Former WayForward team launches Yacht Club Games

Mar 06, 2013

Sean Velasco, formerly of WayForward, announced that he and an unnumbered group of dudes have splintered and formed a new studio, Yacht Club Games. How luxurious. Their vision is clear, and they seem to be more ambitious and free than they were in the past with WayForward. I very much look forward to see what they do next (I’ll make sure I find out).

Here’s their introductory letter:

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Hello World!

It’s with great excitement that we announce the formation of Yacht Club Games: a proudly independent game developer started in 2011 by Sean Velasco and a crew from WayForward. We are a fun-loving bunch of gaming geniuses who have dedicated our lives to video games ever since we saw our first pixels. However, our serious and solemn goal is to make really awesome games that fuse modern and retro game philosophies, and we have the pedigree to prove it! Our team is comprised of top talent that has worked on some amazing titles, including Contra 4, A Boy and His Blob, Thor: God of Thunder, Mighty Milky Way, BloodRayne: Betrayal, and most recently, Double Dragon Neon.

So what are we all about? While our team is synonymous with retro revivals, we want to share our original brand of personality! We want to create fun and challenging gameplay with concise and polished mechanics. We want to both tug at your heartstrings and delight you with levity and charm. We want to make games that you play together with friends and family. Most of all, we want to give everyone the same collective types of game experiences that have defined our generation. It’s such an exciting time to be a fan of games; the industry is experiencing a renaissance and creativity is flourishing. We are so, so excited to develop games that we love, in hopes that you love them too. Let’s make a splash!

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Yacht Club Games can be found online at www.yachtclubgames.com | https://twitter.com/YachtClubGames | http://www.facebook.com/YachtClubGames

Thief, The Fourth Game in the Series for PC and Next Generation Consoles by Eidos Montreal

Mar 05, 2013

Square Enix and Eidos Montréal, the award winning studio behind the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®, today unveiled THIEFthe  for high-end PC’s and next generation consoles. THIEF is the reinvention of a franchise that helped define an entire genre of games.

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Time has moved on. Power has shifted. New greed replaces the old.
But to remain free in the city of chains – that is still the greatest prize.
First I stole to survive… then I survived to steal.
I am one man; I hear your secrets, see your hidden truths.
I am the shadows, the dark and deadly, the velvet night. You will not see me coming.

I am Garrett….What’s yours is mine.

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There is a rising tide of fear in The City. Hatred saturates every stone and whilst the rich prosper, the less fortunate face misery and repression. Ravaged with sickness and famine, they wait for something to change.

Into this shadowy world steps Garrett, THE master thief in a first-person adventure featuring intelligent design that allows players to take full control, with freedom to choose their path through the game’s levels and how they approach and overcome each challenge.

“We’re handling a precious gemstone with THIEF. Fans remember the original games very fondly and we want to preserve that essence which we have excellent experience of doing at Eidos Montréal, whilst also introducing THIEF to a brand new, next-generation, audience,” said Stephane D’Astous, General Manager, Eidos Montréal. “Our goal is to deliver the fantasy of being Garrett, the master thief, and we’re building this game around that core experience.”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows – Debut Trailer and Screenshots

Mar 05, 2013

Activision Publishing, Inc. today announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Out of the Shadows, a new, digital download-only video game inspired by Nickelodeon’s new hit animated series, will be available this summer. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a third-person brawler game set in New York City, taking gamers through articulated, true-to-life environments filled with action-packed adventures as Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.  Featuring an original hyper-realistic 3D-style, gamers can experience four-player online co-op play while stomping out the Foot Clan and unleashing turtle torment on any foe that gets in their way.

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Full Control Releases First Screens from Space Hulk

Mar 05, 2013

Full Control today released the first screens from Space Hulk, its 3D digital turn based strategy game based on the best-selling board game and set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Revealing a claustrophobic look, classic to the board game, these first screens show off the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of an ancient vessel lost in the graveyard of space as a small force of fearless Space Marine Terminators battle in a ferocious fight for survival against hordes of predatory alien Genestealers.

Tactical overview of squad management in Space Hulk
Terminator attacking a Genestealer

Arma 3 – ‘2013 Sneak Preview’ Trailer, coincides with Alpha launch today

Mar 05, 2013

Marking today’s release of the Arma 3 Alpha, Bohemia Interactive has deployed a brand new ‘2013 Sneak Preview’ trailer for its upcoming military tactical shooter game, Arma 3™. The video explores the playable and sandbox content in the Alpha and scans the horizon for what is to come later this year.

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Lara Croft returns in Tomb Raider, now available

Mar 05, 2013

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX interactive entertainment products in the Americas, today announced that TOMB RAIDER, developed by Crystal Dynamics, is now available in stores for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. The Windows PC version is available via online platforms including Steam.

“Creating something truly special is incredibly challenging. You have got to really want it: you have to be passionate; you have to care about it, and you have to dedicate yourself,” said Darrell Gallagher, head of studio at Crystal Dynamics. “We have a studio full of talented people who have put their hearts into making this game – this is not just a game on their resume, speak to any one of them, they’ve been on a journey. We hope that the game we’ve built will endure and that this is a well deserving renaissance for Lara Croft.”

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Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 – Tactical Optics Gameplay Trailer

Mar 04, 2013

To make sure you’re prepared, CI Games, a fast-growing international publisher and developer of interactive entertainment, has today released the Tactical Optics tutorial video for Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2. Briefing viewers on the tools and tricks of a sharpshooter’s trade, this Tactical Optics video will ensure that when it comes time to pull the trigger, players will be doing it with the knowledge and mastery of their available equipment.

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Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – World Premiere Trailer

Mar 04, 2013

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Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – Edward Trailer

Mar 04, 2013

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Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag officially announced for release this October 29th

Mar 04, 2013

Today, Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, the next installment in the company’s best-selling franchise. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag introduces an all new hero and setting, and will feature the most diverse and seamless Assassin’s Creed world ever created.

In development for nearly two years, the game is being spearheaded by one of the veteran Assassin’s Creed teams in Ubisoft Montreal with support from Ubisoft studios in Annecy, Bucharest, Kiev, Quebec, Singapore and Sofia.  Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag will be released on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Nintendo’s Wii U system, Windows PC and other next generation consoles. The game will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo’s Wii U system on October 29, 2013.

“With the new hero and new setting we are creating the boldest and most unique Assassin’s Creed game yet, while still respecting the pillars of the franchise that have made it such a fan favorite,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based on a true, harsh and exciting part of a legendary era and will thrill longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag tells the story of Edward Kenway, a young British man with a thirst for danger and adventure, who falls from privateering for the Royal Navy into piracy as the war between the major Empires comes to an end. Edward is a fierce pirate and seasoned fighter who soon finds himself embroiled in the ancient war between Assassins and Templars. Set at the dawn of the 18th Century, the game features some of the most infamous pirates in history, such as Blackbeard and Charles Vane, and takes players on a journey throughout the West Indies during a turbulent and violent period of time later to become known as the Golden Age of Pirates.

Gameplay in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based upon the franchise’s proven tenets. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag features a vast open world with more than 50 navigable locations. Combat combines the weaponry of the Assassin’s Order with armaments of the era, and rewards both daring and stealth. And the series’ acclaimed multiplayer experience is more varied and ruthless than ever in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.

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Customers who purchase Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag on PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 can download 60 minutes of additional gameplay via the PlayStation Network after the game’s launch.

Customers who pre-order Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag at EB Games will receive a Limited Edition collectible poster (while supplies last) featuring artwork created by legendary, award-winning artist Todd McFarlane.

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag can be pre-ordered at Uplay shop by visiting: http://shop.ubi.com/AC4BF

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Insurgency “Early Access” goes Live Today

Mar 01, 2013

New World Interactive announced today it is opening its doors to the gaming community with “Early Access” to play INSURGENCY, its tactical first-person shooter, currently in development. Through its “Early Access” program, NWI will make INSURGENCY available to the public at 6 pm PST, today.

INSURGENCY’s “Early Access” invitation is an example of an indie development team working directly with its community to create a compelling combat experience, while distinguishing itself from mainstream shooters. The game moves away from a release-package publishing model to a persistent development process that adapts an established genre with the future of social gaming.

“Early Access,” a pre-beta look at the development of INSURGENCY, enables participants to talk and play with the developers, for the price of $19.99. This will provide players with the Early Access build, the subsequent Beta, and the final game when it ships later this year. To Join “Early Access,” go to the INSURGENCY site at: www.playinsurgency.com.

INSURGENCY is a first-person team-based shooter for up to 32-plus players designed for Windows® PC and Mac OS X (and in the future, Linux), using Valve’s Source Engine and distributed through the Steam platform. If the name INSURGENCY sounds familiar, that’s because it is based on the popular total conversion for Half-Life 2 — Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat — that saw more than a million free downloads and was awarded the ModDB “Player’s Choice Mod of the Year” in 2007.

Key features to INSURGENCY include:

• Intense 32-plus player online action with a focus on teamwork
• Customizing the game’s arsenal to player’s preferred style
• Choosing from three unique classes that affect movement on the battlefield
• Highly immersive audio with 3D VOIP to coordinate with and track other players
• Playing the most popular maps and game modes, and helping the development team prototype new ones

Deep Silver will launch Metro: Last Light on May 14th, 2013

Mar 01, 2013

Deep Silver today announced that Metro: Last Light, the highly anticipated first person shooter sequel to the extraordinary Metro 2033, will be available on May 14, 2013 in North and Latin America and May 17, 2013 across Europe for PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

“The new release date is the ideal way to strike the balance between bringing the best out of Metro: Last Light and not keep the fans waiting longer than necessary,” said Dr. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Koch Media. “We won’t leave that time unexploited and will work closely together with 4A Games to make the game even better. It will receive all the attention it deserves.”

In the year 2034, a nuclear war has turned the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In Moscow, the tunnels of the Metro have become a new home for the former inhabitants of the city. Within the catacombs, they fight for their survival, fending off hordes of hideous mutants born from the toxic atmosphere, as well as other factions desperate to take control of what little hospitable land remains. As they fight, they also search for a doomsday device that could be the key to their victory. A civil war is inevitable. During these dark hours, the players will embody Artyom, and become the last light for all of mankind.

The plot of Metro: Last Light was written by Dmitry Glukhovsky, acclaimed author of the novel Metro 2033 which inspired the creation of both video games. Also, Glukhovsky is responsible for all dialogues in Metro: Last Light. Glukhovskys novels Metro 2033 and Metro 2034 have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. In 2013, his latest book Metro 2035 will be also available outside of Russia.