Variety has revealed even more information about the game based on the unmade Ghostbusters sequel. Apparently, in addition to the talents of the original Ghostbusters, Ernie Hudson, who played Winston Zeddmore, and Annie Potts, who played Janine Melnitz, will also be lending their talents. The article also says the game will be available on all the major platforms, with the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions being developed by Terminal Reality aimed at the “core gamer demographic,” and another version being developed by Red Fly Studio will develop a version for “families and casual gamers” for the PS2, Wii and DS.Terminal Reality, in case you aren’t familiar with the name, developed Terminal Velocity (a great DOS game), the Aeon Flux game, Blood Rayne and the Metal Slug Anthology. Red Fly Studio has started developing only one other game, Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars (I shit you not), though their about page shows some pretty impressive credits, including Deus Ex, Anachronox and the aforementioned Blood Rayne.
More players from the movies does up the chance of Ghostbusters goodness, but with two developers working on games for a total of six platforms, the liklihood these games will be anything more than a “But you used to love Ghostbusters!” holiday bargain bin title plummets much farther than Winston or Janine could hope to reach. Still, gotta keep the faith. Mushroom Men looks just wacky enough to be actually interesting, so you never know. Just have to keep our fingers crossed and see what happens.
Previously, Turok was planned to be a next gen console title only, Touchstone today announced that it ill also be coming to the Windows PC. The console version by Propaganda Games is expected on February 8th, 2008 with the PC version which is being handled at Aspyr Studios to come later.
LONDON, England — (November 2, 2007) — Turok, the epic, sci-fi first person shooter, will be released in spring 2008 for Windows PC, Touchstone announced today. Touchstone previously announced that Turok, one of next year’s most anticipated games, will be available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Developed by Propaganda Games, Turok for consoles will be available at retail stores on February 8th, 2008.
“First person shooters have a rich history on the Windows PC platform and are known for having enthusiastic, dedicated fans,†said Josh Holmes, vice president and general manager, Propaganda Games. “Turok will be an unforgettable experience ideal for the Windows PC platform when it becomes available in 2008.â€
Turok is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter set on a dark, mysterious planet in the future. Players take on the role of Joseph Turok, a former black ops commando, now part of an elite special forces squad, known as Whiskey Company, which is on a mission to take down a war criminal – Turok’s former mentor, Roland Kane. Set on a planet inhabited by Kane and his Mendel-Gruman Corporation soldiers, Turok must use his elite military training to elude Kane’s well-trained army and the ravenous, unpredictable dinosaurs, huge insects and other massive creatures that populate the environment.
Brought to Windows PC by Aspyr Studios, Turok will feature an engaging, story-driven single player experience and multiplayer modes for up to 16 players per game
Midway and Epic announce that Unreal Tournament 3 is gold, and the multiplayer shooter sequel will ship for the PC November 19 and the PS3 soon thereafter:
Midway and Epic today announced that Unreal Tournament 3 has gone to gold master for the PC. Developed by the team behind the critically acclaimed video game Gears of War, Unreal Tournament 3 is currently scheduled to ship in North America on November 19th for the PC with a suggested retail price of $49.95 and $59.95 for the collector’s edition. The PlayStation®3 version will follow soon. Unreal Tournament fans can get a taste of the compelling first person shooter by checking out the previously released single-player trailer below, or download the beta demo that is available now.
We have a release date that we are working to at the moment, however we’re keeping it under our hats for the time being as many things may change as a result of testing before we hit that date. Be sure, there will be an announcement well in advance of our release date.
2. The Beta Test
2.1 How will I know if I’ve been accepted into the beta test?
The beta test for Kwari will run over several months, starting very small and build gradually. At each stage of the test we’ll bring in more players until eventually we hit open beta at which point all applicants will be invited to join.
You will be contacted by Kwari with details on how to take part in the beta in advance of that stage commencing.
2.2 Will beta testers need to use real money?
No.
All the money in beta testing will be simulated. Every player will have a fixed amount of beta cash to use (which isn’t real!) in order to test the game. At fixed intervals during the test every player’s beta cash will be restocked.
3. Playing Kwari
3.1 Will I be able to play Kwari without paying money?
Yes, Kwari will include a practise mode which will simulate the cash for ammo and game play. Every player who registers to play the game will receive enough practise cash to get to learn the game before playing for real.
When a player then joins the real game they will be credited with further practise funds so they can keep their skills sharp once playing for money.
3.2 Will team play be possible in Kwari?
Kwari has been designed to be a solo experience with every player playing it for themselves. As such it has been made as difficult as possible to identify other players in the game while playing it to avoid people who know each other working together. Kwari is a game which puts your individual ability to the test, not your ability to work as a team.
3.3 What’s to stop highly skilled players taking out new players for easy cash?
Kwari includes a bespoke skill matching system designed to pitch players against others of similar ability. The rating of your skill is not purely based on your accuracy, or the number of kills you’ve gained, the rating is built up from many areas of the game. To that end it is not a rating of how good you are at first person shooters, rather it is a rating of your competency at Kwari – it is entirely possible that you can increase your skill level without ever firing a shot!
This system will not, however, punish long term players. Your skill level will go down as well as up in order to ensure that you are always able to be in a game that you have a good chance of winning.
3.4 How does The Pill work?
The Pill spawns on every Pill mode map at a certain point within the round, these points can be identified by the unique mark on the floor of the level. The jackpot assigned to the Pill is split in two ways – the player who held the Pill longest, and the player who finishes the round with the Pill. If you fulfil both these criteria you win both parts of the Pill jackpot.
When the Pill spawns it will immediately be visible to all players in the level, and if you’re the one carrying it you can be certain it means that you’re a target.
The jackpot for the Pill is fuelled by several elements – self-inflicted damage, damage done by traps and costs associated to the pickups in game.
For every weapon, health pack and other optional pickup in the game a cost is attached, a percentage of this cost is then cycled into the Pill jackpot, as well as all the other prizes in the game. None of this pickup cost is taken by Kwari; it all goes back into prizes.
3.5 Will Kwari contain in-game advertising?
Advertising within Kwari is something that we’re considering, however for the initial release of the game it will not contain in-game advertising.
If at any point advertising is included in the game it will be in a manner which enhances either gameplay or the prizes available in game.
3.6 Kwari Winnings and Tax
Any money made through Kwari will be subject to the laws of your own country regarding taxable capital gains.
Tax in the case of large winnings will not be deducted by Kwari and it will be the responsibility of individual players to ensure they are abiding by their national taxation rules.
3.7 Is Kwari Gambling?
No, Kwari is a game of skill.
Kwari has been developed to ensure at all stages that success is generated by the ability of the player rather than luck in any fashion. This brings the game under the umbrella heading of being a game of skill and not a gambling enterprise.
Everything, from the exchange of cash due to shooting another opponent, to gaining the main map prize associated with the Pill, to winning a monthly key jackpot is down to the skill of the individual player. Nothing is decided through chance, it is the actions of the players in the game that dictate exactly who wins and how much.
Players are balanced in terms of their ability in the game to ensure that at no point should you ever be in a situation where you face someone who will dominate the entire match. As such every game of Kwari you play will see you on an equal footing to your opponents, it comes down to your skills, tactics and decisions you make as to whether you come out ahead or not.
3.8 How do Key Jackpots work?
Key Jackpots are generated over time from the cost of picking up weapons and power-ups in the game. Depending on the length of the Key Series attached to the Jackpot it will payout with a certain frequency, be that hourly, daily, monthly and so on.
The simplest way to explain how this system works is through example.
The Bronze Key Series is a Jackpot prize that pays out once an hour and is usually worth between K$50 and K$60 in value. In order to win the prize you have to be the first person of all active Kwari players to collect the entire Bronze Key Series, which in this case is 3 keys.
Keys are found in destructable crates in every Pill map in the game, and this is the only way to get them, however keys are not the only thing that can be found in crates. Crates also contain regular weapons and pickups, and cash prizes, which while often quite small can make the difference between a round in profit or not. There is a small cost for each one you destroy (the Kwari Corporation takes a dim view of people blowing up their containers!) However this charge will be minute and, as with other game charges, be cycled into more prizes you can win.
When picking up a key you won’t know which series it belongs to right away - maybe it will be the elusive last one you need for the week jackpot, maybe it’ll be another one for your collection toward the big 6 month prize. At any rate it’s always worth picking up as the biggest prizes in Kwari come from key jackpots!
Keys spawn in the every game on a constant basis, and there is no advantage to be had by playing at a certain level or certain game type - every player has an equal shot at getting all the keys first.
4. Money
How does Kwari make money? We generate money from the game purely through the sale of ammo. The price has not been finalised yet, but it will not be expensive - after all, charging too much to play the game would severely dampen the interest in playing it. The ideal that we’re working towards is that the cost of ammo will be significantly outweighed by a successful, profitable single match.
This ammo charge allows us to provide the servers and infrastructure for players to compete on as well as financing further support, development and improvement of the game after it has been released. How are prizes funded? There are several ways the game creates prize money; the first and most frequent being a cost assigned to all weapons and pickups. The exact price will vary between different games, but for the sake of the following example we’ll say that every item (weapon, health, power-ups and so on) costs 5 Kwari cents to pick up.
From this 5c the majority is immediately cycled straight into the map jackpot, a share of which can be won either by carrying the Pill for the longest time or finishing the map in possession of it.
The remainder of this charge is then pooled into the other prizes in the game, such as Key Jackpots, Trophy Rewards and Crate cash drops.
100% of this 5c charge is cycled into prizes, none of it goes to Kwari.
Crates also cost a small amount to destroy, as they are the only place to find keys and cash drops, but once again the cost of this is put straight into the total prize fund.
In the event that a prize is not won at the end of a match, the Pill being left entirely alone for the duration of a match for example, the money is put straight back into the prize fund so it can still be won. Once again, none of this prize money goes to Kwari, the only time Kwari makes money is when you buy ammo.
4.1 How does Kwari allow me to handle my money?
The first part of your account is your Bankroll. This account is the one you transfer money from your payment system of choice into and out of the game from. This account is never touched by the game unless you authorise it, unless you win a Key Series Jackpot, at which point your winnings are put directly into your Bankroll.
The second account is your Game Account, often also referred to as Game Balance. This account sits with you in game and collects winnings from shooting other players, the Pill, crates and so on. Any charges for pickups, fines for self damage or traps, or costs from being shot are deducted from this account. Each stake level (1c per health point, for example) carries a recommended minimum Game Balance before you can join. Transfers between Game Balance and Bankroll happen in the lobby area of the game. If at any point your Game Balance drops to zero while in game you will be ejected from the game.
Finally is your ammo, which while not strictly an account does tie to the others. Ammo can be bought in batches of 5000 (currently, this may be subject to change) from the lobby and in game, the charge for which (is being finalised - but won’t be expensive) deducted from your Bankroll.
4.2 Who is Kwari aimed at?
Kwari is intended to be playable and potentially profitable to anyone who can play a first person shooter. It is not just aimed at elite first person shooter veterans, although they’re as able to make a killing in the game as anyone else.
Through skill matching players will face off against players who have performed to an equal level of competence as themselves which means that in every match you have an equal footing to those you’re playing against.
A new player entering the game for the first time will find that within very few rounds of play they will be able to hold their own in the game and make a profit without it seeming impossible or even too difficult as they’ll be playing against players of their own standard.
Additionally, there will be several different game stake levels to play at and over time better players will choose to move to higher stake games to increase the amount they can win. Even then skill matching is in effect, so the lowest skill-ranked player can still find a way to game when playing for more money.
This system allows Kwari to be playable by anyone who can play a first person shooter, regardless of how good they are, and while in every game some players will come out ahead and others behind, the system is designed so that nobody should be on a losing streak for long.
4.3 How can I make money from Kwari?
Shooting other players – The most straightforward way to reap financial rewards is to point your weapon at choice at the nearest opponent and fill them full of lead/rockets/whirling blades/superheated plasma.
Any damage you deal to other players will instantly make your bankroll rise, you don’t have to kill a player to make money, just damage them. Obviously, everyone else will be doing the same thing, so make sure you inflict maximum damage while minimizing the damage you accrue.
The Pill – There are several strategies around the Pill, which you are well advised to review on www.kwari.com. You don’t have to hold the pill the whole time to win the map jackpot; just holding it for the longest or being the player that has it when the map ends will secure you 50% of the money. Of course, the ideal scenario would be to hold it the longest AND end the map with it in your grasp, but with 15 other players all thinking the same thing that is going to be a hard fought exercise.
Cash In Crates – Located throughout the levels in Kwari are destructible crates, which can contain anything from weapons to pickups to jackpot keys to money! Shooting a crate will make it explode revealing its
Jackpots – A complete explanation of jackpots is available on www.kwari.com
So there’s a broad spectrum of ways to make money in Kwari; from the instant gains from shooting players and finding cash in crates, to the strategies and tactics around the Pill, to the longer term goal of winning a Jackpot.
Vile Studios today announced their premier title, Project V.I.L.E., a beefed-up Sci-Fi Fantasy MMORPG that brings many facets of the science fiction genre together in a massively multiplayer online format. Project V.I.L.E. is being developed for the PC platform, but Vile Studios is looking into releasing this epic Sci-Fi Fantasy MMORPG across multiple platforms (xbox360, and PS3). Project V.I.L.E. is in early production solely in Vile Studio’s Brisbane studios and is scheduled to be released late 2008
“Project V.I.L.E. is going to be a full-flavored, shooting, fighting, action-packed Sci-Fi MMORPG which gamers, both casual and dedicated, can really sink their teeth into. We will be incorporating and twisting all of the coolest concepts the Sci-Fi genre has been known for and we have all been eager to see in a Sci-Fi game†said Vile Studio’s Creative Director, Ashley Hodgetts.
Unlike the majority of MMORPG titles which have saturated the gaming market with wizards and warriors, dragons and all things fantasy, Project V.I.L.E. is based in a dark and distant future. Also unlike most MMORPG type games where the focus is on the storyline, in Project V.I.L.E. the focus is to get rich, get the gear and kill as many of your enemies as possible. There is an underlying storyline and Project V.I.L.E.’s flow follows this but takes a back seat to the thrill of the action.
Featuring a proprietary in-house next generation 3D Engine, Project V.I.L.E. delivers advanced 3D graphics, effects and deep immersive gameplay. Project V.I.L.E. offers thousands of gamers the ability to out-wit, band together, steal, profit and to climb over one another for greater glory for their Faction and ultimately for themselves.
A state-of-the-art combat system allows for mind-blowing weaponry and hand-to-hand combat against multiple opponents. “Unlike Fantasy MMORPGs, this is set in the future, so you get all sorts of damage dealing weaponry which you can fire from various distances, as well as melee weapons – for when you have to get close and personal.†Ashley continues “Also, instead of giving players little horses to run around on, we are giving them customizable battle-vehicles, including walking mechs, hovering bikes and other cool personal machinery. Players will be able to call them from a spaceship in orbit and either battle in PvP (Player-Versus-Player) or use them as transport.â€
Instead of using the classic class-based system for assigning players their roles, Project V.I.L.E. will follow a skill hierarchical system which awards players “Skill-points†for everything they kill. These points are then “cashed in†to gain the desired skills. If a player wants to primarily be a soldier, they can allocate their points into areas such as Gunnery, Hand-to-hand combat and Spec-Ops. As they progress in level, they can choose to change their training to better suit their needs i.e. if there is a shortage of medics, then a player can choose to train in this field.
Players level up by completing set missions. Increased stats and skills are obtained on each level and also some selective skills can be gained over time. Choosing to complete missions from particular parties will gain players reputation with that party, which would be redeemable for items, money and other worldly possessions. Players travel from planet-to-planet to level up. Each race has its very own home world, moon(s) and solar systems where safe travel can only be given to races of the same faction. On each home world, a player will gain the necessary skills to venture into the contested regions of space for PVP, epic instances and group raids.
“A really exciting feature of Project V.I.L.E. is that during the game, players may be called to fight a waging war on a planetary level. Medics, Troopers, Pilots and the other skill sets will be called upon to defend their species. On arrival to the war area, players with certain skills will be given items to help them fight - i.e. Pilots will be given small drop ships to drop the troops off - they will need to take troops with them to the surface - then pick up more troops and supplies before having to go to battle themselves. Each quest involved in this type of world event will give players awesome rewards. Medics will need to heal so many people to gain rep, troopers will need to take out so many enemies, etcâ€. Ashley continues “A Call to Arms would be announced when a critical region of space is falling to the other side or if the other faction(s) reach the player’s home world.â€
What’s that you say? One more Tom Clancy franchise is on its way … no really it’s new.
Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today announced the creation of Tom Clancy’s Air Combat, a new Tom Clancy franchise being developed by Ubisoft’s Bucharest studio for next generation consoles and PC. The first air combat game taking place in Tom Clancy’s universe, the brand will launch in 2008.
“Ubisoft has an unrivalled track record of creating and sustaining new brands,†said Serge Hascoet, chief creative officer at Ubisoft. “Our commitment to refreshing our catalogue with regular introduction of new IPs is what keeps gamers coming back for more. With this new brand we’re redefining the aerial combat genre and extending the Tom Clancy universe to deliver a compelling new action titles to next-generation gamers.â€
Set in the near future, the game imagines a world where a private military force has accumulated such power that it attacks the USA. Thrust into the cockpits of incredibly powerful and technologically advanced jet fighters, gamers will benefit from hi-tech piloting assistance, providing comfort, security and enhanced perception. As players gain skills and confidence, they will be able to shed the assistance. But before choosing performance over security, they’ll have to weigh the risks carefully.
“We are confident that this new brand will become the new benchmark for flight combat games and will be, like other Tom Clancy based games, an instant online multiplayer hit,†says Sebastien Delen, managing director of Ubisoft’s Bucharest studio. “The player will experience all the action and excitement of modern air combat, from intense dog fighting to tactical strikes.”
Well, I sat down and tried to find all the E3 2007 game trailers and previews I could get my little hands on. I have been able to put together about 40 at this time, more to come as soon as I can. Here is the List we have at this time.
Age Of Conan | Army Of Two | Assassin’s Creed | Blacksite Area 51 | Burnout Paradise | Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare | Destroy All Humans 3: Path Of The Furon | Enemy Territory Quake Wars | Fatal Inertia | General News And Rants | God Of War: Chains Of Olympus | Guitar Hero Iii: Legends Of Rock | Halo 3 | Halo 3 Campaign | Halo Wars | Haze | Heavenly Sword | Lost Odyssey | Madden NFL 08 | Mass Effect | Medal Of Honor : Airborne | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots | Naruto: Rise Of Ninja | Nights Journey Of Dreams | Project Gotham Racing 4 | Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction | Resident Evil 5 | Socom: U.S. Navy Seals Tactical Strike | Soul Calibur Legends | Spider Man Friend Or Foe | Spore | Super Mario Galaxy | Syphon Filter: Logans Shadow | The Bourne Conspiracy | The Settlers Vi | Timeshift | Trailer | Turok Enemy Infiltration | Undertow | Unreal Tournament 3 | Viva Pinata Party Animals
All the Trailers listed can be viewed on our new E3 2007 Game Trailer page. If you Find more that are not listed here please let me know, I will get them added as soon as I can. The page can be slow waiting to on the trailers to load, but hang in it’s worth the wait.
Product Specifications: Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Gearbox Software (PC, Xbox 360, and PS3) Ship Date: TBD Category: First-Person Shooter Rating: RP (M anticipated)
Product Description
Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway brings the critically acclaimed squad-based WWII shooter into the next generation of gaming with amazing graphics and sound, new cutting-edge gameplay features, and a totally redesigned online component. Delivering on the franchise’s compelling story, unrivaled authenticity and intense squad-based action, Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway drops you into Operation Market Garden, the largest paratrooper operation in World War II. Lead Matt Baker, Joe Hartsock and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division as they fight to open “Hell’s Highway†in a daring bid for a quick end to the war.
Key Features:
Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway - next generation: The classic authentic, squad-based combat series explodes on next-generation hardware, offering unprecedented graphics and features.
New Story, New Setting. Follow Matt Baker, Joe Hartsock and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division in “Operation Market-Garden†as they fight to open famous “Hell’s Highway†in a daring bid for a quick end to the war.
Live the life of an enlisted man: Get orders from HQ, go on patrol, spot the enemy and set up a devastating ambush. For the first time, finding the enemy before they find you is part of the challenge.
Unprecedented character design: Lifelike characters look, talk, move and think with incredible realism. Game characters interact with the player and each other like true brothers in arms, trading ammunition, helping wounded allies and civilians, working together to man team-operated weapons, and more.
Rich cinematic experience: As the squad leader, you interact with and get to know your brothers. Each character has his own personality, unique story and background, and grows through the game.
Powerful new units under your command: Players can use or command combined arms teams – machine gun crews create intense fire, bazooka crews destroy buildings and tanks, and mortar crews pound the enemy from a distance.
Step into the boots of a soldier: Hit the dirt and get prone, rip grenades from your chest and hurl them at your enemies. See and feel the blast of nearby explosions.
Completely new multiplayer experience: Fight major multiplayer battles with dozens of players on each side; all the intensity and accessibility of Deathmatch meshed with the squad-based gameplay that helped make Brothers In Arms® famous.
Destroyable cover: Keep your men moving and choose your cover wisely – simulated with real physics, weapons will damage, dent, scorch and destroy the world around you.
With over 40 Fact Sheets already and E3 2007 is only 2 days old. I have placed the Game Fact Sheets here in one post. I call it “The E3 2007 Game Fact Sheets Roundup” I have gathered together all the Fact sheets I could find and posted them in one place to make looking for the info about your favorite game go much more smooth. Use the navigation links in the posts to make it faster to find what your looking for. Full Story »
Well This is not the place to find them. But If you Think you can do a better job of posting or reporting on news stories? Prove it. OLGn is searching for talented writers to assist in the site’s daily news writing duties.
We are looking for smart, capable freelance news writers to lend a hand [...]
In case you haven’t heard, the word on the street is that Jeff Gerstmann, long time reviewer and current editorial director for Gamespot, has been fired for giving Kane and Lynch a mediocre, though very negatively worded, score. According to the rumor mill, Eidos got pissed and threatened to withdraw the huge amount of advertising [...]
Video Game Chartz has released the hardware sales chart for America for the week ending Nov. 10, and once again Nintendo’s Wii is first and Sony has come in last.
The Wii came in first for the week at 192, 482, followed by the Xbox 360 at 173,895 and the DS at 142,299. Sony’s PSP [...]
