The Elder Scrolls Online!
The Elder Scrolls Online has finally been revealed via GameInformer’s June cover!
The Zenimax Online team have been working on the game for several years now, which will be set a millennium before the events of Skyrim with an entirely new story for players to discover. There will apparently be three player factions, with PvP conflict as well as PvE.
More information will be posted to GameInformer’s Elder Scrolls Online hub as it is released!
The EA Indie Bundle
EA have decided to get in on the indie bundle scene.. with the EA Indie Bundle, launched on Steam.
This bundle has been causing a bit of a stir amongst some indie developers, with accusations that the huge company is just cashing in on the popularity of “indie” bundles, and more arguments about what the term “indie” means. The games in the bundle are apparently EA Partners games.. the label which publishes third party games from independent developers.
So.. the games..
HotHead Games‘ DeathSpank, and DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue, Vanguard Games‘ action adventure Gatling Gears; Klei Entertainment‘s action games Shank and Shank 2; and Trapdoor Inc.‘s stealthy puzzler Warp, available for £14.38 until 9th May.. 70% off against £47.94 if buying all the games at full price: a far cry from the usual indie bundles which start off in single figures 😉
I did notice that Gatling Gears comes with a dirty word.. DRM. This game also has a five machine activation limit. Would this be in place if not for EA?
Indie Royale: The May Hurray Bundle
The latest Indie Royale bundle to be launched is the May Hurray Bundle, with six games and the now usual music bonuses.
The first game in the bundle is Dungeon Defenders, an addictive tower defense RPG game with lots of loot and skills to learn by Trendy Entertainment.
Portal 2: Perpetual Testing Initiative
Valve have released the trailer for Portal 2’s Perpetual Testing Initiative (PeTI): the Puzzle Maker with Steam Workshop integration, due to be released for free on PC on the 8th May!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7rZO2ACP3A]
More information is available on the official site.
The Indie Gala 4
The latest Indie Gala bundle is now available for purchase, again pay what you want, but with a beat the average price in place for two of the games and the bonuses which will only be revealed during the second week of sale.
Games listed are: A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda, a side-scrolling platformer by Extend Interactive; arcade-style Alien Shooter, by Sigma Team; Disciples II: Gallean’s Return, a compilation edition of strategy game Disciples II and expansions Dark Prophecy and Guardians of the Light, by Strategy First; and Altitude, aerial combat from Nimbly Games; with Boss Baddie WAKE being revealed as the first of the bonus games.
Confirmation of Half Life 3?
Develop Online have posted an article linking to a podcast from Seven Day Cooldown in which Gabe Newell talks about “a game that fans have been waiting for”.
Concept changes are being blamed for the delay to the project, and Valve prefer not to let people know too much about development which is still subject to change.. they believe it’s fairer to fans to say nothing than “drive people more crazy”.
Personally, I’m glad to just know it’s in development after all.. and I’m happy to wait for the awesome game I expect this to be 🙂
Diablo III Open Beta Weekend
Blizzard have announced that the Diablo III Beta will be opened up this weekend!
From Friday, April 20 at 21:01 CEST, until Monday, April 23 at 19:00 CEST you’ll be able to log in, team up with friends, and play each of the five heroic classes to level 13 as you fight to save the world from the impending demonic invasion.
Woop! 🙂
The Humble Botanicula Debut and Be Mine 2
The latest Humble Bundle is now out, with games available on a pay what you want scheme with money split between developers, charity, or the Humble Bundle. The charity this time is the World Land Trust, an international conservation charity. It seems that the Humble Bundle have changed their terms slightly this time, with Steam keys only available to those who have paid at least $5.
There’s a point and click theme to the games in the bundle this time with Botanicula, Machinarium and Samorost 2 from Amanita Design. For those paying more than the average price, there’s also Biograf’s full length feature film Kooky and Vector Park’s Windosill to check out.. and soundtracks are included with Botanicula, Machinarium and Samorost 2!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_0s65bYZmM]
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Various Gaming News
Indie Royale’s The Spring Bundle has been released, featuring six indie games: Futuremark‘s tower defence variant Unstoppable Gorg, Soldak Entertainment‘s action RPG Depths of Peril, Secret Base‘s platformer Tobe’s Vertical Adventure, all available on Steam, and three downloadable games from Radiangames: twin-stick RPG Inferno+, puzzler Slydris, and a twin-stick arcade shooter, Ballistic. The bundle is available on a pay what you want scheme with a minimum price currently just under £3, but those who pay at least $5 or £3.15 will also receive Danimal Cannon’s chiptune music album Roots!
THQ have announced that Darksiders 2 is to be delayed, apparently at the request of Vigil, and will now not launch on July 29th in the UK. This is good news, as it means the developers will be able to properly polish the game. THQ have had a boost from the sales of Saints Row: The Third, which has sold over 4 million copies and brought in more revenue for the company than expected. (more…)
Free Fallout from GOG.com!
The post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout, by Interplay, is currently available for free on GOG.com!
GOG.com have recently relaunched themselves, changing their name from Good Old Games to simply GOG, but continuing to offer games with no DRM.
Fallout will be available for 48 hours, until 23.50 GMT on 8th April.