Call of Duty: World At War Invades Steam

Valve has announced that the PC version of Treyarch’s Call of Duty: World at War is now available on the Steam digital distribution service.

The World War II shooter, which is selling like hotcakes, can now be purchased online and downloaded through Steam for the price of $49.95, the same as buying the disc-based game from a brick-and-mortar retailer.

World at War released last week for a whole bevy of platforms. Treyarch handled the PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wiieditions, while the PS2 version came from Rebellion and n-Space handled the Nintendo DS port.

Source: ShackNews.com Read more

Age Of Conan Getting DirectX 10 Support in ‘Next Major Game Update’

The long-promised DirectX 10 support for Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures will arrive in the “next major game update” for the PC MMO, developer Funcom has revealed.

“We have been determined that the new DirectX 10 functionality would not just be a ‘gimmick’ addition to the game and would add visual quality to the game,” newly appointed game director Craig Morrison wrote in his November Letter.

“We feel that the version we are preparing now for testing does achieve this and in a way that will find the right balance between visuals and performance,” he added.

While Morrison did not specify when the “major” update will arrive, he revealed that the next update will pack two new dungeons “aimed at maximum level players” in an attempt to begin filling “content gaps [at] the highest level.”

Source: ShackNews.com Read more

Catalyst Game Labs Bids on WizKids Properties

Catalyst Games has announced that it has submitted a bid for WizKids Games properties, including HeroClix, the Pirates PocketModel Game, Star Wars PocketModel TCG, BattleTech/MechWarrior, and Shadowrun.

Catalyst already produces games based on BattleTech and Shadowrun under license from WizKids, which it says will continue in any case (see “WizKids Week Wrapup”). The bid included not only those underlying properties but also the WizKids games based on them.

Catalyst was not on our original shortlist of companies that came to mind as potential acquirers of the WizKids properties (see “WizKids: Reactions and Next Steps”).  But statements by company executives emphasized Catalyst’s experience with licensed properties and its ability to ramp up for new acquisitions. “Catalyst has demonstrated our ability to manage large and important intellectual properties,” Catalyst majority owner Loren Coleman said. Coleman recently met with Topps execs in New York to discuss the potential acquisition.

And Operations Manager (and former WizKids employee) David Stansel-Garner talked about Catalyst’s potential entry into a new category–CMGs. “While we would be new to the collectible miniatures market, we have proven experience in quickly acquiring the talent and infrastructure needed to produce high quality games,” he said, referring to Catalyst’s ramp-up in the wake of its acquisition of BattleTech and Shadowrun licenses formerly held by FanPro (see “Catalyst Now Has Battletech”).

Source: icv2.com Read more

D&D Links - 20 Free Random Generators

DungeonMastering.com has compiled a bunch a great random generators that will help any Dungeon Master in his or her campaign…

1. Dragon description generator - oh, yeah!
2. Government generator - because we’re all boring of adventuring in “The Kingdom” or “The Empire” and would rather explore the “Legendary and Perfected Federation” or some place with a funky name.
3. Whacky class generator - don’t you wan’t to play a Crocodile Kicker?
4. Detailed character generator - a short description and quick roleplaying notes will make bring any anonymous NPC to life.
5. Goblin namer - even though goblins can kill you, most of the time they die. Having a unique name gives them personality, which in turn increases their chances to be spared.  “Ktozs scared.  Pleeease don’t kill Ktozs…”
6. Fractal world generator - interesting and maybe even useful.
7. Dungeon generator - try the “labyrinth” setting to mees with your players’ mind.
8. Snake generator - what the hell?  Do we really need a snake generator? Well, it’s there just in case…
9. Pirate name generator - I could click that button all day!
10. NaNoWriMo motivator - maybe you’ve tried to write a book during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and maybe you failed (like me!) and maybe you could have used some motivation!
11. Martial arts move generator - ninja time!
12. Wrestler name generator - trust me, you’ll find a way to squeeze these names in your campaign.
13. Namator - probably the best looking random gen website
14. The Forge - you don’t know it yet but you like flash-based generators.
15. Lorem Ipsum - it’s made for print and web filler text, but you can use it to impress your players with scrolls filled with gibberish (I think it’s latin)
16. Candy generator - every inn cooks up something sweet, unique, and delicious.
17. Magic invocation generator - this one is especially fun!
18. Drink recipe generator - don’t try this at home…
19. Darth maker - it has nothing to do with D&D but I enjoyed it a lot!
20. Humorous fantasy class generator - a butler sorceress and footpad nanny walk into a bar…

And there’s so much more out there!  Seventh Sanctum has the most fun generators.  So have fun and click aways.

Source: DungeonMastering.com Read more

Video Review: All Flesh Must Be Eaten - RPG by Eden Studios

I really enjoy Kurt Wiegel’s video reviews on role playing games. He has a definite style about how he presents each product and his passion for role playing shines through. Here now for you to enjoy is his very first video review of a role playing game: All Flesh Must Be Eaten by Eden Studios.

As they approach your home, the evening wind carries their stench through the air. Your dog barks wildly, frenzied by the smell. You awaken from a restless sleep, look out your window and see staggering corpses on the move.

You are halfway down the stairs when you hear footsteps on the porch. You run into the living room and pry open your gun cabinet. As you fumble, the front door collapses from the weight of a pair of rotting corpses.

They shamble into the hall, arms outstretched, reaching for you. You unload your shotgun into them. They fall back.

Synopsis:

• All Flesh Must Be Eaten is a complete roleplaying game. In it, you will find:
• Eleven different Deadworld settings allowing customization of the storyline
• A comprehensive zombie creation system to surprise and alarm players
• A list of equipment crucial to surviving a world of shambling horrors
• Detailed character creation rule for Norms, Survivors and the Inspired
• A full exposition of the Unisystem rule mechanics, suitable for any game in any time period
• Open Game License conversion text for porting AFMBE to your favorite modern campaign
• Format: 7.25″ x 9.25″ Hardcover, 256 pages, and black and white interior

Read more

Halo 3: Recon - Trailer

Here is a trailer for Halo 3: Recon, which will be releasing fall of 2009. The trailer is very well done and Hollywood could take some notes.

First things first, Halo 3: Recon is your old version of Halo 3 with a new face. There have been no changes to the standard Halo formula as you’ll still be in first person view mode for optimal bastard blasting. The one difference Bungie’s stressing is that since you’re taking control of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) you won’t be able to run and gun quite as easily as the super-hero soldier Master Chief. Instead you’ll have to choose your battles wisely which is probably how the title “recon” comes into play. What you’ll specifically be doing is wiping clean the covenant infested city of New Mombasa from behind enemy lines in plenty of dark, nighttime settings.

Also, don’t expect cameos from Master Chief or anyone else from the normal Halo proper as they are off doing their own thing when this game takes place. More specifically, Master Chief is still rocketing towards Earth in that space craft from the end of Halo 2 before crash landing in the jungle at the start of Halo 3. Read more

World of Warcraft CMG is Here

One of the biggest names in the trading card industry is Upper Deck Entertainment. Given the success of their World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, they’ve released a follow-up game this week: The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game.

The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game went on sale worldwide as of Tuesday, November 11th. There are 70 different miniatures, including Warchief Thrall, Varimathras, and yes… even Leeroy Jenkins. There’s a bonus for your actual WoW characters as well — miniatures booster packs come with sample packs from the WoW Trading Card Game which might include Loot cards.

Essentially, they’re unlocks for “cosmetic in-game upgrades for their online World of Warcraft characters”. Check out the Upper Deck launch announcement for their World of Warcraft Miniatures Game for the full details.

Source: GamersCircle

Review: Mirror’s Edge

Justin McElroy over at Joystiq has a great review on the new release by EA and DICE: Mirror’s Edge…

Before they had even laid hands on Mirror’s Edge, a lot of journalists were ready to give EA and DICE the 2008 Brave Choice Award™ for taking the risk of crafting a AAA title in a completely new genre. And let’s make no mistake, that’s exactly what this is: Bold, fresh game design that feels like nothing you’ve touched before.

But we’d be remiss to forget there’s also an act of faith required on the part of you, the player. You have to open yourself up to Mirror’s Edge, to avoid playing it like a first-person shooter. You have to trust that if you take the time and the effort to learn this new genre, you’ll receive something out of it that you couldn’t have found anywhere else.

After finishing the 360 version of Mirror’s Edge, I’m happy to report that those who can take that leap will find their trust rewarded.

The first way Mirror’s Edge sets itself apart is in the visuals. It’s a futuristic world that’s light on color, but avoids the gritty realism that has plagued a generation of titles. It’s a clean look, and one that serves the gameplay by allowing you to be guided from objective to objective with just the occasional splash of red.

There’s a completely different look to the cinematics sprinkled throughout the game, but far from a welcome change it’s just a sketchy, ugly reminder of how good the real world of the game looks. DICE would have been far better served moving the story forward entirely in-engine.

That story centers on Faith, a messenger in an oppressive future in which she represents the last remaining form of communication that’s not under government control. You get little chance to do much delivery service, though, before you’re embroiled in a corporate conspiracy and forced to clear your sister for a crime she didn’t commit. No, not Earth-shattering stuff, but it’s enough to lend a sense of urgency to the world, and, in that sense, it serves its purpose. With the government seeming to be everywhere, your one advantage is how quickly you can avoid them. With a series of death-defying leaps and wall-runs, you’re able to get out of firefights you should never have been able to survive, and access secured areas you were never meant to see.

It’s fluid, it’s exhilarating and, most impressively, it’s almost always intuitive thanks to smart button placement and subtle graphical hints. It’s hard to really describe the way it feels when it works, without any other sort of touchstones from other games you may have tried. Suffice to say that the rooftop acrobatics are a thrill everyone should experience. Read more

Rackham Entertainment Acquires ‘Confrontation’, ‘AT-43′

Rackham’s Confrontation and AT-43 miniature lines were acquired by a new company, Rackham Entertainment SAS, on October 28th. Rackham Entertainment was founded by venture fund Entrepeneur Ventures and Lucas Velimirovic, who’s the CEO of the new company.

Rackham SA had been under bankruptcy protection since August of last year (see “Rackham Enters Legal Protection Period”). Most recently, Rackham’s lines had been distributed in North America by Fantasy Flight; that relationship ended last month (see “Fantasy Flight Ends Rackham Distribution”).

The Rackham design studio had already designed the releases for the coming months; as a result, monthly releases for the next 12 months are already planned. Five boxed miniature groupings will be released simultaneously worldwide for each of the two Rackham universes (AT-43 and Confrontation) monthly beginning in November.

Rackham Entertainment has committed to maintain its retail prices at the same levels through the coming year, bucking a trend that has seen the world’s largest miniature company enact a major price increase recently (see “Games Workshop Announces Price Increases”).

Beyond its plans for a steady, reliable release schedule, Rackham also has several initiatives planned to support sales of its products and expand the exploitation of its universes. Retailer support will include limited edition figures for stores and a retail store locator on its Website.

Comic rights for the Rackham universes have been licensed to French publisher Soleil; Marvel is releasing some Soleil comics and collected graphic novels in the U.S. (see “Marvel to Publish Soleil Titles in English”).

Rackham also plans board games based on its universes.

Source: icv2.com

Halo Wars Releases In February 09, Available For Pre-Order

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios announced today that the first ever Halo real time strategy game, Halo Wars will be coming to retailers this coming February, available in either a regular or Limited Collector’s Edition. Halo Wars will take you from controlling a single soldier to commanding an entire battlefield. It is also supposed to combine the intense action of the Halo franchise with a new story that precedes the original Halo .

If you recognize the name Ensemble Studios, you’ve probably played games from the Age of Empires franchise. Ensemble’s team has worked painstakingly to design Halo Wars specifically for gameplay and control on Xbox 360 in an attempt to bring the fluid strategy experience real time strategies have offered on PCs for years to console, though Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s Endwar will likely beat them to the punch on that front.

Aside from the regular edition of Halo Wars , a Limited Collector’s Edition will be offered through participating retailers and will features three new Halo 3 multiplayer maps (the Mythic Map Pack, which includes Assembly, Orbital and Sandbox), the Halo Wars: Genesis graphic novel by Phil Noto, Graeme Devine and Eric Nylund, a unique in-game vehicle called the “Honour Guard” Wraith, six Leader Cards and a Spirit of Fire patch, which lets you start the game as an official Spirit of Fire crew member. The regular edition of Halo Wars will be available for $59.99 USD/CAD, while the Limited Collector’s Edition will be available for $79.99 USD/CAD. Halo Wars is rated T for Teen and is already availble for pre-order at some retailers.

Source: ComicBookBin.com Read more

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