I totally called it...

heres a little snippet from Gamespot regarding a recently announced MMO called The Agency:

It's safe to assume that James Bond isn't a big massively multiplayer online game player. Sure, he has probably dabbled with World of Warcraft on one of those long flights from England to Russia, but we doubt orcs and paladins are really his thing. No, if he were to jump into an MMO, he'd probably wait until The Agency comes out. This MMO shooter from Sony Online Entertainment Seattle looks to provide a new take on the persistent online space by trading medieval fantasy for espionage, gadgets, and cocktails. We recently paid a visit to SOE Seattle's offices to see an updated build of the game in action.

I would just like to point out that if you read my post here, I came up with this a long time ago.

Heres the follow up on hinterland

A few questions many wanted answered:

Hi Jason:

Q: I was wondering if this game will be released via digital download (Steam or Impulse) ?
A: As I understand it, the game will be available for purchase via digital download via the Got Game Entertainment store which can be accessed via:
http://www.gotgameentertainment.com/hinterland/

Q: Will the people how own the previous version be required to re-purchase the enhanced game?
A: Yes. As the game costs only $19.99 it was the only financially-viable option.

Q: With the original game, Tilted Mill had planned to periodically release new content into the game (items, monsters, etc.) Is this still the current plan for Hinterland, or is a new approach being considered?
A: Not in the immediate future.

Hope this helps!

Hinterland: Orc Lords

As I have stated before, I am a pretty big fan of Tilted Mill, developer of Children of the Nile, a game that I consider to be one of if not the best real time civilization builder ever. Looking to break away from long development cycles, their next original game, Hinterland, debuted on Steam for $20. Although being far from state of the art, this little rpg/rts hybrid can be quite addictive, and has given me many hours of enjoyment.

So, imagine my glee when I discover that a new enhanced version is in the works. Unfortunately, Tilted Mill has been oddly quiet about its features. So in the interest of satisfying my curiosity, I contacted GotGame Entertainment and asked if they could clarify the differences between the old and new versions. Thankfully, they responded. Ill post it now:

Hi Jason:

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you sooner. In the GGE version, you can command an Orc tribe as Lord or Shaman, or lead a Human village as Human, Dwarf, Elf, or Undead Warrior. In the developer version you did not have the option to play as an Orc. Essentially, now, you can play as hero or villain.

Hope that helps!

Beverly
for Got Game Entertainment

To satisfy some of the other questions people have, I will be asking if owners of the original version will get credit towards the game, and if the enhanced version will be available via digital download Services.

A rare inside look

For those of you who didnt know. Chris Taylor's Gas Powered Games released a game called Demigod about a month ago. Personally, I think it is an 80%RTS/20%RPG game with really heavy multiplayer focus that kicks serious ass....now. Unfortunatly, the first 3-4 weeks of the game were mired by a complete failure of the games peer to peer multiplayer component, a bad sign with thats your games main focus.

Ihis personal blog, Brad Wardell CEO of Stardock went over what happened from release up until now and talks about whats next. For those of you in the IT field, especially involved in new product/service launches, I think its a rare glimpse of what happens when things take a very bad turn, and what went into bringing it back. This really could be used as a case study. Pretty fascinating read for me.

Demigod_So_what_the_hell_happened

13 years ends with a lawsuit

Via Bloomberg:

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the maker of the “Grand Theft Auto” video games, sued Apogee Software Ltd.’s 3D Realms over the failed development of a sequel to the “Duke Nukem” game called “Duke Nukem Forever.”

Take-Two, owner of the publishing rights to the game, said Apogee breached an agreement to design the latest installment of Duke Nukem, a game in which the player “shoots” enemies. The new version has been under development since 1997, the company said yesterday in a complaint in a state court in Manhattan.

3D Realms, which was based in Garland, Texas, never produced the game and instead closed its studio on May 6, terminated development of the game and fired employees who had been involved in the Duke Nukem project, Take-Two said.

“Apogee continually delayed the completion date for the Duke Nukem Forever,” Take-Two said in the complaint. “Apogee repeatedly assured Take-Two and the video-gaming community that it was diligently working toward competing development of the PC Version of the Duke Nukem Forever.”

Take-Two said in 2000 it had an agreement with Apogee and paid $12 million for publishing rights to the forthcoming game. In 2007, the two companies entered into a second agreement.

The children born when Duke Nukem Whenever was first conceptualized are now in their early teens. Yes, literally 13 years. By comparison is took roughly 8 years to develop the atom bomb.

Granted, they didn't have Einstein, but still.

Update: 3DR officially responds to Take Two Lawsuit

Its to long to copy, so Ill just link voodoo extremes post, which shows the entire press release.

Duke NukeEM....Probably Never

Rumors lately have been flying about regarding 3D Realms shutting its doors due to financial reasons. In a post on a message board, longtime web developer Joe Siegler confirmed it in a forum post stating "It's not a marketing thing. It's true. I have nothing further to say at this time."

Nothing like ending a 10 year developement cycle with nothing.

He ran for the president of Iran.....

Every once in awhile, something pops up that is so funny that I cant get it out of my head. This is one of those things:

And I raaaan. I ran so far away

Stalin, and his orchestra

via BigDownloads:

With info from the PC Gamer print article leaked out into the Internet, developer Tripwire Interactive has now sent out a formal press release officially announcing Red Orchestra: Heroes of Stalingrad.

If it actually involves running through Stalingrad playing the tuba, I'm so there.

What a stupid name....