Apocalypso's Atomic Arcade: 3/29/09

2009/04/04

Good Old Games sponsoring Shacknews contest: Pick Your own Prizes

Shacknews is having a competition and GOG.com is sponsoring it. The ten random winners each get to pick a free game from GOG.com’s catalogue.

This is what GOG.com currently has for you to choose from:

1nsane
Alien Nations
Apache vs. Havoc
Arx Fatalis
Battle Chess Special Edition
Beneath a Steel Sky
Beyond Good and Evil
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold
Blake Stone: Planet Strike
Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror
Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon
Cannon Fodder
Capitalism 2
Capitalism Plus
Castles
Castles 2
Colin McRae Rally 2005
Combat Chess
Conquest of the New World
Darkstar One
Descent
Descent 2
Descent 3 + Expansion
Die by the Sword + Expansion
Disciples 2 Gold
Disciples: Sacred Lands Gold
Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Earth 2140 Trilogy
Earth 2150 Trilogy
Earth 2160
Earthworm Jim 1
Earthworm Jim 2
Earthworm Jim 3D
Evolva
F/A-18E Super Hornet
Fallout
Fallout 2
Tactics
Far Cry
FlatOut
Freespace + Expansion
Freespace 2
Ghost Master
Giants: Citizen Kabuto
Gorky 17
Gothic
Gothic 2 Gold Edition
Heroes of Might and Magic
Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising
I.G.I. 2: Covert Strike
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946
In Cold Blood
Invictus: In the Shadow of Olympus
Jack Orlando: A Cinematic Adventure (DC)
Jagged Alliance
Jagged Alliance 2
Jagged Alliance 2 Wildfire
Jagged Alliance 2: Unfinished Business
Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
Kingdom: The Far Reaches
Kingpin: Life of Crime
Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader
Lure of the Temptress
M.A.X.
M.A.X. 2
MDK
MDK 2
Messiah
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Painkiller Black Edition
Panzer Elite: Special Edition
Patrician 3
Perimeter
Port Royale 2
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Pro Pinball Big Race USA
Pro Pinball Fantastic Journey
Pro Pinball Timeshock
Pure Pinball 2 REDUX
Redneck Rampage Collection
Rise of the Triad: Dark War
Robinson's Requiem Collection
Runaway: A Road Adventure
Sacred Gold
Sacrifice
Screamer
Second Sight
Sensible Soccer 2006
Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator
Seven Kingdoms 2
Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries
Shattered Steel
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Simon the Sorcerer
Simon the Sorcerer 2
Simon the Sorcerer 3D
Soldiers: Heroes of World War II
Spellforce Platinum
Stonekeep
Stronghold
Stronghold Crusader
Teenagent
The Feeble Files
The Guild: Gold Edition
Toca Race Driver 3
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six
Unreal 2: The Awakening SE
Unreal Gold
Unreal Tournament 2004 ECE
Unreal Tournament GOTY
Warlords Battlecry 3
Waxworks

http://www.gog.com/en/frontpage/
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58017

Good Old Games now featuring Far Cry

Among all the other titles that are in their classic collection of games, GOG.com now has Far Cry in their catalogue of games as one of the latest additions. They’re calling it a “surprise release”. Remember, this is the game that won Game of the Year Awards back in 2004. Far Cry just turned 5 the other day, on the 23rd of March.

http://www.gog.com/en/frontpage/

2009/04/03

BioShock 2 Identity Crisis?

In the past week, first it was still BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams. Then it was reported, falsely, that the ‘Sea of Dreams’ subtitle had been dropped, and that the title was just plain BioShock 2. Now it seems as though all the fuss was for nothing since it has once again been confirmed that the name is BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams, and that the name won’t change. Good, now the waves have calmed, stop rocking the boat!

Update:

2K admitted that it didn't actually know about the title, and now it's just BioShock 2- again. For goodness sake shut up all ready! work on the game and when you release it, just decide then.

PC Games Now Available for Preorder

4 Elements

4 Elements [Game Download]

Three Stooges

The Three Stooges: Treasure Hunt Hijinks [Game Download]

Burger Island 1

Midnight Mysteries: Edgar Allan Poe

Samantha Swift 2

All these titles are available here under 'new games':

http://astore.amazon.com/apocalypso-20

PC Games Now Available for Preorder

Airport Mania

Satisfashion

Satisfashion [Game Download]

Burger Island 2

Burger Island 2: The Missing Ingredient [Game Download]

PC Games Just Released

Eco Tycoon: Project Green

10 Days Under the Sea

Commander Shephard Dies in Mass Effect 2

I’ve seen the trailer for Mass Effect 2, and it shows a few details of the protagonist from Mass Effect, Commander Shepard. Just when you’re about to be bored to tears with all his/her achievements flashing across the screen, it shows a part of his/her body with a Geth trooper standing over him/her.

Now, some have said not to rush to conclusions, and it might mean that Shepard dies in a metaphorical sense, as all the little gamers cry into their hankies and whimper, “Say it ain’t so!” Shepard is such a generic name anyway- good riddance, I say.

So, it’s been suggested that Shepard may die physically or in a more metaphorical sense. How many ways can Shepard be killed? Let’s see…

• Gets killed by one of those tin cans known as the Geth (the most obvious one).
• Dies during a prolonged elevator ride (they say that this has been fixed in Mass Effect 2; we’ll see).
• Gets massacred after his/her two stupid AI buddies get incapacitated.
• Accidentally gets wiped out by one of the team member’s biotic powers.
• Accidentally wipes him/herself out with biotic powers.
• Dies after a long drop in the APC while traveling across a planet’s surface.
• Gets blown up inside APC that enemies can’t possibly miss, even with spitwads.
• Dies after his/her oxygen supply runs out while trying to hack a container…again.
• Dies during impossibly long conversation with one of the boring inhabitants of a planet.
• Sentenced to death after assaulting said inhabitant because of his/her impatience.
• Killed during conversation for asking too many questions.
• Kills him/herself after gender confusion/ identity crisis.
• Killed by exploding container just randomly lying around.
• Starves to death due to absence of edible food or drink anywhere.
• Mentally assassinated by an Asari.
• Gets whacked after borrowing money from a loan shark to pay ridiculous prices for decent armor and weaponry, and not paying said loan shark back.
• Gets lost and dies of exhaustion while running endlessly, trying to find his/her way.
• Dies of exhaustion while running endlessly.
• Killed after being stalked by disgruntled fan.
• Normandy crashes and blows up after cocky pilot Joker tries to steer ship with his feet.
• Shepard only dreams that he/she dies.
• Death is just a marketing ploy, and Shepard doesn’t really die in the game.

Apocalypse Then- Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil

On this day in gaming, the expansion for Doom 3, Resurrection of Evil, or RoE, was released in 2005. This expansion featured a few new enemies and of course players were reacquainted with the double-barreled shotgun that made its first appearance in Doom II: Hell on Earth. The game came under a bit of criticism for featuring the grabber, which was an emulation of Half-Life 2’s physics cannon.

2009/04/02

Married Men Would Rather Play Games of Another Sort #2

Despite the so called dying of gaming magazines, Game Informer is still one of the top selling magazines in the US. It's ahead of Time, TV Guide, Sports Illustrated, Cosmo, Newsweek; even Playboy and Maxim!

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/01/game-informer-larger-than-time-playboy-and-maxim-even-oprah/

FileFront Closing its Doors...or Not

Damn, it looks like FileFront is closing down tomorrow. I have an account on there, and I've downloaded stuff, but luckily I don't store anything on there. It seems that if you do, you'd better hurry and get it moved...

"We regret to inform you that due to the current economic conditions we are forced to indefinitely suspend the FileFront site operations on March 30, 2009. If you have uploaded files, images or posted blogs, or if you would like to download some of your favorite files, please take this opportunity to download them before March 30th when the site will be suspended.

We would like to give a warm thank you to all of you who have been part of the FileFront communities we have built together. Your support has had a meaningful impact for all of us here at FileFront. Again, we want to give you a sincere “thank you” for your support over the years and wish you all the very best."

And they say that the video game industry is recession- proof...

Update: A few days later and FileFront is back!

Married Men Would Rather Play Games of Another Sort

According to a survey that polled 1 130 on whether they would prefer an evening of playing games or having a romantic roll in the hay with their partner, 32% said they'd play games instead. Of course the men polled were married...

Another question asked whether they would rather have sex or play a new game- 72% said they'd take the new game!

The thing here is that playing games can last for hours where as sex doesn't- not usually anyway.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jte5jIFHnonk-bWh6umf7zthWHtg

Okay! Put the guns down!

If you came across the blog yesterday, you’ll probably have noticed the post that read “3D Realms Shocker: Duke Nukem Forever Delayed For at Least Another Five Years, Possibly Cancelled”. As most of you have probably guessed, this was an april fool’s day joke, although the part about reading about the id Tech 4 engine in GEAR magazine is true, except that was also an april fool’s day joke, except the mag had a review of Duke Nukem Forever for the Xbox 360 as part of their prank. If only!

Rest assured, Duke Nukem Forever is still in development hell and the guys at 3D Realms will most likely keep promising a release for this year, only to keep pushing it further back.

2009/04/01

PC Games to Preorder

Now Available for Preorder

City of Heroes Architect Edition

Releasing Soon - Preorder Now

Sherlock Holmes Chronicles

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor

3D Realms Shocker: Duke Nukem Forever Delayed For at Least Another Five Years, Possibly Cancelled

I’ve made quite a number of posts on Duke Nukem, specifically Duke Nukem Forever, on the blog, but this one will no doubt be the saddest, hardest one to write. Then again, I’m not exactly surprised.

The name Duke Nukem Forever was first thought up after Duke Nukem 3D came out in 1996, and this particular title was going to be a platform game similar to Duke Nukem 1 or 2. That title was cancelled and the name was recycled to be used in what has been nominated one of the most controversial titles of all time. It has won several vapourware awards over the years.

Duke Nukem Forever’s development began over ten years ago, with a movie showing at E3 in 1998. Back then, the game used the id Tech 2, or Quake II, engine and was set for a release some time in 1999 by all accounts.

The next time it reared its head was in 2001, once again at E3, then using the much prettier Unreal engine. They started off with the Unreal Engine, and eventually built their way up to using the Unreal Tournament build code.

Years later, and after much public abuse, 3D Realms still hadn’t released the game, but had once again switched engines to use Unreal Engine 2.0. A few screenshots were released in September last year, and of course, video footage was collected and shown by Jason Hall, who claimed "I saw it. They're working on it. It's not a myth. You will be pleased." Fans had until recently been waiting for twelve years or more.

Recently, there was talk of the game switching to the id Tech 4 engine, used for Prey, another title that had taken ages to come out, and was originally a 3D Realms game (they ended up being the publisher). The latest game to use this engine is Wolfenstein, currently still in development and due for a release later this year. There was a mention of the recent engine change in GEAR magazine.

George Broussard stated, “There has obviously been a lot of fan uproar over switching to yet another engine, and some claim that it isn’t even worthy, that id Tech 4 is too old, and by the time Duke Nukem Forever is released, it will be far too outdated. Others asked why we didn’t go for id Tech 5, but id won’t let us have it as they’re still busy working on Rage, and they want it to be the first game to use the engine, with Doom 4 following afterwards. I don’t know anymore.”

Scott Miller followed up with his own comments by saying, “Years ago I said that we screwed up Duke Nukem Forever, and now I mean we’ve really done it this time. The thing is that the development costs have become too much, and even though we’ve talked about switching to the new engine, I’m not sure that we’ll be around to see it through the way we’ve been going. We might just have to call it a day, stick our tails between our legs and cut our losses. To continue development with id Tech 4 would mean a possible five to eight year delay for DNF, and at this time we’ve faced major backlash and we could be heading for a financial crisis if we decide to go for it. Unfortunately the worldwide economic crisis just isn't in our favour at the moment.”

That means that Duke Nukem Forever, if delayed for the maximum eight years stated, would only come out in 2017- twenty years after development initially started.

Joe Siegler added that, “We wanted Duke Nukem Forever to be perfect, and we came this close. Now it’s just a perfect mess, a real f$$k-up! It makes me so pi$$ed. I just can’t believe it.”

So, it looks like it’s down to these options:

Continue development with id Tech 4 and possibly 3D Realms goes bankrupt.

Cancel Duke Nukem Forever.

Some have asked why 3D Realms couldn’t just release the game as is; Broussard replied, “We weren’t finished with it, and we weren’t happy with it anymore.”

2009/03/31

PC Games Now Available for Preorder!

Call of Juarez 2

Mini Ninjas

Kane & Lynch 2

PC Games Releasing Soon - Preorder Now

18 Wheels of Steel Big City Rigs

National Geographic: Herod's Tomb

10 Days Under the Sea

Wanted: Weapons Of Fate

Reel Deal Slots The Adventure

The Godfather II

DCS: Black Shark

Elven Legacy

Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Agatha Christie: Triple Murder Mystery Pack

PC Games released

Ghost Master

The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Jojo's Fashion Show

Yet another identity crisis- Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Once known as Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising, it seems as though the '2' has been dropped.

The original developers of Operation Flashpoint, Bohemia, aren't involved with the project, and are instead focusing on ArmA, the series of spiritual successors. Apparently they are in doubt over whether this new Operation Flashpoint, developed by Codemasters, is an official sequel.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57454

New RRR article: F.E.A.R. 2

I've just finished a review of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. I've been playing it over the past week, even though I finished it after four days. I bought it for my birthday, and it was a good waste of time :).

http://hubpages.com/hub/FEAR-2

Apocalypse Then: StarCraft

On this day, a real fan boy favourite, StarCraft, was released in 1998. It is credited with revolutionising the RTS genre. Three expansions were released- Insurrection, Retribution, and StarCraft: Brood War.

There was supposed to be another game, called StarCraft: Ghost, but it ended up being 'indefinitely postponed' in 2005.

There is an eagerly anticipated sequel, StarCraft II, which is set for a release sometime this year.

2009/03/29

3D Realms releasing old games as freeware

3D Realms has released some old games as freeware, that were once released under the old Apogee Software name, lately.

The list is as follows:

Kroz
Arctic Adventure
Dark Ages
Monuments of Mars
Pharaoh's Tomb

Re-releases

Beyond the Titanic
Supernova
Word Whiz

You can get them all here.

ftp://ftp.3drealms.com/freeware/

Will the real Duke Nukem please sign up

It seems as though Deep Silver and Apogee Software are looking for a new real life Duke Nukem model. They claim that this has never been done in video game history before. Well, there is Tomb Raider- they search for a new Lara Croft just about every year...

I could once do a pretty good Duke Nukem voice, but I look nothing like Duke though. I don't take steroids, I guess.

http://www.dukeisback.com/