Apocalypse Then: Diablo II

Developer: Blizzard North
Publishers: Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, HanbitSoft
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Mac OS X
Release date: June 29, 2000
Genres: Action role-playing game (hack and slash)

On this day in gaming, in 2000, Diablo II was released. It is the sequel to the original, Diablo, and was one of the most popular games of 2000- achieving numerous Game of the Year awards.

An expansion pack, Lord of Destruction, was released in 2001.

A sequel, Diablo III, is in development currently, and has come under a lot of fire due it's art direction, with many claiming it has departed from the series signature dark, brooding, evil style, and gone for a brighter, more colourful approach.

You can pick up Diablo II if you want to play a classic. Otherwise you can also try Diablo II Collector's Edition, or Hellraiser, an unofficial expansion pack for Diablo II.

For more, check here.

Apocalypse Then: Diablo II

Another Identity Crisis: Modern Warfare 2

Word has been going around lately that about half of all people surveyed don't know what Modern Warfare 2 is.

They don't know that it's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, but with the Call of Duty bit dropped off, seeing as Modern Warfare is practically splitting from the COD franchise, which is set in the past, usually WW II.

Modern Warfare 2 is the direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and will continue the storyline of that game.

It's going to be released on 11-10-09, or 10 November 2009, on PC, Xbox 360, PS3

Well, that's that confusion cleared up, hopefully.

Another Identity Crisis: Modern Warfare 2

Amazon Deals for Games, Entertainment and Hardware

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Save on the Brenthaven 2330101 15.4-Inch ProLite II Shoulder Case for Notebooks

Free Sony Blu-ray Player with Select Samsung

Amazon Deals for Games, Entertainment and Hardware

Video Games Coming Out in June: 06/28- 07/04

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood: PC - Xbox 360 - PS3
FUEL: PC
Trine: PC (Steam) - Free Demo
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: PC - PS2 - PS3 - XBox 360 - Wii - NDS - PSP
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs: PC - PS2 - PS3 - XBox 360 - Wii - NDS
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger: PS3 - Xbox 360
Infernal: Hell's Vengeance: Xbox 360
Roogoo Twisted Towers: Wii - NDS
Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace: NDS
Mega Man Star Force 3 Red Joker: NDS
Treasure World: NDS
Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament: PSP

Source:

shacknews

Video Games Coming Out in June: 06/28- 07/04

Apogee Software Wishes id Software Well

In case you didn't know, there's a lot of history, a friendship if you will, between Apogee and id Software. They were competing video game companies during the 90s, and Apogee even published a few of id's games.

True, Apogee Software.LLC may not be the same Apogee, the parent company of 3D Realms, but as far as most of you care- Apogee is Apogee.

Anyway, Apogee Software, on Twitter, had this to say about the recent ZeniMax- id deal:

"Congrats to id software for signing with who is probably the largest and best privately held developer/publisher in the industry."

Definitely a lot better than John Romero's initial reaction, which has brought him a fair bit of heat.

And it's not one sided either, since id commented on 3D Realms' situation in May as well:

“For me it was personally sad. I know a lot of people at the studio (id) were really surprised and saddened for sure. We had originally moved to Dallas because Apogee, who morphed into 3D Realms, was our original publisher. So id might not even be in Dallas and a lot of us wouldn’t even be working in the games industry if it wasn’t for Apogee and 3D Realms.

“So I know for me personally I thought it was a joke when I heard the other day. So definitely, extremely saddened and surprising that those guys aren’t there and we may never see the game we were all looking forward to.”- Steve Nix

Now to see if 3D Realms says anything about id...

Sources:

http://twitter.com/ApogeeSoftware
http://twitter.com/ApogeeSoftware/statuses/2346176626

Apogee Software Wishes id Software Well

Apocalypse Then- Greatest Hits: Back to the Start

Artist: Megadeth
Label: Capitol Records
Release date: June 28, 2005
Genres: speed/thrash metal

On this day, in 2005, Greatest Hits: Back to the Start was released. It is one of a few Megadeth compilation albums- the second one to be exact.

There are 17 songs and they are off of each album released except for The System Has Failed and United Abominations. Many of the songs are the same as those on Capitol Punishment, another compilation album released in 2000, except these songs are the remastered versions.

The album consists of songs recorded between 1984 and 2000.

Track Listing

Holy Wars...The Punishment Due
In My Darkest Hour
Peace Sells
Sweating Bullets
Angry Again
A Tout Le Monde
Trust
Kill The King
Symphony Of Destruction
Mechanix
Train Of Consequences
Wake Up Dead
Hangar 18
Dread And The Fugitive Mind
Skin O' My Teeth
She-Wolf
Prince Of Darkness

Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! (1985): 1
Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986): 2
So Far, So Good... So What! (1988): 1
Rust In Peace (1990): 2
Countdown to Extinction (1992): 3
Youthanasia (1994): 2
Hidden Treasures (1995): 1
Cryptic Writings (1997): 2
Risk (1999): 1
Capitol Punishment (2000): 1
The World Needs a Hero (2001): 1
The System Has Failed (2004): 0
United Abominations (2007): 0
Endgame (2009): 0

You can pick up Greatest Hits: Back to the Start if you want to listen to some classic songs. Otherwise you can also try Anthology: Set the World Afire, another more recent compilation.

Apocalypse Then- Greatest Hits: Back to the Start

Windows 7 Available for Preorder

As of June 26 2009, Amazon, among other outlets is allowing consumers to preorder Windows 7.

This deal will last through July 11, or while stocks last. Windows 7 Home, Premium and Professional editions will be made available for 50% off or more during this period. I've learned from a pricing guide that this means $50 for Windows 7 Home Premium (instead of $120) and $100 (instead of $200) for Windows 7 Professional.

There isn't a deal for Windows 7 Ultimate, and it's going for about $220.

Windows 7 is being claimed by many to be the proper successor to Windows XP, which I'm still running, with Service Pack 3. I'm one of the many people who didn't go for Windows Vista.

Microsoft is looking at an October 22 release for Windows 7.

To learn about more of the features available with Windows 7, go here, to the Windows 7 Resource Center.

Click here to go straight to the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade page.

Click here to go straight to the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade page.

Windows 7 Available for Preorder