RUSE expansion adds Japanese factions and new missions
Another slice of DLC has been released for Ubisoft’s sneaky RTS RUSE. The Pack of the Rising Sun adds a Japanese faction to the game. The new army boasts flamethrower units, prototype long range artillery cannons and ‘paper tanks.’ The pack also adds three new operations in which to test the new forces.
15 things we want to see in Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 is out this year. This is ridiculously exciting. The first game was just a great RPG in an exciting sci-fi universe, with an unusually strong protagonist. It wasn’t until the Mass Effect 2 that it started to feel like this decade’s Star Wars. Carrying our own Commander Shepard from one game to the next, including the consequences of their decisions, turned it into a unique gaming epic. And it’s going to wrap up terrifyingly soon.
But BioWare are still experimenting with how their game should work, in everything from the structure of the plot to the genre itself. Both Mass Effects have problems, ones they could solve with Mass Effect 3. So as we did with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, we’ve put together a list of the fifteen things we’d like to see to make Mass Effect 3 the Empire Strikes Back of the series instead of its Revenge of the Sith.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 patch to improve security
Infinity Ward are currently working on a patch for Modern Warfare 2 to close some security loopholes, hopefully stopping many of the hacks and exploits employed by cheaters. The patch is in testing now, and should be released soon.
Duke Nukem Forever to use Steamworks, pre-order deals announced
Gearbox have announced that Duke Nukem Forever will be using Steamworks. Whether you buy the game digitally, or on a disk, your game will have to be tied to a Steam account. Duke Nukem Forever is now available to pre-order from retailers as well. Pre-order bonuses include access to an in-game big head mode, T shirts and a trucker hat. The Balls of Steel edition is also available if you fancy getting your hands on a great big bust of the Duke. The game’s due out on May 3.
Blizzard’s Titan: what we can learn from the latest WoW patch?
A relatively small technical issue for Blizzard’s Warcraft servers on Sunday night and a couple of innocuous Blue posts might well signal that the company’s next MMO – codenamed Titan and confirmed back in December – is going to be FPS-based. What sort of convoluted logic do we arrive at for that reasoning? You may well ask…
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood release date announced
Ubisoft have finally announced a release date for Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood on PC. The game will come out on March 17 in the US and March 18 in Europe. The release date was announced on the Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood forums. Ubisoft also recently revealed a few of the PC exclusive features we can look forward to, including support for Nvidia 3D and Eyefinity multi monitor support. Check out the latest trailer, our preview or the Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood site for more on the game.
Shogun 2 demo out next week
Sega have just announced that Total War: Shogun 2 will be getting a demo through Steam on February 22. The demo will let players test out the campaign map and the game’s gorgeous battles. We’e played and reviewed Shogun 2, and given it a score of 92 and an Editor’s Choice award. You can read the full review in the latest issue of PC Gamer UK, which hits stores tomorrow, or in the May issue of PC Gamer US, which is out on March 29. Shogun 2 is set for release on March 15.
Dinosaurs in 3D!
If that title didn’t grab you attention, I’m not sure you’re reading the right site. How about I toss in “jetpacks, mechs and indie” as well? Spiral Game Studios just announced that they’ve found a way to put all five of those awesome things together. They had us at “dinosaur”.
And in other PC gaming news…
Today started with a picture of Tom Francis dressed as Moses, and somehow managed to get even better from there when we interviewed Braid creator Jonathan Blow. He nearly choked to death on a Croissant, and then declared social games to be “evil”. Could we top that? We took our best shot, Andy took a look at the very best Minecraft builds and found some truly spectacular structures.
The news train has been bringing in the goods today too. This morning we learned that there’s going to be a Dragon Age web series, Relic are planning their next RTS and we learned that we’ll be getting our hands on a Total War: Shogun 2 demo next week. Can’t … type. Too. Excited.
In between all the time we’ve spent today writing and impersonating biblical figures, we’ve managed to cram all of the news we haven’t covered on the site today into one handy list. Read on for your daily blitz of PC gaming news.
Dear Esther revealed: an indie Source Engine game
“Grief, loss, guilt, faith, illness… But it’s also about love and hope and redemption” That’s how Dear Esther’s designer describes his game.
Imagine a Source Engine title without any guns or physics puzzles. Dear Esther emerged from a research question proposed by Dr Dan Pinchbeck in Portsmouth University: “What would happen if a game was to focus purely on storytelling, to the exclusion of more traditional interactive elements? The project has gone from humble mod to commercial release on Steam, redesigned by one of the team behind the stark environments of Mirror’s Edge. It’s got potential to change how you think about games forever.
Issue 224 of PC Gamer UK has an in-depth feature on innovative title, but we like you so much that we’re giving away our interviews with the designer, developer and sound designer for free. Click more to get the scoop.
Gratuitous Space Battles: Galactic Conquests expansion out now
Gratuitous Space Battles provides a hands-off take on massive space battles. You customise your entire fleet, right down to the weapons and shields on each ship, and then set them up in formation and set them loose on the enemy. It combines chin-stroking strategic planning with explosive space-blam on a massive scale. The latest expansion adds new graphics, a single player campaign that lets you fight fleets designed by other players, and the ability to capture enemy ships.
Lineage 2 High Five update is live
The new High Five update has just landed for Lineage 2. The free update was created based on the suggestions and requests of Lineage 2 players. The patch adds a ton of new skills, along with new raid bosses and upgraded visuals. To celebrate the update, the game’s now on sale as well. Read on for details of the update.
New Relic RTS to be announced this summer
THQ’s head of Core Games, Danny Billson has tweeted to say that a new Relic RTS is headed our way. “The big announce for the next Relic RTS should come in August…that’s the plan.” Looking back through Relic’s impressive stable of games, there’s the atmospheric space RTS, Homeworld, just begging for another sequel. Or perhaps it’s time for Company of Heroes 2? Alternatively, it could be the launch of a whole new series. One thing’s for certain, it probably isn’t another Impossible Creatures game. What would you like to see Relic do next?
Alice: Madness Returns trailer features knives and apocalyptic butterflies
American McGee’s Alice was a strange, strange game. It put a macabre and often disturbing twist on the Alice in Wonderland tale. Judging from the brand new trailer, the sequel, Alice: Madness Returns will be just as warped and brilliant as the original.
Batman: Arkham City won’t have multiplayer
Ever since it was revealed that Catwoman would play a major part in Arkham City, there have been rumours of a co-op mode that might see the bat and the cat team up to take on the rogue criminals of Gotham. Sadly Rocksteady studio boss has spoken out to puncture these rumours, saying “Arkham City is a single-player only experience.”
