone/flex setup
■ A variety of alt-tab and mode switch fixes
■ Improvements to the way the engine initializes surround sound, fixing some specific hardware cases
■ Fixed a crash on exit in Vista 64
■ This initial release is aimed at testing compatibility, so the option is OFF by default
■ To turn it on, go to the Options->Video->Advanced dialog, and check the "Multicore Rendering" option
Other Changes
■ Several performance improvements to decals and client bone/flex setup
■ A variety of alt-tab and mode switch fixes
■ Improvements to the way the engine initializes surround sound, fixing some specific hardware cases
■ Fixed a crash on exit in Vista 64
Laugh 'til you puke
It seems the boys at Paleo Entertainment uploaded an alpha version of their new game to Steam. That's not sarcasm, mind you ... they literally did that. Steam users who bought Merchants of Brooklyn expecting a functional game were super-pissed.
The problem has been remedied.
What the deuce?
Found this over on Rock, Paper, Shotgun. It's another live action video with juicy bits of Half-Life 2 woven throughout. There's no telling whether it's another clever fan movie, or some kind of sneaky viral marketing for Episode 3, but it does seem safe to say that the Purchase Brothers aren't responsible.
UPDATE: Valve says it's a fan video. From Gamespy:
UPDATE: Valve says it's a fan video. From Gamespy:
Alas, the "What Is In The Box" video is just another fan project created by members of the rabid Half-Life community. We spoke with Vice President of Marketing Doug Lombardi today, and he went on record about the fact that neither of the videos were made or comissioned by Valve. "The Box video was a cool piece from the community. Two in just a few weeks," said Lombardi "I hope there's more on the way."
ISP's realize online gamers need good connections
Finally:
FULL ARTICLE AT GAMESINDUSTRY.BIZ
The surge in popularity of online gaming is having an impact on the overall growth of internet usage, which increased by around 50 per cent in the past 12-18 months.
That's according to Vlad Ihora, head of gaming at TeliaSonera International Carrier, who told GamesIndustry.biz that ISPs are now being more proactive about making sure gamers are getting a good service.
"You get companies not related to gaming which are interested in hooking up to our network because there are certain games which run on our network that make it relevant for end-users," he said, referring to the fact that the company looks after Blizzard Europe's networking solutions for World of Warcraft.
"Maybe a few years ago if you'd tried to pitch something like that to new telco organisations they wouldn't have been receptive - but not any more. This is a reason why the growth of online gaming is linking into the big circle of internet growth itself, and I find that really interesting.
FULL ARTICLE AT GAMESINDUSTRY.BIZ
TF2: WoW "Arena of Blood" Map
I guess you need to have played both games to appreciate this, but what the hell:
Mar 17, 2009
PC World: the most violent video games ever made
The list starts here.
The smorgasbord of titles is massively unsurprising (and thus, uninspired), driven largely by the amount of gory crimson bits to be found in the given game. The author inexplicably left out Condemned: Criminal Origins in favor of Condemned 2: Bloodshot, even though he cited a number of other games with all the sequels included. The omission is especially galling since the first game lacked all the queer magic-hurling of the second.
The original Condemned was unquestionably the most violent game I have ever played, even if it lacked the uber-gibs of a game like Doom 3. The timing-is-everything control system, the emphasis on melee combat with improvised weapons, and the audio feedback garnered from cranial impacts made every toe-to-toe encounter with a snarling crackhead stressful. Few other games have done so much to personalize every single instance of violence (I can't comment on Manhunt; I never bothered with it).
I never recall the visual bloodiness of a game once I've left it. It's the intensity of the dance that burns images in my brain.
The smorgasbord of titles is massively unsurprising (and thus, uninspired), driven largely by the amount of gory crimson bits to be found in the given game. The author inexplicably left out Condemned: Criminal Origins in favor of Condemned 2: Bloodshot, even though he cited a number of other games with all the sequels included. The omission is especially galling since the first game lacked all the queer magic-hurling of the second.
The original Condemned was unquestionably the most violent game I have ever played, even if it lacked the uber-gibs of a game like Doom 3. The timing-is-everything control system, the emphasis on melee combat with improvised weapons, and the audio feedback garnered from cranial impacts made every toe-to-toe encounter with a snarling crackhead stressful. Few other games have done so much to personalize every single instance of violence (I can't comment on Manhunt; I never bothered with it).
I never recall the visual bloodiness of a game once I've left it. It's the intensity of the dance that burns images in my brain.
America's Army meets Saw (?) ... it's called "Blacklight"
Shack News has an early look at the new brainchild of Zombie Studios, a co-op FPS set in a "science fact" future. The details are rather sparse, but the screenshots are semi-interesting.
Frankly, I'm just happy that another developer has bucked the "infinite sequels" trend in favor of an original IP.
(click on the image for full size)
Frankly, I'm just happy that another developer has bucked the "infinite sequels" trend in favor of an original IP.
(click on the image for full size)
Mass Effect 2 confirmed for the PC
And the 360, but there will be no PS3 release. Apparently, BioWare also thinks the latter platform is a "waste of time". Shack News pimps the hype-machine here.
The game is due for release in early 2010. If you haven't played the original ME, it's definitely worth a try if you're into Sci-Fi RPG's ... especially since you can grab a copy for around 20 bucks. I got it for $15 when Circuit City imploded.
The game is due for release in early 2010. If you haven't played the original ME, it's definitely worth a try if you're into Sci-Fi RPG's ... especially since you can grab a copy for around 20 bucks. I got it for $15 when Circuit City imploded.
Mar 16, 2009
Screw transparency!
From Dan at gameslaw.net:
Gamepolitics reports via Knowledge Ecology Notes that the ESA’s VP of IP Policy, Stevan Mitchell, has been cleared for access to the ACTA negotiations. ACTA, or Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is a multinational treaty-in-progress that has been developed in secret since mid-2007. It covers a fairly broad scope, but it has been confirmed to include regulation on "internet distribution and information technology." ACTA has been opposed by the Free Software Foundation and the EFF, while groups calling for greater disclosure in the agreement’s language include the Consumers Union, IP Justice, Public Knowledge, National Consumer Council, and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
There’s obviously a danger here, in that the ESA is a representative of video game publishers, whose interests involving copyright, counterfeiting and DRM are often detrimental to those of the consumers who purchase their products. Any of you following my twitter feed have surely noticed that restrictive DRM has caused me to be entirely unable to play Empire: Total War for two weeks, with no fix in sight. Unfortunately, if language from the DMCA is included in ACTA, we can look forward to a significantly more frustrating user experience in the future and a fundamentally muddled legal landscape surrounding copy-protection and anti-circumvention measures. It’s difficult enough to determine appropriate law in the U.S., it’s even worse when international law is implicated.
Except, we’ve got no clue what is on the menu for ACTA, because the discussions are still being held in secret. But we do know now that there is very little consumer representation on the “cleared access” list, compared to heavy IP industry presences from Time Warner, Cisco, ESA, RIAA, MPAA, IP Owners Association, IBM, Intel, and others. This simply can’t be good.
A FOIA request for information about ACTA was denied for national security reasons. However, Wikileaks managed to get a copy of a discussion paper about the proposed agreement. This is not the first time an information request was denied; according the Vancouver Sun, the University of Ottawa’s Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic filed the Canadian version of a FOIA request, but received only a document stating the title of the agreement, with everything else blacked out.
Trailers of Games: pretty renderings of ugly worlds
First up - Fallout 3: The Pitt. Overall, it looks more interesting than Operation Anchorage, with some very, very nice atmospherics:
Next up, we have a visually-impressive reveal for a game called Third Soldier. I can't find much in the way of useful information about the game on the interwebs (there's not even a Wikipedia "unreleased video game" page yet), and the official site is largely useless at present. What I can tell you is the protagonist is a lone crusader fighting hordes of Saracens all by himself, alone, with no help. Prepare yourself for enemies that are cheap and brutal caricatures of their historical counterparts:
Finally, we have a trailer for Alpha Protocol, a game calling itself "first modern-day spy RPG." Maybe. Now that it's March, we can infer that the February 2009 release date was overly optimistic. Call it October. Here's the video:
Next up, we have a visually-impressive reveal for a game called Third Soldier. I can't find much in the way of useful information about the game on the interwebs (there's not even a Wikipedia "unreleased video game" page yet), and the official site is largely useless at present. What I can tell you is the protagonist is a lone crusader fighting hordes of Saracens all by himself, alone, with no help. Prepare yourself for enemies that are cheap and brutal caricatures of their historical counterparts:
Finally, we have a trailer for Alpha Protocol, a game calling itself "first modern-day spy RPG." Maybe. Now that it's March, we can infer that the February 2009 release date was overly optimistic. Call it October. Here's the video:
Mar 15, 2009
F.E.A.R. 2 patch
It seems you can only get it via Steam at the moment. The full changelog is here, with selected details below:
■ Difficulty of Hard mode has been increased
■ Implemented a toggle for switching between widescreen (16:9) and full screen (4:3) in the Options|Performance|Advanced Settings menu
■ Implemented a toggle for head bob in Options|Game Settings
■ Implemented a toggle for film grain in the Options|Performance|Advanced Settings menu
The rest of the updates are multiplayer fixes. It was a good move to add the 4:3 aspect ratio support, given that so many people found the "letterbox" view annoying. If you're going to spend the money to put together a system that can run a game like this, why shouldn't you be able to use your entire monitor?
■ Difficulty of Hard mode has been increased
■ Implemented a toggle for switching between widescreen (16:9) and full screen (4:3) in the Options|Performance|Advanced Settings menu
■ Implemented a toggle for head bob in Options|Game Settings
■ Implemented a toggle for film grain in the Options|Performance|Advanced Settings menu
The rest of the updates are multiplayer fixes. It was a good move to add the 4:3 aspect ratio support, given that so many people found the "letterbox" view annoying. If you're going to spend the money to put together a system that can run a game like this, why shouldn't you be able to use your entire monitor?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)