ArmA: Armed Assault II Preview - Bonus In Game Trailer

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 18:07:02 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

On point across the most realistic battlefield ever created.

By Richie Shoemaker, IGN UK

Armed Assault II is the culmination of ten years of work, all of it poured into what is effectively the same game. For better or worse ArmA II will have as much in common with the original 'Flashpoint' as it has its namesake predecessor. Across all three games you'll find the same geographic scale, punishing realism and uncompromising attention to detail. Enough of each that the Ministry of Defence, Australia's Defence Force and the US Marine Corps will likely continue their business dealings with what is probably the Czech Republic's biggest military export. For many gamers there can be no greater endorsement than that - but players who have been taken down once too many times by ArmA's crackshot AI may need a little more convincing.

Read on...

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Cross Fire Invite a Friend Feature Announced

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 17:50:29 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

G4BOX Inc, a North American publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment media, today announced that players in the closed beta test for its highly-anticipated, free-to-play, online military first-person shooter Cross Fire will now be able to take advantage of a new feature that allows them to invite their friends into the exclusive beta. This new feature allows all registered players to send ten beta invitations to their friends. For more information and to download the game visit the official Cross Fire Website.

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Universal Combat Collectors' Edition v1.01.00 Patch

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 17:43:58 in category: Action/Action Strategy News [ Print ]

3000AD, Inc. has issued a new patch for Universal Combat Collectors' Edition (Thx:GamersHell), updating to v1.01.00 this compilation which includes full versions and scenarios from the following titles: Universal Combat Collectors' Edition, Universal Combat A World Apart, Universal Combat Gold, Universal Combat, Battlecruiser Millennium Gold, Battlecruiser Millennium, Battlecruiser 3000AD v2.0 and Battlecruiser 3000AD. Priced $29.95 USD, Universal Combat Collectors' Edition also includes a full 96-page printed manual and a printed keyboard sheet with color galaxy map on reverse side. A beta upgrade is also available - it includes a vastly improved SM 2.0 graphics engine and other improved technologies.

Downloads available on the 3000AD Downloads Page, which also lists a number of mirror sites. 10 MB - 250 MB

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Call of Duty: World at War Mod Tools Released

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 17:29:41 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

Activision has released the mod tools for Call of Duty: World at War (Thx:GamersHell), a package which allows you to create modifications for this popular first person sequel developed by Treyarch Invention. 1.10 GB

LINKS:

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Mosby's Confederacy Released via Digital Download

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 17:05:21 in category: Strategy and Wargaming News [ Print ]

Mosby's Confederacy, Tilted Mill's latest independent PC title, has been released! It is now available for digital download through Steam for $19.99. Mosby's Confederacy offers turn-based and real-time strategy gameplay based on the guerilla-warfare conducted by Confederate General John Singleton Mosby.

"Missions and their objectives are randomized, so you'll need to approach each game differently, carefully planning your strategy for success. You draw your soldiers from local towns, then, through hard-won battlefield experience, transform them into fighting men — scouts, cavalry, rangers, and riflemen. Between battles you'll invest in local towns, so they can serve as field hospitals, stables and munitions caches, helping to keep your forces fit and able to fight, and so that they remain confident and supportive of your ongoing efforts and willingly supply men to fight for your cause - and as the war rages on this becomes increasingly challenging."

For more game information please visit the Mosby's Confederacy Official Website.

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EA & Black Library Publishing Announce DARK STORM GATHERING

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 16:52:46 in category: RPG News [ Print ]

DARK STORM GATHERING is an Original Novel Based on Hit MMORPG Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio, and The Black Library, a division of Games Workshop, today announced DARK STORM GATHERING, an original novel based on the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR). The second in a series of novels based on the hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game, DARK STORM GATHERING will be available in all major bookstores and on the Black Library website in Spring 2009.

PRESS RELEASE

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Internal Politics & Political Parties in Hearts of Iron 3 Uncovered

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 16:46:43 in category: Strategy and Wargaming News [ Print ]

Paradox Interactive today unveiled the newest developer diary entry from Johan Andersson, Lead Developer on Hearts of Iron 3, on GiantRealm.com. Mr. Andersson’s posting breeches the subjects of intelligence, diplomacy, convoys, and the addition of political parties to HoI3.

Johan writes, “Although Hearts of Iron 3 is a war game and our main focus is on the war aspect, we felt we could not neglect the home front - in particular, politics. We felt that the 'Hearts of Iron 2' event-heavy system didn’t do quite what we wanted due to its static nature, which made it harder to react to changing situations. So we aimed to set up a system that was more dynamic in nature, but also wasn’t so detailed you had to spend more time on your internal politics than you did fighting wars.”

To read the complete developer diary entry for Hearts of Iron 3, please visit GiantRealm.com.

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World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Shatters Day-1 Sales Record

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 16:36:02 in category: RPG News [ Print ]

It's Good to be the Lich King...

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that World of Warcraft’s second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, has sold more than 2.8 million copies in its first 24 hours of availability*, making it the fastest-selling PC game of all time. This eclipses the previous record of nearly 2.4 million copies sold in 24 hours, set in January 2007 by Blizzard’s first World of Warcraft expansion, The Burning Crusade. Wrath of the Lich King was simultaneously released in North America, Europe, Chile, Argentina, and Russia on November 13; Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand on November 14; and South Korea and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on November 18.

PRESS RELEASE

*Based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.

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BFG Technologies Offers Rebate Remedy

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 16:26:32 in category: Hardware News [ Print ]

By Steve @ HardOCP

BFG Technologies has just let us know that, despite the recent financial troubles in the rebate industry, they have come up with a solution that will allow you to cash your rebate checks. Our hats are off to BFG for being proactive in handling a situation that was no fault of their own, hopefully we see more companies follow BFG’s lead.

"One of our third-party rebate processing companies recently informed us that they are experiencing financial difficulties, and that the funds provided to them by BFG Technologies to pay rebate checks for certain BFG products were no longer available. We are happy to inform our rebate customers in the U.S. that BFG has corrected the situation, and you CAN cash your check to receive your rebate payment."

If you are not up to speed on what is happening in the rebate industry, read this.

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Review: Thermalright Ultra Extreme Copper CPU Cooler

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 16:19:42 in category: System Cooling [ Print ]

Author: Marc Adams @ [H] Enthusiast

Did you think that you already owned the biggest baddest air cooler in the world? Well you are wrong. Soon a few thousand of you will get the ability to join the Ultra Extreme Copper Club. Size does matter, and even more so, what you're made of. If you wanted proof-of-concept out of Thermalright that they could do it even better, the TRUE Copper is that proof. Totally effin awesome FTW-ness? Yes! Practical and of value? Not even close.

Read The Review Here

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Review: iStarUSA xAGE-902 Dual HDD Docking Station

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 16:07:44 in category: Drives & Storage News [ Print ]

Author: erocker @ techPowerUp!

iStarUSA has a new dock to add to their large stable of HDD docks, rackmount chassis, and other enclosures. The xAGE-902 Dual HDD Docking Station features a dual HDD design and no-nonsense looks. Look and see why iStarUSA's latest offering may be your next HDD docking solution.

Read The Review Here

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Just Announced Hardware for November 20, 2008

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-20 15:55:37 in category: Hardware News [ Print ]

Here are the latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to independent news source.

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SAS: Secure Tomorrow Review

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 18:13:28 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

Bloody fun, bloody easy, and bloody short.

By Gord Goble, IGN

It was just last week that we examined 'Sniper: Art of Victory', a recently released City Interactive first-person shooter that left us colder than a Russian winter. However, in SAS: Secure Tomorrow, the Polish developer proves it is no mere purveyor of pure pap. Though it can and should be faulted for being as short and as erratic as it is, SAS is otherwise a somewhat adept tactical/special ops lite funfest that blows away the aforementioned 'Sniper' in just about every conceivable facet. If you're one of those gun-happy gamers who likes to shoot just about everything that moves, and especially if you haven't yet dropped big bucks on the top titles in the genre (Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, et all), you could do worse than this high-action, budget-priced import.

Read on...

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Call of Duty: World at War Gets Steamed

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 18:04:52 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

Call of Duty: World at War, the latest release in the best-selling action game franchise is now available to gamers around the world via Steam. This installment of 'Call of Duty' casts players in historical and fictional World War II battles set in the Pacific and Eastern European regions. CoD: World at War features both single and multiplayer gameplay modes.

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F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Behind the Scenes: Design Trailer

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 17:57:01 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

A second behind-the-scenes trailer from F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin shows off more gameplay from Monolith's upcoming horror-themed shooter sequel (Thx:Blue'sNews), accompanied by narration from artist Dave Matthews and designer Craig Hubbard, discussing the research that went into creating the game's disturbing environments. The streaming clip is available on the game's community website. (02:20)

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Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway Soundtrack Details

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 17:45:40 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

Sumthing Else Music Works, Inc., through its licensing relationship with Gearbox Software, proudly presents Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway Original Soundtrack featuring the original music score composed by Ed Lima and Duncan Watt. Developed by Gearbox Software, Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway is the third installment of the critically acclaimed series of WWII video games. The original soundtrack will be released on Nov. 25, 2008 to retail outlets through Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works record label sumthing.com, and for digital download at sumthingdigital.com and iTunes®.

Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway Original Soundtrack features the dramatic and emotionally poignant symphonic score composed by Ed Lima (Prey, Doom 3) and Duncan Watt (Need For Speed: Pro Street). As in the previous 'Brothers In Arms' games, no music is featured during gameplay. Instead the score is focused on supporting the story and accompanies the cut-scenes and menus in the game. The music was recorded with the FILMharmonic Orchestra and Choir at the prestigious Dvorak Hall of Rudolfinum in Prague.

PRESS RELEASE

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Half-Life Tenth Anniversary - Available on Steam for 98¢

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 17:29:30 in category: First-Person Shooter News [ Print ]

Source: Blue's News

Today is the 10th anniversary of the release of the original Half-Life, and to celebrate the decade since the birth of their beloved first-person shooter, Valve is offering 90% off of the purchase price of Half-Life on Steam, meaning it's available for under one dollar. This offer runs through noon on Friday, so if you've been putting off buying the game all this time, you finally have reason to hurry. Remember, they're waiting for you Gordon... in the test chamber.

News Source: Email

War Plan Pacific Still Enjoying Shore Leave Before Shoving Off!

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 17:20:17 in category: Strategy and Wargaming News [ Print ]

Slight Delay In Release Of Highly Anticipated PTO Title!

The date was fast approaching for War Plan Pacific to set sail and all hands-visuals and audio, artificial intelligence, single player action-had reported in except for good ol' hard partying network play. Seems that network play was having a little to much fun down at the watering hole and no matter how many shore patrols came down there to crack skulls and drag it back, network play held out for a little bit more fun. When it finally staggered back to the S.G. War Plan Pacific the date of opportunity had been missed. A new date was quickly established, a date not too far off...

What we're trying to say is that unfortunately while every intention was to have War Plan Pacific for Windows shipping on the 20th of this month we have pushed the release date back to the middle of December. The delay occurred to ensure that network play, which a lot of folks are quite eager to use, was a smooth experience with no surprising results. Like if, playing network, War Plan Pacific caused your computer to become sentient, hack into the ICBM grid and unleash a nuclear holocaust on the planet. That would be bad and would lead to some very Angry Internet Men. Or maybe Angry Internet Mutants.

PRESS RELEASE

News Source: Email

Europa Universalis: Rome - Vae Victis Released

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 17:13:53 in category: Strategy and Wargaming News [ Print ]

Paradox Interactive is proud to announce that Vae Victis, the eagerly anticipated expansion to the critically acclaimed Grand Strategy game Europa Universalis: Rome is released today. The expansion is available exclusively via digital download from GamersGate and Direct2Drive with a suggested retail price of $9.99. Vae Victis requires Europa Universalis: Rome to play.

PRESS RELEASE

News Source: Email

StratCom WW2 Pacific - Operation Z After Action Report - Part 1

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 17:06:19 in category: Strategy and Wargaming News [ Print ]

"Operation Z" is the main campaign in the upcoming Strategic Command World War 2 Pacific Theater game, that covers the whole of the war in the Pacific, from Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor through four long years of grueling struggle over thousands of miles of ocean as the allies fought back and brought Japan to her knees. The first part of an exciting After Action Report has just been released in Fury Software's Developer Diary Blog.

Rumors are flying high these days that Battlefront.com and Furysoftware are planning their own little Operation Z, with a surprise release of Strategic Command World War 2 Pacific Theater on December 7th, 2008. While that date surely is special (the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor took place in the morning hours of Dec 7th, 1941!), neither Battlefront nor Fury Software are currently willing to confirm nor dismiss these rumors.

READ AAR (Hosted by Battlefront.com)

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Review: Scythe Musashi GPU Cooler

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 16:52:06 in category: System Cooling [ Print ]

Author: Tony Walker @ Pro-Clockers

Scythe is one of those companies like Thermalright that is known for making some awesome coolers. One of my all time favorites is the Ninja. A cooler that gave the other companies something to worry about. But like the other companies Scythe has decided to try and conquer the GPU cooling market. Their attempt comes in the form of the Musashi. The Musashi is a two heat pipe cooler that is aimed at cooling many of today's mainstream video adapters like the ATI HD4870 and the Nvidia 9800GTX.

Read The Review Here

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Pacify Your PC - How to Make Your Machine Nearly Silent

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 16:37:04 in category: How To Guides [ Print ]

HEXUS has put together a new video series featuring Paul Lee, from QuietPC, in which he talks you through the products you can use to make a noisy machine nearly silent. This is How To Pacify Your PC! Parts 1-4 are now available with at least one more available soon.

Pacify Your PC - Videos 1-4

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Microsoft Announces Plans for No-Cost Consumer Security Offering

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 16:19:34 in category: Virus/Spam/Security News [ Print ]

New anti-malware solution will broaden PC protection and help improve Windows experience.

To address the growing need for a PC security solution tailored to the demands of emerging markets, smaller PC form factors and rapid increases in the incidence of malware, Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a new consumer security offering focused on core anti-malware protection.

Code-named “Morro,” this streamlined solution will be available in the second half of 2009 and will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. This new solution, to be offered at no charge to consumers, will be architected for a smaller footprint that will use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs. As part of Microsoft’s move to focus on this simplified offering, the company also announced today that it will discontinue retail sales of its 'Windows Live OneCare' subscription service effective June 30, 2009.

PRESS RELEASE

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Review: Top 10 Games Radeon 4870 1 GB & GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Test

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 16:12:32 in category: Video Card News [ Print ]

By: Hilbert Hagedoorn @ GURU3D

In this test we'll take six of the newest ranked Top 10 games your money can get you. With December luring around the corner two very popular products under that Christmas tree will be the Radeon 4870 1GB & GeForce GTX 260 core 216.

Read The Review Here

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Mozilla's Fashion Your Firefox Website Goes Live

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 15:56:53 in category: Software News [ Print ]

Thanks techPowerUp!

In an effort to help Firefox users get the most out of their browser Mozilla has now launched Fashion Your Firefox. Available at fashionyourfirefox.com, the new site provides a category-based list of Firefox add-ons that will enhance the user's browser experience. Arranged under categories such as Shutterbug, Rock Star, News Junkie, Shopaholic, Digital Pack Rat, Social Butterfly and others, the add-ons that can be quickly and easily installed right from the website.

"One of the best parts about Firefox is the amazing richness of our 5,000-plus free add-ons," said Mike Shaver, vice president of engineering at Mozilla. "We're excited to introduce Fashion Your Firefox because it makes it even easier for people to discover useful add-ons that make the browsing experience better and more personal."

To give your Firefox a little add-on makeover visit fashionyourfirefox.com.

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AMD Releases Catalyst 8.11 Hotfix for X58 Platforms

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 15:46:10 in category: Video Card News [ Print ]

Source: techPowerUp!

AMD has released an ATI Catalyst driver hotfix for Catalyst 8.11 with Intel X58 i7 Driver, that aims to improve performance on Intel X58 platfoms with ATI graphics accelerator installed. The X58-specific optimizations would also be part of next month's Catalyst 8.12 release. The hotfix applies to all discrete graphics cards, ATI Radeon X1000 series and later. The game-specific improvements are universal (helps everyone).

RELEASE NOTES/HOTFIX LINKS (Hosted by AMD/ATI) 49 MB

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NVIDIA Forceware 180.48 WHQL Drivers Released

Posted by Donster on: 2008-11-19 15:31:08 in category: Video Card News [ Print ]

Source: GURU3D

NVIDIA releases a new ForceWare driver today. This is a WHQL-certified driver for GeForce 200-series, 9-series, and 8800-series desktop GPUs. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues. 68MB-90MB