General Game News

[Compound]

X-Com!!!!!!

X-Com! X-Com! X-Com!

No, not the shooter, a frigging turn based strategy game from Sid Meier's place.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-05-firaxis-xcom-enemy-unknown-announced

Civilization developer Firaxis is making XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a re-imagination of the classic turn-based strategy game.

US magazine Game Informer revealed Enemy Unknown, saying it "introduces a wider console audience to what made the storied franchise great in the first place". It launches on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this autumn.

"Unlike 2K Marin's previously announced XCOM shooter, which sparked tempers among longtime fans for turning its back on the series' cerebral roots, this title is a full-on strategy game that puts players in command of a global anti-alien defense force," Game Informer said.

"XCOM's leader needs a worldwide perspective where threats are identified, populations reassured, and national leaders mollified - but a tactical mind is just as critical considering every shot XCOM's soldiers fire on the battlefield is under the player's turn-based control."

Firaxis boss Steve Martin added: "It's been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We're huge fans of the original game and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM.

"We were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise."

Firaxis' XCOM has destructible tactical environments, and fuses a real-time strategic view with turn-based combat.

And here's Noah again:


Just because I love that shot.

And while I'm still going to play the hyphen-less XCom, this is great, great news for me.

[Scribblesense]

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/retail-stop-online-codes-and-we-will-share-pre-owned-revenue/089603?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Retail: Stop online codes and we will share pre-owned revenue

Publishers can get a bigger slice of pre-owned game sales at retail – if they’re willing to reach a compromise with stores.

Several games retailers have told MCV they’d be happy to share revenues from used game sales if publishers scrapped Online Pass codes or gave them a better deal on new stock.

A number of publishers such as EA, Ubisoft, THQ and more recently Warner Bros currently include one-time digital pass codes in certain new releases. These give customers free access to part of the in-game content which buyers of second hand versions must pay extra for.

Gordon Crawford from indie Gamespod told MCV: “As a retail store we would happily share part of the sale from a used game if we get something in return. Perhaps new games at better prices and no more online codes.”

In a statement sent to MCV, HMV said: “We all know how the business model in the industry is changing. So if there is any merit in this idea then it may be worth looking into.”

Julian Slater from Bits and Pieces added: “If you want to stop these one-time codes then yeah, fair enough, we’ll share revenues. If publishers gave me a better deal, then maybe. The publishers are not the poor man here.”

Other retailers are less confident publishers will stike a deal at all.

”We’d definitely like to do this, but I don’t see it being something publishers would implement,” said Chris Muckell from Xpress Games. “With new releases dropping in price after just the second week, I’d have thought their investments would be better in making money from DLC.”

Can somebody provide me a spit-take smiley? Thanks.

This isn't really a major development, and is only talk from a few small (compared to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and freaking Gamestop) retailers in one small European (compared to the US and Europe as a whole) market, but it's a nice start on the road to beating online passes to death.

Though the only thing I can see coming out of this is higher-priced games. And frankly I'd prefer the online passes.

[shodan]

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/retail-stop-online-codes-and-we-will-share-pre-owned-revenue/089603?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Retail: Stop online codes and we will share pre-owned revenue

Publishers can get a bigger slice of pre-owned game sales at retail – if they’re willing to reach a compromise with stores.

Several games retailers have told MCV they’d be happy to share revenues from used game sales if publishers scrapped Online Pass codes or gave them a better deal on new stock.

A number of publishers such as EA, Ubisoft, THQ and more recently Warner Bros currently include one-time digital pass codes in certain new releases. These give customers free access to part of the in-game content which buyers of second hand versions must pay extra for.

Gordon Crawford from indie Gamespod told MCV: “As a retail store we would happily share part of the sale from a used game if we get something in return. Perhaps new games at better prices and no more online codes.”

In a statement sent to MCV, HMV said: “We all know how the business model in the industry is changing. So if there is any merit in this idea then it may be worth looking into.”

Julian Slater from Bits and Pieces added: “If you want to stop these one-time codes then yeah, fair enough, we’ll share revenues. If publishers gave me a better deal, then maybe. The publishers are not the poor man here.”

Other retailers are less confident publishers will stike a deal at all.

”We’d definitely like to do this, but I don’t see it being something publishers would implement,” said Chris Muckell from Xpress Games. “With new releases dropping in price after just the second week, I’d have thought their investments would be better in making money from DLC.”

Can somebody provide me a spit-take smiley? Thanks.

This isn't really a major development, and is only talk from a few small (compared to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and freaking Gamestop) retailers in one small European (compared to the US and Europe as a whole) market, but it's a nice start on the road to beating online passes to death.

Though the only thing I can see coming out of this is higher-priced games. And frankly I'd prefer the online passes.

you see the online passes aggravate me because i rent games or buy them used usually because i dont have the money for brand new games.

[Compound]

Er...

Gamestop now offers Valve games in their online D/L shop. Which all use steam to play.

Um, I guess this is good news if you've got some GS credit and want to use it to buy, say, Portal 2 for the PC.

[Smith Dr John Smith]

http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/06/10332890-lawmaker-seeks-extra-tax-on-violent-video-games

So why aren't they taxing movies,TV shows,and books as well?

[mrbasehart]

http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/06/10332890-lawmaker-seeks-extra-tax-on-violent-video-games

So why aren't they taxing movies,TV shows,and books as well?

Not gonna happen.  Those lawmakers are about 20 years behind the times and don't actually realise that the video game business is bigger than TV, Film, and Books.  The political strength that holds will make things like this go away.

[shodan]

http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/06/10332890-lawmaker-seeks-extra-tax-on-violent-video-games

So why aren't they taxing movies,TV shows,and books as well?

Not gonna happen.  Those lawmakers are about 20 years behind the times and don't actually realise that the video game business is bigger than TV, Film, and Books.  The political strength that holds will make things like this go away.

yea they tried something similar in california, to try and treat violent video games as porn and put heavy restrictions on it but it was taken down by the Supreme Court on the basis of a First Amendment violation. id be very surprised if this went through.'

[Compound]

Holy cow!




Notch is, of course, the Minecraft Guy. Tim is Tim Schafer of, well, Psychonauts fame. (And other stuff.) If this goes through, wow. Just wow.

[Raefire]

 

http://www.doublefine.com/news/comments/the_double_fine_adventure-adventure_is_here/

Way to go, Notch!

[Russell]

I am not for rubbing out the used video game market. Seems like there's not much choice though the way the industry seems to be talking. However, if they are going to screw people over on jipping them out of discount prices for used games, why not make EVERY title available either online at a BIG discount, or all the features of a particular game available through third party vendors, like maybe Redbox? You know, like dispensing a code and a disc and permanent access in case a person is unlucky enough to have shitty or no internet connection? Hell, no matter how desolate your location, most people have a redbox within a few miles of them. Just allow people to copy the game to their console's HDD with a one time useable code.

[Variety of Cells]

http://www.doublefine.com/news/comments/the_double_fine_adventure-adventure_is_here/

Way to go, Notch!

Crazy. It's already at $170,000 of the proposed $400,000 budget and it's been up for exactly 3 hours. Got me to sign up for kick starter. I hope more games are funded this way. It puts the risk on the consumer, but it allows the company more leeway to do what it thinks needs to be done.

[Compound]

Crazy. It's already at $170,000 of the proposed $400,000 budget and it's been up for exactly 3 hours. Got me to sign up for kick starter. I hope more games are funded this way. It puts the risk on the consumer, but it allows the company more leeway to do what it thinks needs to be done.

An hour later, it's at $235k. I think this just might get funded. Just a hunch.

[Pak-Man]

It warms my Adventure-Gaming heart. I knew we were out there. There's still a market for a well-made adventure game.

[mrbasehart]

And now it's almost $600,000. 

[Pak-Man]

It'd be awesome if this thing ended up with a multi-million dollar budget. I wonder how they'd spend it all. :^)