News
26 CommentsLinux still not a mainstream gaming platform, Carmack says
By Jenna Pitcher on Feb 11, 2013 02.11.13
id Software co-founder John Carmack believes that it isn't worth doing Linux ports of games and that it barely makes his top 10 of priorities, he wrote on Reddit recently. "Burn the heretic!" he joked on post titled "John Carmack asks why Wine isn't good enough" using his Reddit handle id_aa_carmack. "I was happy to hear that Rage ran in Wine, but no special effort was made to support it," he wrote of id's first-person shooter running on Wine, a compatibility layer that allows some Windows applications to run on Linux distributions. "However, I don't think that a good business case can be made for officially supporting Linux for mainstream games today, and Zenimax doesn't have any policy of 'unofficial binaries' like id used to have," he said. "I have argued for their value (mostly...
News
5 CommentsId Software releasing Rage Tool Kit on Steam
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Feb 09, 2013 02.09.13
The official tool kit used to create Rage and its downloadable content The Scorchers will be available on Steam, id Software announced on the Bethesda Blog. The studio included a FAQ for troubleshooting and a brief introduction for those interested in the kit, which "should not be interpreted as consumer ready." Its tools are complex and aimed at those with a previous understanding of modding. Tutorials, maps and game assets are included. The kit begins at 35 GB, though with recommended additions and creations it will expand. The Rage Tool Kit will available in Steam's Tools section.
News
12 CommentsGuild Wars 2 has sold 3 million copies since launch, will tweak rewards system for 2013
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Jan 15, 2013 01.15.13
ArenaNet has sold more than three million copies of MMORPG Guild Wars 2 since the game launched in August last year, according to a press statement from game director Colin Johanson. For 2013, ArenaNet will expand and balance Guild Wars 2's achievement system. Players will be able to earn rewards, like higher-level gear, when they complete achievements and progress down "achievement paths." Daily achievements will be implemented with the goal to drive players to certain areas of the world. ArenaNet also plans to add a sub-system later that will allow players to complete a smaller subgroup of achievements in order to fulfill a daily one. Cosmetic awards like skins and medals will be offered as prizes for completing certain events. "Our reward systems need to be exciting, and include...
Feature
115 CommentsHigher calling: The new gospel of Christian games
By Patrick Stafford on Dec 20, 2012 12.20.12
Christian Games Developers Conference Christian Games Developers' Conference Tim Emmerich More than 100 developers gather every year at the Christian Games Developers Conference to discuss how they can make their games better. It's a diverse group, representing five continents in the conference's best year. It's a serious affair. They have volunteers, plenty of discussion. Even matching t-shirts. The conference was founded in 2002 by Tim Emmerich, a soft-spoken engineer who works at HP to pay the bills. He wanted to improve what he thought was a lack of support and experimentation in the Christian games community. "My expectations have been really blown away by the conference," Emmerich says. "I was just expecting 12 in the first year, and we got 30. Now we're...
News
2 CommentsSleeping Dogs and Rage DLC, Karateka remake coming to PSN on Dec. 18
By Samit Sarkar on Dec 14, 2012 12.14.12
Jordan Mechner's Karateka remake, as well as new downloadable content for United Front Games' Sleeping Dogs and id Software's Rage, will launch on PlayStation Network next Tuesday, Dec. 18, according to the most recent episode of Sony's PlayStation Blogcast. The Karateka remake, which Mechner developed with a small team at Liquid Entertainment, launched in November on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points ($10) and earlier this month on Steam for $9.99. Sleeping Dogs will get its second campaign add-on, the Zodiac Tournament Pack, which publisher Square Enix announced in mid-November. The DLC pack adds a new island to the game's Hong Kong setting, the site of an exclusive invitation-only tournament in which combatants fight to the death. The Zodiac Tournament will feature a...
Deals
0 CommentsSteam Autumn Sale continues with deals on Max Payne 3, Sleeping Dogs, Portal 2 and more
By Michael McWhertor on Nov 22, 2012 11.22.12
Valve's six-day sale on Steam games continues today with a feast of savings on titles in the Max Payne, Portal and Prototype series, as well as soon-to-expire deals on Dead Island and Rage. Leading today's Steam Autumn Sale deals are games both new and not so new, some of which are discounted up to 75 percent off. Arma 2: Combined Operations - $14.99 (50 percent off) Max Payne 3 - $14.99 (75 percent off) Awesomenauts - $3.39 (66 percent off) Portal 2 - $4.99 (75 percent off) Sleeping Dogs - $24.99 (50 percent off) Prototype 2 - $19.99 (50 percent off) Steam is also selling previous games in the above series at discounts today. The original Portal is $2.49 and Prototype is $4.99. Both Max Payne and Max Payne 2 are currently selling for $2.49. Additional Arma games are also...
Deals
0 CommentsSega discounts iOS games Super Monkey Ball 2, Virtua Tennis Challenge and more for Black Friday
By Tracey Lien on Nov 22, 2012 11.22.12
Sega is having a Thanksgiving sale for most of its downloadable titles, with its games being discounted across all console and mobile marketplaces. While many of its PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade titles are being reduced by almost 50 percent (E.g. Daytona USA, Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World, Streets of Rage and more), Sega's mobile games are receiving the heftiest discounts. ChuChu Rocket! HD for iOS devices is being discounted from $4.99 to 99 cents, the iOS and Android versions of Virtua Tennis Challenge are being cut from $4.99 to $1.99 and Super Monkey Ball 2 for iOS and Android are being reduced from $2.99 to 99 cents. In addition to this the Sonic Bundle containing Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 will be made available for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers. The...
Valve's Faliszek tells aspiring developers to make their own jobs in the industry
By Dave Tach on Sep 28, 2012 09.28.12
Chet Faliszek, a writer at Valve, encouraged those who want to break in the video game industry to do something straightforward. "Create something," he said in a talk at the Eurogamer Expo. In a talk called " How to give yourself a job in the games industry," Faliszek said that it's a question constantly asked of Valve, and this is the company's standard answer. "I'm being serious. There are no gatekeepers. There are no requirements. There is no prior experience that you need. Just make something," he said. He encouraged aspiring and indie developers to get involved online, listen to criticism, and engage with other developers in the same position. He also suggested submitting games to Valve's recent Steam Greenlight initiative, which allows Steam users vote on the independent games...
Humble Indie Bundle 5's success remembered with commemorative print from Supergiant Games
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Sep 28, 2012 09.28.12
The Humble Indie Bundle 5, which holds the record for being the highest-selling Humble Bundle, is being honored in a commemorative art print by Supergiant Games' art director Jen Zee. The poster is available for $14.99 and features the Servant Grunt from Amnesia, the Kid from Bastion, the Boy from Limbo, Psychonauts' Raz and the Scythian from Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP. The bundle included these five games along with their soundtracks, and with a week left to go Lone Survivor, Braid and Super Meat Boy were added to the sale. The current Humble Indie Bundle 6 has four days left, and gives buyers who pay more than the average selling price 10 full games and their soundtracks.
'Mists of Pandaria' offering free realm transfers due to server queues
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Sep 28, 2012 09.28.12
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is offering free character transfers to other realms to ease the strain on the game's currently overpopulated ones, Blizzard announced on Battle.net Players have until noon ET on October 4th to take advantage of the free transfer, and can only move from one of the designated overpopulated realms to another assigned realm. Transfers can be completed by logging into the Account Management section and selecting "Free Character Migration" at the bottom of players' World of Warcraft license. Transferring will not affect guild membership or reputation if a guild's master has already completed a Guild Master realm transfer. There are currently eight realms experiencing overpopulation, and each has been assigned a new destination realm for players wishing...
