*Shacknews* Games Shacknews - Your source for the latest video game news http://www.shacknews.com/ 10 Realtime Worlds Sells Project: MyWorld <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=15443&game_id=9940&id=162957"><img src="/images/sshots/Screenshot/15443/15443_4c513d9fda9e5_thumbnail.jpg"></a></span> Realtime Worlds' "3D social gaming experience" <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/9940#graph1">Project: MyWorld</a> has been bought by an anonymous US company, <a href="http://www.develop-online.net/news/35779/US-firm-acquires-Project-MyWorld">Develop</a> reports. </p><p> The MyWorld team was <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65112">laid off</a> as the developer also behind <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/3529#graph1">Crackdown</a> and <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/5223#graph1">APB</a> attempted to stave off bankruptcy but the company still <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65172">entered administration</a> in August. When business rescue firm Begbies Traynor stepped in, a portion of the team was <a href="http://www.shackne... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65458 2010-09-07T07:58-06:00 Morning Discussion This week should prove interesting as I woke up to realize I had, somehow, caught the PAX Nerd Flu. Apparently, covering the event remotely is now enough to catch the deadly disease.<p></p> Stay tuned this week for the conclusion of Shack's PAX Prime 2010 coverage, our impressions of PlayStation Move along with its launch titles, and more. <p></p> In the meantime, how was your weekend? http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65457 2010-09-07T07:00-06:00 Daily Filter: September 6, 2010 <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15738&game_id=9875#img165251"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/sshots/Screenshot/15326/15326_4c40a88aeb4cf_thumbnail.jpg" title="Mega Man Universe"></a></span> <em>Shacknews receives a slew of new screenshots and trailers for upcoming games everyday. The most anticipated titles receive their own post, because we know you're eager to see that content. For the rest, we have the <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/tag.x/Daily+Filter">Daily Filter</a>, a place to feature all of the media we add to our enormous database on a daily basis.</em> <p></p> Today's Filter includes new media from PAX 2010. We've added a "Story" trailer for <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/8680">Vanquish</a>, gameplay footage for <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/5748">Dungeon Siege 3</a>, a "Causality" trailer for <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/934">EVE Online... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65456 2010-09-06T20:00-06:00 Evening Reading: Labor Day Edition It's been a quiet Labor [sic] Day here at Shacknews as the video games industry has mostly been out in the garden with a beer in one hand and a hotdog in the other, not to mention I've been working by myself. Still, I hope that whoever and wherever you are, you have come to appreciate the labouring classes a little bit more than you did before. </p><p> Me, I've been working <em>hard</em> all labour day so nobody appreciates long, hard slog better than me. Crumbs, what a gruelling day! I think I'll unwind by playing the PC version of <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/10105#graph1">Chime</a>, which unlocked <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/62100">on Steam</a> while I was writing this post. I already have the Xbox 360 edition but this'll make a fine addition to my netbook for travel fun. http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65455 2010-09-06T19:00-06:00 inFamous 2 Trailer: Three Minutes of Gameplay Another few minutes of gameplay footage from Sucker Punch's super-powered sequel <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/9473#graph1">inFamous 2</a> have arrived from PAX 2010 in handy video format for your viewing pleasure. There's also a new <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15743&game_id=9473&id=165290#img165289">round of screenshots</a>, if you prefer your action static. </p><p> The PlayStation 3 exclusive is slated for release some time in 2011. </p><p> [video]21221[/video] <a href="http://www.shackvideo.com/" target="_blank">Shackvideo users</a> can use the <a href="http://www.shackvideo.com/infamous-2-pax-2010-behind-closed-doors-gameplay-trailer-21221" target="_blank">HD Stream</a>. http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65454 2010-09-06T15:00-06:00 Amnesia: The Dark Descent Giveaway Celebrates Demo Release [Updated With Winners] <strong>Update:</strong> The contest has ended and our five winners have been selected at random. RustySpannerz, passingstranger, Dick Marcinko, GOBGoat and funnyguy84 are the lucky lot who should check their Shackmessages for instructions on how to claim their prize. </p><p> <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=13884&game_id=7293&id=149372"><img src="/images/sshots/Screenshot/13884/13884_4b7e9906016a0_thumbnail.jpg"></a></span> <strong>Original:</strong> A 150MB-ish demo for Penumbra developer Frictional Games' new puzzling survival horror <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/7293#graph1">Amnesia: The Dark Descent</a> can now be downloaded from FileShack in <a href="http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/21201/Amnesia:+The+Dark+Descent+Demo+-+Windows">Windows</a>, <a href="http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/21202/Amnesia:+The+Dark+Descent+Demo+-+Mac">Mac</a> and <a href="http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/21204/Amnesia:+The+Dark+Descent+Demo+-+Linux">... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65434 2010-09-06T14:00-06:00 Aliens: Colonial Marines Teased at PAX 2010 <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15748&game_id=5991#img165334"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/sshots/Art/15748/15748_4c851af38896f_thumbnail.jpg"></a></span> Though Gearbox was unsurprisingly focused on the news that it's <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65436">helming Duke Nukem Forever</a> and now <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65448">owns the Duke property</a>, at PAX the <a href="">Borderlands</a> developer gave a short update on its mysterious <a href="">Aliens: Colonial Marines</a>. </p><p> Several screenshots, hastily photographed [left] by <a href="http://kotaku.com/5630732/a-brief-surprise-glimpse-at-aliens-colonial-marines/">Kotaku</a>, of the four-player co-op shooter based upon the sci-fi action film were shown to a PAX panel audience. </p><p> "Our commitment is unfaltering," <a href="http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/09/05/Gearbox-Panel-Reveals-Borderlands-Ca... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65453 2010-09-06T13:00-06:00 Borderlands Patch Will Raise Level Cap, Rebalance <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=15518&game_id=4610&id=163401"><img src="/images/sshots/Screenshot/15518/15518_4c6298bf098d4_thumbnail.jpg"></a></span> A patch for <a href="">Borderlands</a> will raise its level cap and rebalance the shooter RPG accordingly, developer Gearbox explained during PAX panel attended by <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/05/free-borderlands-update-will-raise-level-cap-rebalance-main-gam/">Joystiq</a>. </p><p> The free patch for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will raise the level cap to the <em>hilarious</em> number of 69 and, in the words of Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, "rebalance the original game around the level cap." </p><p> The level cap was previously raised to 61 in the paid downloadable content <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/62468">'The Secret Armory of General Knoxx,'</a> a move Pitchford explained Gearbox did not want to repeat otherwise "you'd have to buy every previous DLC" for the new... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65452 2010-09-06T12:00-06:00 Nintendo Downloads: Samurai Shodown III After a lengthy Virtual Console drought, this week's batch of downloadable Nintendo Wii and DSi releases brings sweet relief with SNK's vintage feudal fighter Samurai Shodown III. There are also Western adventure game jollies with Fenimore Fillmore. <ul> <strong>WiiWare</strong> <ul> <li>Fenimore Fillmore: The Westerner - $10 </ul> <strong>Wii Virtual Console</strong> <ul> <li>Samurai Shodown III - $9 </ul> </ul> </p><p> <div class="focalbox"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15746&game_id=10157#img165316"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/sshots/Screenshot/15746/15746_4c851158d6910_thumbnail.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15747&game_id=10156#img165330"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/sshots/Screenshot/15747/15747_4c8511bf4b02b_thumbnail.jpg"></a><br /><em>Fenimore Fillmore and teensy Samurai Shodown III screens from Big N.</em></div> </p><p> <ul> <strong>DSiWare</strong> <ul> <li>Simply Mahjong ... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65451 2010-09-06T11:00-06:00 Shack PSA: Telltale Launches Adventure Games Bundle, Helps Charity Telltale Games has launched its new third-part publishing service with a $19.95 <a href="http://www.telltalegames.com/adventurebundle/">adventure game bundle</a>. A quarter of each sale will be donated to charity. </p><p> The pack currently offers <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/9166#graph1">The Whispered World</a>, <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/10154#graph1">Jack Keane</a>, a King's Quest Collection packing all seven games, the first episode of <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/4182#graph1">Penny Arcade Adventures</a>. Telltale's own <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/9207#graph1">Puzzle Agent</a> will be added to the bundle when sales hit 5,000 and the <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/4556#graph1">second season</a> of Sam & Max will follow at 10,000. At the time of writing, 980 bundles had been sold. </p><p> <div class="focalbox"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=14403&game_id=9166&id=154459"><img src=... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65450 2010-09-06T10:00-06:00 Bit.Trip Fate Revealed as Side-Scrolling Shooter <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=15737&game_id=10051&id=165244"><img src="/images/sshots/Screenshot/15737/15737_4c84aa0518487_thumbnail.jpg"></a></span> Gaijin Games has revealed <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/10051#graph1">BIT.TRIP FATE</a>, the penultimate chapter of its six-part WiiWare rhythm game series started by <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/6931#graph1">BIT.TRIP BEAT</a>. </p><p> While FATE's name was <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65159">revealed</a> by Nintendo last month, the game itself remained a mystery. </p><p> BIT.TRIP FATE puts the intrepid CommanderVideo in an on-rails side-scrolling shooter, blasting bad guys and dodging shots in time to a "chiptune-inspired dubstep soundtrack." </p><p> Published by Aksys Games, BIT.TRIP FATE is headed to WiiWare this fall. No price was announced, though the previous BIT.TRIP games have all cost between $6 and $8. </p><p> [video]21214[... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65449 2010-09-06T09:00-06:00 Duke Nukem Now Owned by New DNF Dev Gearbox <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15734&game_id=4886&id=165208#img165181"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/sshots/Screenshot/15734/15734_4c819fbac3c29_thumbnail.jpg"></a></span> Gearbox Software has announced that as well as being the developer helming <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65436">the revival</a> of <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/4886#graph1">Duke Nukem Forever</a>, it is also the proud owner of the testosterone-gushing property. </p><p> The <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/4610#graph1">Borderlands</a> developer explains that it "has acquired the full intellectual property rights of the 'Duke Nukem' brand including Duke Nukem Forever and all future projects in a cooperative deal made with 3D Realms." </p><p> "Gearbox was handpicked as the new home for Duke Nukem because of their continued passion, commitment and long-time heritage with the brand and 3D Rea... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65448 2010-09-06T08:00-06:00 Morning Discussion: Labor Day Edition We'll be having a quiet day today thanks to the US holiday of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day">Labor [sic] Day</a>. I'm still in as I swapped US holidays for UK holidays but everyone else should be in quiet contemplation of all that workforce does for them. I understand that meat is traditionally used to provide sustenance for this thought, washed down with alcoholic beverages. Xav though, as a Canadian, is probably off skinning polar bears and stuffing them with poutine. Ha ha because it's what they do, don't you even know that? </p><p> This weekend I mostly read, polishing off Richard Brautigan's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Watermelon_Sugar">In Watermelon Sugar</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_Weapons">Use of Weapons</a> by Iain Banks then making a start on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five">Slaughterhouse-Five</a>. Books are nice. I also saw The Last Exorcism, which was mostly very enjoyable. I'm glad to see ... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65447 2010-09-06T07:00-06:00 PAX 2010 Show Floor Gallery PAX grew to amazing size this year, stretching the Washington State Convention Center to bursting. We played some great games here and will have a number of updated impressions for you next week. In the meantime, here's a quick look at the sights of PAX 2010. Click any of the images below to see the entire gallery. <div class="focalbox"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15735#img165221"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/extras/Lee/PAXFloorSpot1.jpg"></a></div> <div class="focalbox"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15735#img165230"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/extras/Lee/PAXFloorSpot2.jpg"></a></div> <div class="focalbox"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15735#img165238"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/extras/Lee/PAXFloorSpot3.jpg"></a></div> http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65446 2010-09-04T20:00-06:00 The Video Game Release List of 9/4 - 9/12 <p>Some PlayStation Move games trickle out ahead of the actual peripheral's release, which is the 17th. I wouldn't buy any lest you not be able to play them. Ubisoft releases two games full of punctuation--R.U.S.E. and H.A.W.X. 2--while Activision contributes Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. EA's NHL games are out for this year, and some standouts on DS (Professor Layton) and PSP (Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep) round out the week.</p> <p>Next week, of course, is Halo: Reach and pretty much everything has gotten out of its way.</p> </p><p><center><strong>Highlights</strong></center> <div class="focalbox"> <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65444#pc"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/boxart/7/f87a24f05841d3a4bde38960f915efc7_release.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65444#ps3"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/boxart/8/4bdeaf37d09b3bcae81943d96390407b_release.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65444#x360... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65444 2010-09-04T14:00-06:00 Weekend Discussion Shacknews has a few recent features online you should checkout:<p></p><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65442">Hands-on with Duke Nukem Forever</a> should blow your top off, <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65431">Call of Duty: Black Ops</a> multiplayer looks to shake things up a bit, <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1383">Metroid: Other M is flawed</a> but has some great moments, and Shack looks at <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/tag.x/Halo:+Reach">Halo: Reach from multiple angles</a> with previews of single-player and the 'Forge World.'<p></p> <ul> <li><Strong>Alice O'Connor:</em></strong> <em>[Tea, and possibly crumpets, are involved.]</em> <li><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/bleahy">Brian Leahy</a></strong>: <em>[Trying not to spread the PAX nerd flu]</em> <li><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/garnettlee">Garnett Lee</a></strong>: <em>[Confirming weekends, live]</em> <li><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/JeffMattas">... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65445 2010-09-04T10:00-06:00 Confirmed: Layoffs Hit Stardock After Elemental's "Disastrous Launch" [Updated] <strong>[Update 10:30pm]</strong> Stardock CEO Brad Wardell has confirmed the layoffs in a <a href="http://forums.elementalgame.com/395168">forum post</a>, attributing the cuts to Elemental's updated revenue projections following its launch.<p> "Elemental's revenue was anticipated to provide the revenue both for our main games team's next project as well as a second team," writes Wardell. "Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen so we've had to start laying people off."<p> "No one involved on the core components of Elemental is affected," he continues. "It would be great if we can bring as many of these people back over time if the studio can afford it."<p> Brad notes that this is the first time the company has had to lay anyone off since 1998 after migrating from the OS/2 market to Windows.<p> <strong>[Original Story]</strong> Shacknews has received an anonymous tip claiming that several employees of Stardock, developers of the recently released Elemental: War of Magic w... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65443 2010-09-03T21:25-06:00 Daily Filter: September 3, 2010 <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=15733&game_id=5768&id=165175#img165174"><img src="http://www.shacknews.com/images/sshots/Screenshot/15733/15733_4c81946cbd86c_thumbnail.jpg" title="Portal 2"></a></span> <em>Shacknews receives a slew of new screenshots and trailers for upcoming games everyday. The most anticipated titles receive their own post, because we know you're eager to see that content. For the rest, we have the <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/tag.x/Daily+Filter">Daily Filter</a>, a place to feature all of the media we add to our enormous database on a daily basis.</em><p></p> For our Friday Filter starts with co-op campaign screenshots for <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/5768#graph1">Portal 2</a>, directly from PAX 2010. We've also added the announcement trailer for <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/10132">Bloody Good Time</a>, <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/game.x/10... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65440 2010-09-03T21:00-06:00 Duke Nukem Forever Hands-on Preview <span class="inlinewidget leftflush"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=15732&game_id=4886&id=165169"><img src="/images/sshots/Screenshot/15732/15732_4c816403eae2f_thumbnail.jpg" title="Duke Nukem Forever"></a></span><p> I can't believe I just wrote that headline. I have played Duke Nukem Forever. <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65436">Announced (again) here at PAX 2010</a>, development will be finished by Gearbox. The game will be released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 sometime in 2011. Let's just right into things.<p> First off, the good news. This game is Duke. The action is fast-paced, the one-liners are great, and Jon St. John sounds great. In true Duke fashion, the humor is very self-aware, with Duke even joking about the game's legendary development time in game. The weapons all feel great--especially the shotgun--and a sprint button helps bring the gameplay into this decade.<p> <div class="focalbox"><a href="/screenshots.x?gallery=15734&game_id=4886&id=165181"... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65442 2010-09-03T20:00-06:00 Evening Reading So, not too much happened today. Pretty quiet considering PAX 2010 just started. You'd think <em>some</em> news would drop, but not a peep out of the industry.<p></p> Oh, except for <a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65436">Duke Nukem Forever</a> coming out of its grave!<p></p> <ul><em>Gaming News o'the Day</em> <li><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65430">Metroid: Other M Review</a> <li><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65431">Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Hands-on Preview</a> <li><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65436">Duke Nukem Forever is back! Coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2011</a></ul><p></p> <ul><em>Links from Morning Discussion</em> <li><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?id=23898724#itemanchor_23898724">Jealous?</a> <li><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/shackmeet/events.x?id=1600">Time to start planning a release party!</a> <li><a href="http://www.dukenukemforever.com/">Duke's official site live... http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65439 2010-09-03T19:00-06:00