StarCraft II 1.3 patch now in beta testing
Blizzard are releasing another main patch for StarCraft II, and are allowing players to try it out before the official release date. The 1.3 patch is now current available to download via StarCraft’s public test server.
Patch 1.3 adds a new Grandmaster League to the 1v1 ladder matches. This league is available to the top 200 players in each of StarCraft II’s global regions. Additionally, the usual fixes of balance changes and general bug fixes are all present and correct, along with some improvements to the Join Custom Game feature and the game’s editing tools.
The full patch notes can be found over at the StarCraft II forums.
[via Big Download]
Nine new maps coming to StarCraft 2; others removed from playlists
Blizzard are making some changes to StarCraft II’s multiplayer. The popular RTS will be receiving nine new maps to its ladder rotation. But with added content comes some disappearances; some old maps are being pulled from the ladder matches section. Fans of the maps that are removed needn’t fear though, since they will still be available in custom matches.
Blizzard have provided a list of the new maps and those that have been removed, along with commentaries explaining the decisions, which you can read here. The developer has also promised more maps in the coming weeks, “including a user-made 1v1 map that is currently being featured in the Global StarCraft League”.
[via Big Download]
Interview: Chris Taylor on Age of Empires Online
Yesterday we learned that Robot Entertainment are handing development for Age of Empires Online over to Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander creators Gas Powered Games. We had a chat with CEO of Gas Powered Games, Chris Taylor about the challenges of taking the reins on a series as revered as Age of Empires.
Dawn of War 2: Retribution preview – The Guard are coming
There’s an old Warhammer 40k joke. “What do you get when you tape a flashlight to a Lasgun? A double barrelled Lasgun.” Even the Imperial Guard weapon of choice is an object of fun. They’re one of the most maligned races in 40k. They’re fleshy, poorly armed and poorly armoured fodder in a universe of genetic super soldiers and alien killing machines. They spent most of Dawn of War 2 and Chaos Rising dying in droves and being bailed out by the Space Marines. In Dawn of War 2: Retribution, that’s all going to change. The multiplayer beta has just kicked off, and the Imperial Guard are stealing the show.
The best Starcraft II mods available now
Yesterday Blizzard revealed the three custom game modes they’ve designed using the StarCraft 2 editing tools. However good they turn out to be, they’ll struggle to compete with the wealth of player-made offerings made over the past 6 months using the same kit. The community has done some amazing things. There are mods out there that can turn StarCraft 2 into a fully fledged RPG, a survival horror, a tower defence game or even a game of space combat. Read on for our pick of eight of the best.
Hearts of Iron III to receive new expansion
Hearts of Iron III is to receive a new expansion pack – For The Motherland – Paradox Interactive have announced today. Click more for the details.
Heroes of Newerth update adds casual mode and item store
The DotA-esque Heroes of Newerth has just been bumped up to version 2.0. The free update has added a series of new features designed to make the game more accessible to new players, including a revamped matchmaking system and a casual mode to help new players learn the game. Other additions include an item store that will let players pay extra for cosmetic items. Read on for the full update details and a trailer.
Gamers holding Rumble in the Bronze StarCraft 2 charity grudge match
Rumble in the Bronze is a charity StarCraft 2 event in which six teams are set to fight for donations to hospitals of their choice. This competition has more going for it than a good name and a good cause, the first match will be fought with an interesting ruleset. It’s a 2v2 scrap in which the base building and economy is handled by Diamond players, while all the nitty gritty troop control is done by less experienced Bronze players. The whole event will be broadcast live, and they’re taking donations for Child’s Play now. Read on for details.
Dawn of War 2: Retribution Eldar Heroes detailed
Relic have revealed more information on the four heroes we’ll be commanding as part of the Eldar single player campaign in Dawn of War 2: Retribution. Read on for images and an overview of each of the heroes.
StarCraft 2 fan creates Protoss build order program
Recently a programmer called Lomilar created EvolutionChamber, a computer program designed to come up with optimal build orders for the Zerg race in StarCraft 2. One of the first strategies the program produced was a deadly seven Roach rush that had players on the Starcraft 2 forums scrambling to invent a counter. Now a different AI coder has taken Lomilar’s program, and rewritten it to work for the Protoss race.
Stronghold 3 opens trebuchet ammo poll, Kingdoms beta launches
You’re in a castle. You have enough food and clean water to last for months. “Ha!”, you think “that foolish besieging army will never breach these fine walls. Truly we are safe.” Then comes the distant sound of a trebuchet firing, and something sails over the wall, blocking out the sun. Is it a cow? Is it a pack of diseased badgers? Firefly Studios, developers of castle building and besieging sim, Stronghold 3, want you to decide.
Men of War: Assault Squad open beta is go
Men of War may be one of the most generic sounding game names ever devised, but this is a unique and challenging RTS series that blends incredibly detailed troop micromanagement with huge battles spanning entire towns. The latest entry into the series, Assault Squad, is holding an open beta now on Steam, so if you haven’t had a chance to try Men of War’s intense cocktail of massive tanks, fragile soldiers and extremely questionable voice acting then you’re in luck. Read on for the full details.
Victoria 2 review
By the time the sun sets on your empire in Victoria 2, right around the time the Nazis are getting uppity, you’ll have seen the early 19th century in full regalia: industrialisation, the American Civil War, communism and nationalism all make appearances as you watch a century of national improvement and expansion unfold.
Computer program finds devastating Starcraft 2 build orders
A StarCraft 2 fan called Lomilar has written a program called Evolution Chamber that uses genetic algorithms to find the most efficient and devastating builds for StarCraft 2. So far the program has focused on finding the best build orders for the Zerg, and has already come up with some impressive results.
Dead Space devs to make C&C action game
[Update: It seems we misinterpreted the interview, and the new C&C game is actually under development by EALA, and not Viseral Games. EALA are the studio responsible for other recent Command & Conquer games.]
The creators of the space-ship horror game and limb amputation sim, Dead Space, have revealed that they’re working on a Command & Conquer game.
