Blizzard Officially Announces StarCraft 2

 

Blizzard Officially Announces StarCraft 2
By 1UP Staff

Yes, StarCraft 2 is real. Beyond what we've already communicated to you about the sequel (and what you can see in the trailer), Blizzard released a press release to put a little more info out there to digest.

Here are the promises Blizzard is making with StarCraft 2:

• Races will be further distinguished from one another through new gameplay mechanics and new units.
• Some of the original units will also be receiving new abilities, but it is unclear which ones are included at present.
• Uses a 3D engine that "realistic physics and the ability to render several large, highly detailed units and massive armies on-screen simultaneously."
• The map editor is returning -- huzzah!
• And -- shocker -- there will be both a single player and multiplayer version of the game.
• It will be released for both the Mac and PC.
• No release date currently exists.

Check out the trailer of the first gameplay footage.

Source: Blizzard Officially Announces StarCraft 2

News: First look: War Rock

 

South Korean-developed online PC FPS promises intense tactical warfare.
Later this week we'll be taking a very close look at War Rock, but prior to that we're posting screenshots and a gameplay trailer from the front lines.

Click here to read the full article

Source: News: First look: War Rock
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 10:25:00 GMT

Need for Speed Carbon Collector's Edition - Car FAQ and Unlockables List

 

Need for Speed Carbon Collector's Edition (PC)
Need For Speed Carbon, PC

Source: Need for Speed Carbon Collector's Edition - Car FAQ and Unlockables List
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:17:00 GMT

S.T.A.L.K.E.R finally gets a date. Of sorts.

 

 

When a needlessly cryptic countdown appears on a website built to promote a specific title, we naturally assume that it's counting down to a release date. But without an official confirmation, we're a bit hesitant to call the clock currently running on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl website a release countdown. We've been scorned before, baby. We know your dirty little tricks.

Originally announced in 2001, GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R has been the recipient of many a vaporware award throughout its illustrious career of back burning. Having consulted the Joystiq abacus, we have determined that the countdown ends on March 22nd, 2007. What will happen exactly is up in the air. It could be a release date, or possibly even a demo of the game. It could even be an announcement of an announcement! S.T.A.L.K.E.R to be retooled into a Daikatana expansion pack confirmed!

Read 

Source: S.T.A.L.K.E.R finally gets a date. Of sorts.
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:15:00 GMT

Clive Thompson on Super Columbine RPG

 

I've been meaning to do this, but Clive beat me to the punch -- he sat down and played Super Columbine Massacre RPG. If you haven't played it yourself (or even if you have), check out his analysis of how the game is far more than the in-poor-taste murder simulator its detractors want it to be:

It's a neat stab at the mindset of the killers, who, for all their bombast about being objectified by their tormentors, did precisely the same thing to their victims. They didn't see them as individuals: They were just metaphoric targets for their hatred. Indeed, in the game, as the killers did in real life, you don't target any particular kids. You just wander around killing randomly. And Ledonne's aesthetic decision to make Super Columbine so retro-looking enhances this effect: The game's style evokes the killer's pared-down, simplistic, self-serving view of the world.

I, Columbine Killer [Wired]

Source: Clive Thompson on Super Columbine RPG
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:39:36 GMT

Brian Eno Doing Generative Music For Spore

 

Reports to this effect have been floating around for a while (ever since the joint Brian Eno/Will Wright lecture for the Long Now foundation last year), but a recent Berlin lecture by ambient music maestro Eno, written up at WWMNA, seems to have confirmed that Eno is curating the Spore soundtrack, a very neat revelation.

The write-up of the Berlin lecture explains: "Generativity plays a role in many fields now, with gaming being no exception. Also built around this notion and probably one of the currently most eagerly awaited games is Will Wright's Spore, for which Brian Eno, as he revealed, will be making the soundtrack! He was asked to do it, because the designers wanted sound that is just a procedural as the game itself, instead of the loops which are tied to certain stages or areas which we are used to experience in games."

What's more, Eno "...went on to demonstrate a simple software called "The Shuffler" which he uses to create fragments for the soundtrack of Spore and which even with a simple combination of samples possibly would never create the same composition twice within a lifetime." So basically, it's a bit like Koan Pro only crazily wired into a game? Of course, one might ask what Eno is doing if the music is infinitely different every time, but I guess he's the... DJ? [Via The-Inbetween.]

Source: Brian Eno Doing Generative Music For Spore
Originally published on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 05:02:33 GMT

Blizzard hints at new StarCraft by 2008

 

At a WoW: TheBurning Crusade launch event, Blizzard's VP of Business Development hints at the next instalment in the StarCraft series.

Source: Blizzard hints at new StarCraft by 2008
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:29:11 GMT

New ForceWare NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Drivers Released

 

New ForceWare NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Drivers Released

NVIDIA has released new ForceWare drivers for cards that use their new GeForce 8800 graphics chips. The new 97.92 version of the drivers can be downloaded at NVIDIA's web site and fixes issues in games like Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Halo, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. This is just for the 8800 chip; no other NVIDIA cards support this driver release.

Frag Dolls Win Rainbow Six Vegas Tournament

 

Make a comment to them about "being in the kitchen." I dare you.

Source: Frag Dolls Win Rainbow Six Vegas Tournament
Originally published on Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:08:08 GMT

QuakeCon 2007 Details

 

12th annual event proving to be the largest yet

Source: QuakeCon 2007 Details
Originally published on Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:08:04 GMT