Penumbra: Black Plague video game developers diary...

Introduction
Welcome to the first Penumbra: Black Plague developer diary! In this part we will focus on some of the improvements we have made to this stand-alone game since Penumbra Overture and elaborate on some of the game features.

Overture vs Black Plague
Black Plague is a sequel, however we did not just want to settle with what we had and only make minor improvements. Instead we aimed to really evolve as game creators and that has meant identifying imperfections in our previous game and remove them completely.

One of the challenges we've faced when creating a game, is that we become very attached to our creation and that makes it more difficult to objectively identify these imperfections. We also get used to the elements that make up a game and have a hard time imagining how first time player perceive specific features.
Examples of such imperfections are technical features, where improvements are easy to evaluate because we can use simple metrics (frames per seconds, visual quality etc) to determine if they are better then last time. At the same time there are other imperfections related to gameplay and the quality of a gaming experience where it is a lot harder to determine if and when these have been fixed.

Thankfully we have a great bunch of people trying out new ideas and we use their feedback to see if our improvements have been successful. We have also gained a lot of knowledge through the feedback from our first game, all of which has made us better at judging what works and what doesn't.

More to follow...

Corrosion - Cold Winter Waiting video game annouced

UK based games developer Viperante is proud to announce production of their brand new adventure game: “Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting” for PC, and the launch of the game's official website.

About “Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting”
Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting is a dark, shocking, uncompromising, and fear charged horror adventure game, that casts the player in the role of Sheriff Alex Truman as he attempts to break the monotony of life by piecing together the history and origins of a disturbed and unidentified car crash victim.

Set entirely underneath an idyllic country farmhouse, in the deserted and claustrophobic confines of a mysterious and secret underground complex, players will explore a place nobody knew existed, and uncover a twisted past that gets more and more terrifying with every corner turned, every door opened, and every note read.

What happened beneath Cold Winter Farm? What does it have to do with the stranger, who survived a terrible crash, only to sit and mutter the farm’s name? And if the place is supposed to be deserted, what do you keep seeing out of the corner of your eye?

Backed by atmospheric pre-rendered 3D scenes, and a chilling yet beautiful score, Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting weaves a tangled and brutal tale of love, revenge, jealousy, and bitter rivalry to create a horror experience that will bring new meaning to the concepts of hope and trust, and leave you questioning whether what you know, is really what you know!

Key Features:
- A vast and detailed storyline
- Engaging and realistic characters
- Puzzles integrated logically into the story
- A large and exciting location with many secrets
- 1st person style interface and control system
- 1024 x 768 screen resolution
- Detailed and atmospheric pre-rendered 3D backgrounds
- An original and emotive score

Production on Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting has been underway for more than six months, and the projected release date is August 2008.

For more information visit the official site at: www.coldwinterwaiting.com

The Storyline
Deacon Oaks is a small and quiet town, where nothing bad ever happens. Sheriff Alex Truman has a peaceful life dealing with lost dogs, trivial disputes, and a few drunks here and there. He should be the happiest lawman in the world. But there's just one small part of him that longs for some excitement, for something that would break the monotony he doesn't even realise is eating him alive.

One cold November night it seems his unspoken wishes may have been granted when he’s involved in a car accident with a man who appears suddenly in the middle of the road. Alex is fine, but the man ends up in hospital with a broken leg, and several cracked ribs. Nobody knows who this guy is or where he has come from, and to make matters worse, he won’t speak. Finally the town has its first real mystery, and Alex is overjoyed. But that joy is to be short lived.

With no way of finding out the man’s identity, he’s moved to the local state mental health facility, and life in Deacon Oaks goes back to normal, until two months later when Alex gets a call informing him that the “road guy” has at last spoken. Three words were all he would say – “Cold Winter Farm, Cold Winter Farm, Cold Winter Farm”, over and over again.

Alex has no idea what it means, but he does know that Cold Winter Farm is on the edge of town, and that’s good enough. The mystery is back, and Alex wants to get to the bottom of it right away. Problem is, the biggest storm in fifty years is heading towards town – he’ll never make it out to the farm and back before the storm hits. But Alex doesn’t care – something deep inside is driving him – he has to know who the “road guy” is, and he has to know now. Abandoning all rational thought and ignoring the warnings of his deputy, he grabs the keys to the 4x4 and heads out.

Ten minutes after he arrives at the farm, the storm is so out of control, that it uproots a tree, which falls onto the house, crushing the roof, and trapping him in the basement. That’s not all though. The fallen tree has opened up a hidden doorway, which leads to a secret corridor. At the end of the corridor is an elevator, and the only place it can go is down. With no chance of being rescued until the next day, and with the overpowering need to find answers drowning out the fear he feels, Alex decides to take the elevator down.

But what will be waiting for him at the bottom? Will it explain the origins and identity of the “road guy”? Will it explain why the “road guy” was walking in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the freezing winter? Will it explain why he wouldn’t speak for two months? And if it does, will the answers be simple, or will they be ultimately more disturbing and terrifying than anyone could imagine?

August 2008 Games Conventions tickets onsale now

GC - Games Convention (21 to 24 August 2008)

Advance ticket orders end on 17 December 2007

Christmas tree, goose and Christmas cake - still not found that perfect Christmas present? With the GC Christmas campaign GC fans can secure their exclusive ticket for the games event of summer 2008 and brighten up the Christmas of friends or family. The tickets come packed in an original Christmas greeting card with optional GC winter hat, they can be booked in advance up to 17 December 2007, ensuring that they are under the tree in time for Christmas Eve. "This helps to shorten the wait until the beginning of the GC on 20 August 2008", smiles GC Project Director Peggy Schönbeck.

And: This original Christmas gift also saves money. There are no advance sales fees and the ticket also entitles the holder to free travel to and from the Leipzig exhibition centre in the zones 110, 151-156, 162-168, 210, 221-225 and 231-234 of the Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund public transport authority during the period of the GC. Further information and the online order form can be found at www.gc-germany.com.

First screens of video game - Supreme Ruler 2020

Paradox Interactive released today the first screen shots for the real-time strategy title, Supreme Ruler 2020, scheduled for release during Q2 2008.

Developed by the Canadian studio Battlegoat studios, Supreme Ruler 2020 is a strategic and tactical geo-political game where direct control of the military and the policies of a nation becomes the key to survival.

Will your leadership take you to new heights of power or will you be nothing more than a footnote in history?


Review information on any other region in the world
Control of Spain is crucial to controlling access to the Mediterranean


After reviewing information on other regions, decide whom you want to make deals with
The Middle East…the source of oil or of instability and conflict?


Review what commodities are helping your economy
The Middle East…the source of oil or of instability and conflict?


Review information on any other region in the world
An alliance with Cuba can prove very useful for any move against the southern United States

Devil May Cry mobile phone video game

Mobile game to be released alongside Devil May Cry 4 on the home console

Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Devil May Cry, a full 3D adventure based on Devil May Cry 3 on the Playstation 2 (PS2), will be available for mobile phones across Europe from February 2008.

The highly anticipated Devil May Cry for mobile immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world where Dante, a mercenary whose speciality is tackling paranormal cases, opens up the battle between good and evil.

Featuring over 10 hours of gameplay in over 45 missions, Devil May Cry takes the player on a journey of fast and frenetic combo driven combat and mind-bending puzzle solving, typical of the highly successful Devil May Cry series on the home console. Set in a dark unforgiving underworld, Devil May Cry boasts stunning 3D environments and characters, including an array of fearsome enemies. With an arsenal of weapons at Dante’s disposal, including the Rebellion sword and the Ebony and Ivory pistols, and a “style” rating at the end of each stage, players can take advantage of combos and multiple weapon usage to maximise their high score.

With the path of the game left in the hands of the player, different routes open up new puzzles, new enemies and new weapons to master.

Devil May Cry will be available from all major European mobile phone operators and www.capcom-world.com from February 2008.

Game for Mobile Phones – "Crazy Frog Racer"!

MobilityZone Ltd, a mobile phone games developer & publisher, announced the acquisition of a worldwide exclusive license for the most famous character to emerge from the web and mobile phones, Crazy Frog.

The first games from the Crazy Frog series of games, “Crazy Frog Racer” is ready now

Description
The frog is back!
Ride with The Annoying Thing in a high octane riot through cityscapes and underground mayhem.
Blast your opponents, picking up many power ups and super boosts.
This is your chance to either join The Annoying Thing or help beat him.

Game features
- Variety of Game modes including
- Up to 20 levels
- 3 Crazy Frogs with different abilities to choose from
- 7 opponents to fight with
- Up to 8 players on the track (behind character view)
- Number of weapons, items and power up’s during the course
- Up to 10 mini-games
- Dozens of quests to pass trough the race course
- Great player animations and behaviors
- Many track obstacles and objects
- Online feature – collect points and then send it to server
- Different weather conditions – real impact on the game play

Game Modes
- QUICK RACE: Single race, just pick up random road, a character and be the first on the finish line. Gain points to write your name in online high score.
- STORY: about 30 different races to pass trough during the mode. Each one with different combination of quests, mini-games and conditions player needs to pass.
- CHALLENGE: Around 30 different quests unlocked after pass in Story Mode. Examples:
- Finish with 50% energy
- Eliminate 3 contenders before race is over
- Grab 30 bonus crowns
- Finish the race without using speed up pods
- On each checkpoint last one will end the race, be the first one on the last checkpoint to win the game (just like eliminator mode in Burnout series)
 And more…

Supported phones: All major handsets in the market (more than 700 handsets).

Empire Interactive And The Bitmap Brothers Announce Extra Content For Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe

Empire Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings and veteran British developer The Bitmap Brothers, today announced they will be releasing a range extra content for their Xbox LIVE Arcade title Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe.

Over the coming weeks a steady stream of content will be made available for download. Last week’s Theme Pack, containing four exclusive backdrops and a tiled Xbox blade, is followed up by this week’s addition of 4 new downloadable 3D Arenas, each with 3 variants, giving players even more customisable options.

Ian Higgins, CEO Empire Interactive said, “Offering extra content enables users to tailor the unique Speedball experience to their own individual taste and offers additional promotional opportunities to increase awareness and downloads.”

Since its release on 17th October, Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe has generated tremendous downloads on Xbox LIVE Arcade and received extensive coverage and rave reviews in the gaming press.

“…one of the all-time classic retro games.” Official Xbox 360 Magazine; Review Score 8/10

“…the sort of game that makes Xbox Live Arcade one of the most exciting gaming platforms around.” Euro Gamer; Review Score 8/10

Mike Montgomery, of developers Bitmap Brothers commented, “The extra content, and in particular the arenas, players and strips, dramatically enhance game play and make a real contribution to making Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe the definitive package.”

Regarded as a break-though title that took the sports genre to a new level, the Bitmap Brothers classic, Speedball, was first released for the Amiga in 1990 and quickly became a huge success. However it wasn’t until the release of its sequel, Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe that the title reached new gaming heights and sold over 2 million units. It is still considered by many to be one of the best games of all time. The Xbox LIVE Arcade version is a perfect conversion of Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe but with the addition of an all-new High Definition version, more teams and downloadable content, whilst still retaining all the classic elements that have made it a firm favorite amongst gamers.

At a cost ranging from 100MP to 150MP the extra content releases will please both hard-core fans and new generations of Speedball gamers.

Content: - Release Date:
Theme Pack - 31/10
Arena Pack - 07/11
Gamer Pics 1 - 14/11
Super Star Players - 28/11
Team Strips Pack - 12/12
Gamer Pics 2 - 09/01

Advanced Tactics video game Update

Brand new 1.02 update on your desk and awaiting approval, Herr General

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and VR Designs (www.advancedtactics.org) are pleased to announce that a new update for their popular World War II turn-based strategy game, Advanced Tactics: World War II, is now available. This latest 1.02 official update brings over 20 fixes, balance tweaks, and improvements to the table. Specifically, many minor bugs were fixed, the Europe at War scenario has been updated, unit costs were tweaked a bit, and the balance of units like scouts, flak, level bombers, heavy tanks, and more has been improved.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said, “Advanced Tactics has been enormously well received by gamers and critics alike and this update is yet another step in the right direction for VR Designs. Advanced Tactics has so much solid gameplay and replayability that we expect it to stay on your hard drive for ages and never get old. You can count on Matrix Games and VR Designs to continue to improve and support this wonderful game.”

Victor Reijkersz of VR Designs added “Thanks so much for the overwhelming community support I’ve received from fans. Your feedback has added tremendously to the continuing success of Advanced Tactics and we plan on continuing to improve this great gaming system as time goes on. The next update is already in the works!”

Advanced Tactics is a versatile turn-based strategy system that gives gamers the chance to wage almost any battle in any time period. The first module in this series is Advanced Tactics: World War II, which allows gamers to command a mighty army and storm across Europe. Complete with a streamlined interface and an addicting style of gameplay, Advanced Tactics offers a unique and infinitely replayable experience for any strategy fan.

Depending on the scenario, you can decide what your towns should produce, which HQs receive reinforcements, how your chain of command is formed, what sort of troop and equipment mix you put in each unit, if you use air, land, or sea strategies or maybe even call in the paratroopers – the possibilities are endless! Almost any type of strategy or tactic can be used effectively in Advanced Tactics. Perhaps the most powerful feature in Advanced Tactics is the ability to generate random maps and scenarios, giving the player endless hours of strategic fun without having to repeat a single battle or campaign!

Get more information on Advanced Tactics: World War II from its official Matrix Games webpage. This update will bring the game up to version 1.02 and is comprehensive.

Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Patch and updated Demo

Today we have for you the first patch for our recently released product, Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion. This v1.01 Patch includes a number of user requested changes, bug fixes and editor enhancements. We have also added a great deal of material to the game manual itself since many players have asked for more details on all the new changes in the expansion. The full patch details and download link are listed below.

In addition to the v1.01 Patch, we have also updated the Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Demo. The new demo includes all the relevant v1.01 updates.

Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Patch
Please note, this is a PATCH for the Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion and will only work for the Battlefront.com English language version. This patch will not work with any non-English version of Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion at this time.
Separate patches for the other language versions will be released in the future.

v1.01 Version History:
GAME ENGINE CHANGES
- fixed an AI destroyer unit combat error
- fixed an AI upgrade unit error
- fixed an animation replay error
- fixed a MINOR country Corps purchase error
- paratroops that are preparing and engineers that are fortifying are no longer hidden under FoW
- subs caught in sea ice no longer raid convoy lanes until sea ice clears
- subs now use the following rules:
- Silent
- Sub can pass through hidden enemy units except for a Destroyer under FoW
- Sub cannot attack convoy lanes
- Hunt
- Sub cannot pass through hidden enemy units under FoW
- Sub can attack convoy lanes
- Note, a Sub will dive (if a dive is successful) when attacked and move away under either Silent or Hunt mode
- transfer of capitals now reduces that country's morale the same as it would if an ally were to surrender
- transfer of capitals now increase occupier's morale the same as it would if it forced the surrender of a country
- any country tha t has a capital transferred to a disconnected area loses its current production/queue items
(complete wipe out) unless the transfer location is connected to the current location of the capital (pre-transfer) or
to any of the Industrial Center locations for that country
- fixed a script handling error for #CONDITION_POSITIONs
- fixed a Paratroop glider sound error when playing under Military unit icons mode
- fixed a Paratroop drop and new unit selection error when Fortifications are destroyed or a Paratroop unit takes
landing casualties
- surprise encounters will now only apply the 'Hidden Attacker Readiness Bonus' to decrease attacker losses and not to also
increase defender losses as was previously the case
- fixed an 'add_unit' bug when minors are activated
- fixed a resource mpp calculation error that did not include Fortresses if a value was assigned to them
- fixed a bug where custom combat supply loss values via the Editor were not being read in game

EDITOR RELATED CHANGES
- fixed the military unit bitmaps to show some differentiation between tactical bombers and strategic bombers
- replaced Manstein with Bittrich in the Wacht Am Rhein scenario
- removed all incorrect references to O'Conner in the 1939 and 1940 campaigns and replaced them with O'Connor
- fixed a SURRENDER_2 script error for the surrender of Italy
- added several new Axis Middle East OFFENSIVE events
- added several new Axis Middle East TRANSPORT events
- added several new Axis Middle East GARRISON events
- added several new ACTIVATION#3 events
- added #PRODUCTION_LOST= entry to localization.txt
- fixed a Polish campaign victory condition error
- fixed several Spanish Civil War campaign errors
- updated Manual with several new entries regarding c hanges in Weapons and Warfare

File Details
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Patch
Filesize: 124.75 Megabytes

Link to Patch download site:
http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/sc2_wwe/patch.html
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion Demo (v1.01)

This demo includes two playable campaigns, Fall Weiss which depicts the German invasion of Poland and Wacht Am Rhein, better known as the Battle of the Bulge. Multiplayer modes are di sabled in the demo but both campaigns are playable against the AI as either the Axis or the Allies.

Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion incorporates a huge list of new features frequently asked for by the fan community, including a bigger world map, new units, enhanced naval movement and combat rules, a deeper weather model, additional terrain types and resources, the simulation of roads and railways and a greatly extended editor with the ability to add in scripted Image and Sound events and much more.

This demo does NOT require Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg to already be installed, however the full game does.
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion is currently available for sale. More details can be found here: Official Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion Website - http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/sc2_wwe/index%20.html

File Details
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Demo
Filesize: 93.05 Megabytes
Link to Demo Site:
http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/sc2_wwe/demo.html

World's Largest Multi-Game Home Arcade video game

Featuring a 120-inch high definition projector the Dreamcade Vision 120 is Wii compatible this monster delivers a larger than life gaming experience to arcade fans!

Dream Arcades (http://www.DreamArcades.com), is the leader in providing high-quality, low cost home video arcades unveils this season's hottest arcade product, the Dreamcade Vision 120. The Vision 120 comes complete and ready to play with more than 145 classic arcade games, including all of your favorite classic games from Atari, Midway, Namco, Digital Leisure, and Capcom as well more than 7,000 classic console games. The system also supports Nintendo's Wii console and even includes a wireless sensor bar.

Retail price is $3,999 and the Dreamcade Vision 120 can be found online at www.dreamarcades.com.

"Ever since my childhood I have dreamed of playing with classic arcade characters." says Michael Ware, Owner of Dream Arcades. "Now this dream can become a reality with this Dream Arcades system featuring a projection screen so large that Street Fighter characters appear life sized and others like the ghosts and zombies from Ghosts 'n Goblins and Pac-Man are almost scary!"

Dreamcade Vision 120 Features:
. High powered projector - Bright enough for daytime use!
. 120-inch Portable projection screen - makes it simple to set up, move, and store
. Dreamcade 2.0 Gaming PC - modern PC games can be played using authentic arcade controls
. More than 145 classic arcade games including Ms. Pac-man, Centipede, Dig Dug, and many more.
. Free year's subscription to more than 7,000 classic console games via Console Classix, including games for Atari, ColecoVision, NES, SuperNES, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, Sega GameGear, and GameBoy.
. Component and HDMI video inputs for your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii for the ultimate in modern gaming as well as classic arcade games.

Arcade Control Panel Features:
. Lighted trackball - For authentic gaming action on games like Centipede and Missile Command
. Spinner - To play retro classics like Warlords, Breakout and Pong
. Full arcade control panel with additional side buttons allows playing nearly any game from Street fighter to MAME pinball as well as modern games and classic console games through Console Classix
. Removable control panel - Gives you the ultimate versatility