Death of Spies - Moment of Truth with new gadgets, new weapons and new missions

Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company is pleased to announce the development of a sequel to the popular stealth-action Death to Spies titled Death to Spies: Moment of Truth.

The game's main character is Semion Strogov, Captain of the 4th department of the Soviet counterintelligence service called SMERSH.
SMERSH literally means in Russian Death to Spies, which was the name for a set of counterintelligence departments in the Soviet Army formed during World War II. Strogov is back from his previous missions and must now participate in a series of even more complicated and exciting military operations under the code name Death to Spies: Moment of Truth.

The hero possesses all the skills required to accomplish especially dangerous missions including, getting information about the disposition of hostile military and civil units, assassination of enemy agents and representatives of Wehrmacht’s high-ranking officers and espionage.

By the order of his supreme commander Strogov, who passed through a serious retraining, will have to accomplish various top secret missions. His task is to capture spies, saboteurs and gather information about their actions using unique technologies and devices.

Death to Spies: Moment of Truth is scheduled for a Q3 2009 release.

SplitFish Ships FragFX V2 PlayStation 3 Controllers

Form Meets Function in Universal Controller for the PlayStation 3

SplitFish Gameware, Inc. ("SplitFish") is pleased to announce the release of the new FragFX V2 controller for the Sony PlayStation 3. This long awaited advanced gaming accessory represents the next significant industry advancement for PS3 gamers. The FragFX V2 truly delivers on giving the first-person shooter (FPS) player the gaming precision, speed and control previously only available to PC gamers.

Over the past year, SplitFish has painstakingly re-engineered and turbocharged the key performance features of the FragFX V2 system to ensure maximum playability and performance for PS3 gamers of all levels. Based on carefully analyzing the feedback received from V1 users, and pro gamers, the new V2 now includes significant improvements to the following components: optical mouse, frag switch, mouse & motion sensitivity, mouse buttons, and d-pad. In addition, improved game support will ensure that FragFX V2 users continue to dominate on today's genre of games (enhanced response in Call of Duty: World at War, Killzone 2 and Resistance 2) as well as future front line releases. In the event firmware upgrades are needed, they will be provided for free and instantaneously by simply downloading them directly from www.splitfish.com.

The FragFx V2 also serves as a fully optimized mouse for the browsing and navigation of the PlayStation HOME virtual world and the PlayStation Network browser.

"When it comes to fast-paced gaming where precision counts, gamers demand the most from their controllers and that is where the FragFX V2 comes into play. We decided to release a FragFx V2 to incorporate some of the great suggestions made by our hard core customers and pro gamers - the resulting hardware and firmware modifications, make the V2 an even more versatile and better quality PS3, FPS controller." said SplitFish president Werner Demetz.

Key features of the FragFX V2 controller include:

• Larger mousepad for a wider range of motion for mouse tracking and aiming
• Varied mouse button surface textures to distinguish between buttons and provide better grip and less slip
• Unique pressure sensitive Frag button that allows gamers to drastically increase their accuracy-perfect for long-range sniping.
• Macro mouse sensitivity control located on the FragChuck provides gamers with a truly unique control setup.
• Improved directional padRapid-fire can be mapped to a variety of mouse buttons and can be turned on and off on the fly from in-game.
• FragChuck has full range of adjustable 6-Axis motion control.
• Unique motion port feature that allows gamers to map 6-Axis motions-specific functions to a variety of buttons.

The FragFX V2 is now shipping in North America and is available from the following major retailers: www.gogamer.com, www.bestbuy.com, www.amazon.com, www.microcenter.com and www.newegg.com. The SplitFish FragFX2 V2 has an MSRP of $79.99.

New screenshots from Wheelman - Vin Diesel video game...

Combining spectacular Hollywood-style stunts with a gripping storyline, Wheelman provides an adrenaline-fueled, cinematic thrill ride.

Vin Diesel stars as an undercover agent and highly skilled driver who must infiltrate the Barcelona underworld to gather intelligence surrounding a covert heist.

Posing as a driver-for-hire, he ends up caught in a crossfire of corruption and chaos while trying to stay one step ahead of local law enforcement and rival gangs. 

Are Blizzard working on a new Project?

Blizzard appears to be working on a fifth title according to two new job postings.

The fifth brand-new unannounced game surfaced last week following previous hints that Blizzard was interested in working on a completely new IP.

Currently Blizzard is working on Starcraft II, Diablo III, a new World of Warcraft expansion, a next-gen MMO, and a new unannounced game that may be a new IP. Blizzard hinted at developing a game based on a new IP back in 2006 when Blizzard COO Paul Sams commented: "I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new franchise from us at some time in the future; there’s certainly a desire to do so."

Blizzard is recruiting again and have been looking for programmers on programming job site forums where two new positions have been advertised by Blizzard's 'Slouken' who has been working on World of Warcraft, specifically with the UI and interface community.

The positions have been advertised stating:

"Blizzard Entertainment is seeking an experienced gameplay engineer to focus on game rules systems for an unannounced title. This is your chance to get in on the ground floor of a dynamic and focused team working on a brand new project. Blizzard Entertainment offers a fun, creative, and technically challenging environment with excellent compensation and a full range of benefits."

Based on these two new job postings for software engineers, we can assume that a new IP from Blizzard is in the works.

Source: IncGamers

Grand Theft Auto IV v1.0.3.0 PC Patch improves multi player races

Rockstar Games has issued a new patch for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV (thanks: Attila). Check full article for changelog.

Download here... (54.63mb)

GRAPHICS:

* Interior Lights for ATI 1900 series cards:
o All light sources appear for users with 1900 series ATI cards. (ie. Pool Mini Game)
o ALT-TAB fixed
* Graphics Settings:
o Added menu option " OFF " for Reflection quality
o Added menu option " OFF " for Shadow quality

PERFORMANCE:

* Physics optimizations to improve situations with heavy physics calculations (ie. 32 player races)
* Graphical Performance Optimizations

MULTIPLAYER:

* NAT Type detection
o Detect if user has a " strict " NAT and displays message for user
* Voice chat is received even if your microphone is turned off

CONTROLS:

* Keyboard / Mouse
o Remapping restrictions removed
o Allow Enter, Backspace, and Arrow keys to be remapped by user
o Allow multiple mouse buttons to be mapped
* Enable/Disable DirectInput in Menu
o Users can now activate/deactivate Direct Input devices from "Controls" menu.
o If commandline "-usedirectinput" is active, it will override pause menu setting.
* Use 2 direct input devices simultaneously (ie. Wheel and Gamepad)
o Users can now use 2 different controllers at once, including 1 XInput and 1 Direct Input device.
* Added more Direct Input / XInput device support
o Saitek P380/P480/P580/P990
o Saitek PS1000/PS2700/P3200/P3600
o Gravis Eliminator Shock gamepad

SECURITY:

* Detect modified files and prevent users from entering multiplayer if found
o Game will prompt with a message after blocking user with modified data files from entering multiplayer
o Should prevent multiplayer access from cell phone and GFWL join in progress

VIDEO EDITOR:

* Scroll Bar improved response
o Tweaked to respond better to keyboard inputs
* Sped up load times for users with many clips

TITLE UPDATE 2 FIXES:

* Return of Hot Dog Stands and other props
o Missing hot dog vendors, fences, gates, pylons should be present throughout the world.
* Scrolling signboards
o Activate missing scrolling signboard text (ie. highway signs, Star Junction, Clock Tower Sign)
* ALT-TAB pauses game during cutscenes
o Cutscenes should now pause and resume correctly after an ALT-TAB task switch. Audio remains in sync.


GENERAL ADDITIONS / FIXES:

* Mismatched MODO/Perseus Clothing
o Fixed a bug when Niko mixes clothing from Perseus and Modo
* 360 Controller Texture
o Controller image should be visible in Controller Configuration screen

Microsoft lose $25 million with FREE Xbox Live Gold cards giveaways for Red Ring of Death (RRoD) compensation...

Nometet have done the maths - there are roughly 9.5 million Xbox Live Gold members. One third of them will have got the RROD, so 9,500,000 x 1/3 = 3.167 million. Thats 3.167 million people who have been given a month free on Xbox Live.

Times that by the eight dollars it costs to buy a one month Xbox Live Gold card and it comes to 25,333,333.

What that means is Microsoft given away at least 25.3 million dollars worth of Xbox Live Gold membership cards since 2005. The figure could well be two, three or four times more. With no Official figures it is hard to say.

Source: MaxConsole

Warcraft 3 patches Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne to version 1.23a

New patches are now available for Warcraft III updating either the Reign of Chaos or The Frozen Throne to version 1.23a.

The patches surface on Friday, but still haven't appeared on the Warcraft III Website or other official sources.

But here's some links...

Downloads of the Reign of Chaos patch are available from ActionTrip, AtomicGamer, FileFront, and The Patches Scrolls. The Frozen Throne patch is located on ActionTrip, AtomicGamer, FileFront, and The Patches Scrolls.

From Sea of Dreams to Bioshock 2 what's in a name...

Bioshock 2 publisher 2K has confirmed a few key details about their upcoming sequel to the 2007 hit, first and foremost that the name has been shortened. Let's face it, Sea of Dreams is kinda underwhelming as far as titles go, sounding like something that would be better off adorning the entry to a Disney ride in some fancy script. Going forward, the game is just plain ol' Bioshock 2.

A few other details have also been made public about the upcoming title. There will be multiplayer this time around, although no co-op mode is planned. The game is set 10 years after the events depicted in the first game, so those geared up for a prequel depicting the fall of Rapture are gonna be disappointed. The undersea city has crumbled, flooding some sections from the first game, while opening up new areas for exploration.

Perhaps most interesting is the protaganist - this time around you'll be playing as one of the Big Daddies, the iconic diving-suited giants from the first game. Little else has been revealed, but I'm sure that a lot of punters are going to be joining Hellbored in following the latest developments on this game as it approaches release. No date has been given, but the title will be available on PS3, XBox 360 and PC sometime in 2009.

Source: Hellbored

Bioshock - Ken Lavine talks to Gamespot about new upcoming mystery project...

2K Boston frontman Ken Levine talks about how BioShock 2 ended up at 2K Marin, his upcoming mystery project, and how his studio literally went underwater.

The recently announced sequel, BioShock 2, is being developed at 2K Marin, which was founded by a number of original BioShock vets in late 2007.

Meanwhile, Levine and the remaining 2K Boston group are still in Massachusetts, recruiting new talent for an unnamed project that the studio claims will be its most ambitious to date.

Read full post here on Gamespot...

Vin Diesel, Jonathan Ross, World of Warcraft and the level 80 wife...

On Friday's Jonathan Ross show with guest Vin Diesel (Wheelman fame) they talked about Vins involvement in games from Dungeons and Dragons to World of Warcraft.

Ross admitted to playing WoW (a level 7 dwarf) but the revaluation that his wife is a level 80 in the game...

Watch the video and read the transcript....

Jonathan Ross: Do you play those games?
Vin Diesel: Oh, how could you not?
Jonathan Ross: What level are you in World of Warcraft?
Vin Diesel: Oh ... I'm deadly.
Jonathan Ross: What level are you? Bring it on Diesel. Because I'll tell you what you're looking at right here. You're looking at a level 7 dwarf. That's a very low level I should point out, but I haven't a lot of time. My wife is a level 80.
Jonathan Ross: You're right to look amazed.
Vin Diesel: Level 80 what?
Jonathan Ross: I don't know ... [Diesel looks like he's thinking this is BS]. But she's green and rides a spectral tiger.
Vin Diesel: Oh my God, you're not - He's not kidding. Seriously he's not kidding. No this is really, really serious.