New Screenshots

Focus Home Interactive today released new screenshots from "Pro Cycling Manager 2010", giving viewers a glimpse at the next installment in the sports series by Cyanide Studios.

"These new images spotlight the graphic evolution made to this year’s edition of the popular sports game series. What a perfect occasion to discover Cyanide's game's main improvements. In order to provide a more realistic and a more intense experience, the game features high resolution textures and a new handling of the flora, which is now more luxuriant and diverse. Many advanced visual effects complete the ultimate rendering of the game: the "bloom" effect simulates image exposure to light, more depth of field enhances the focus of the TV cameras that follow cyclists during each race, while "motion blur" simulates speed.

But all these improvements shouldn’t make you overlook that Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France 2010's evolutions are not limited to the race. Many novelties are also implemented on the manager part of the game: a new Season mode, numerous challenges, performances and official historic records to beat, or even a new stage editor to create your stages in great detail! Without a doubt, 2010 will be a big year for Pro Cycling Manager!"

A new multiplayer map titled "close combat" for "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat" has been released, adding on to the online play of the sequel by GSC Game World. This is the first of three new maps that will be released over the next few weeks.

"The events of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat unfold shortly after the end of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Having discovered about the open path to the Zone center, the government decides to hold a large-scale military "Fairway" operation aimed to take the CNPP under control."

The 5MB map can be downloaded from the bottom of game page on bitComposer's website.

2K Games today announced "XCOM", a re-imagining of the classic strategy game by Mythos, which is currently in development at 2K Marin.

"XCOM combines the strategic core of the groundbreaking franchise with a suspense-filled narrative and distills it into a tense and unique first-person shooter experience.

“With BioShock 2, the team at 2K Marin proved themselves as masters of first-person, suspenseful storytelling, and with XCOM they will re-imagine and expand the rich lore of this revered franchise,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Players will explore the world of XCOM from an immersive new perspective and experience firsthand the fear and tension of this gripping narrative ride.”

XCOM is the re-imagining of the classic tale of humanity’s struggle against an unknown enemy that puts players directly into the shoes of an FBI agent tasked with identifying and eliminating the growing threat. True to the roots of the franchise, players will be placed in charge of overcoming high-stake odds through risky strategic gambits coupled with heart-stopping combat experiences that pit human ingenuity – and frailty – against a foe beyond comprehension. By setting the game in a first-person perspective, players will be able to feel the tension and fear that comes with combating a faceless enemy that is violently probing and plotting its way into our world.

XCOM is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information on XCOM please visit www.XCOM.com."

An announcement screenshot has also been released:

Electronic Arts today announced that RIchard Morgan, best known as the science fiction author of "Altered Carbon" and "Broken Angels", will write the story for "Crysis 2".

"Morgan is working with Crytek to bring his trademark visceral writing style to the project, which is his first entry into the video game medium. In Crysis 2, New York is under the attack of a unique and frightening alien species that combines deadly weaponry, exceptional sensory abilities and intelligent collaboration to present players with the most challenging opponents ever seen in a first person shooter. Surrounded by devastation, players must assess the situations they encounter, adapt to this urban jungle and use the weapons and powers given solely to them to save New York. Morgan enters this distressed world and brings it to life with gritty characters, a rich back-story and plot twists rarely found in video games.

“Video games are one of the only things in my life I would qualify as a complete addiction,” said Richard Morgan. “The medium has every bit the potential for exciting and emotionally charged storytelling as literature and film, and I’m excited to explore this format on my first project in partnership with a world class developer like Crytek.”

“At Crytek, we pride ourselves on working with the most elite talent in the industry, and Richard is no exception,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. “He has helped us take our ideas for Crysis 2 and transform them into a story that really engages the player in many new and exciting ways. His passion for his craft and for games is a perfect match for our team and we can’t wait for gamers to experience this collaboration.”

In Crysis 2, the aliens have returned with a full invasion force bent on nothing less than the total annihilation of mankind. In New York, terrifying alien invaders stalk the streets and a nightmare plague strikes down the city’s myriad inhabitants with brutal epidemic speed. The city’s systems are in chaos, its streets and skyline are smashed and in flaming ruin. Neither paramilitary law enforcement nor the might of the US military machine can stand against the invaders, and all who choose not to flee are dead men walking. Just to survive in this maelstrom of death will require technology beyond anything any modern soldier has ever seen. One man will inherit that means to survive. You alone must wield the combat technology of Nanosuit 2, and make the last stand to save humanity from destruction in the urban jungle that is New York City.

Built on Crytek’s new state-of-the art multiplatform game development system, CryENGINE®3, Crysis 2 will be available this holiday for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, and PC.

For more information on Crysis 2, please visit https://crysis.ea.com or follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/crysis and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crysis."

2K Games today announced that "Mafia II" will be released on August 24 in North America and August 27 internationally.

"Mafia II is currently in development by 2K Czech, the same creative team behind the award-winning, genre-defining Mafia®, which captivated millions of gamers around the world.

Through a compelling narrative, Mafia II transports gamers into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia. The fiction is embellished by a sophisticated, era-evoking atmosphere that meticulously replicates the clothing, cars, music and advertising of 1940’s and 1950’s Americana. Players will easily become immersed in the game’s cinematic Hollywood-style experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing metropolis. By fusing high-octane gunplay with white-knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia II looks to be the industry’s most compelling Mafia title to date. According to IGN.com, “Mafia II is definitely at the top of our most wanted lists.”

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian-American who is trying to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood. Vito, along with his lifelong friend, Joe, will descend into the world of organized crime. Looking to escape the life of hardship that his father led, Vito dreams about becoming a “made man,” and together with Joe, will work to prove themselves to the Mafia as they try to make their names on the streets. However, the two quickly realize that life as a wise guy isn’t quite as glamorous as it seems.

Additionally, Mafia II will be playable by the public for the first time at the Penny Arcade Expo East (PAX East) being held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts from March 26 – March 28 at the 2K Games booth (booth #103).

Mafia II is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information on Mafia II, please visit www.mafia2game.com."

Bethesda Softworks today announced that it will publish "Hunted: The Demon's Forge," an upcoming third-person action game by inXile Entertainment.

"Set in a dark fantasy world, Hunted: The Demon’s Forge is an unforgettable cooperative action game, pitting you and your partner against waves of vicious enemies.  Taking control of either E’lara, a ranged weapon expert, or Caddoc, a master swordsman, you must use a variety of weapons, powerful spells, and cover tactics to battle your way through menacing dungeons, overgrown ruins, and downtrodden towns. Discover secrets and complete co-op-based puzzles whilst exploring the sinister world to discover answers to the game’s deep, dark mysteries.

inXile Entertainment was founded in 2002 by industry veteran Brian Fargo. During his distinguished tenure in the video game business, Fargo has been behind some of the greatest fantasy game franchises of all time including The Bard's Tale®, Baldur's Gate®, and Fallout®. Hunted's development is being overseen by Fargo while Michael "Maxx" Kaufman serves as the game's Director. Previously, Kaufman served as Art Director on such titles as Kingpin™: Life of Crime™, Redneck Rampage™ and the award-winning Return to Castle Wolfenstein® at Gray Matter.

"We are thrilled to be working with Bethesda Softworks on this upcoming release that takes us back to our roots," said Brian Fargo, Founder of inXile Entertainment. "Bethesda's track record speaks for itself and the game we are developing for them is no exception."

"inXile has an extremely talented team and we couldn't be more pleased to have them working on one of our upcoming titles," said Vlatko Andonov, President of Bethesda Softworks. "We believe gamers will be really excited about what these guys have in store for them."

In addition to Hunted, Bethesda Softworks' roster of upcoming games includes Fallout®: New Vegas™, the next chapter in the blockbuster Fallout franchise being developed at Obsidian Entertainment, Brink™, a ground breaking shooter being developed at Splash Damage and RAGE™, the new first-person shooter being developed by id Software.

For more information on Bethesda Softworks and Hunted, visit www.bethsoft.com. To learn more about inXile Entertainment please visit www.inxile-entertainment.com."

Kalypso Media today announced a publishing agreement with Akella to publish "Disciples III: Renaissance," the turn-based strategy game by .dat, in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific.

"Disciples III: Renaissance is a standalone turn-based RPG/strategy game set in an expansive fantasy world, offering players action, adventure and glory. Stunning 3D environments, three playable races, and multiplayer functionality all combine to offer an outstanding gameplay experience. Kalypso Media will release Disciples III: Renaissance in summer 2010 on Windows PC.

“Disciples III: Renaissance is a perfect fit with Kalypso’s portfolio of top-quality strategy games, and we are excited to partner with Akella to release this title to gamers around the world,” said Simon Hellwig, Managing Director, Kalypso Media. “Disciples III is poised to take this award-winning strategy franchise to the next level by appealing to existing fans and newcomers to the series.”

“Everyone at Akella has a deep respect and love for the Disciples brand,” said Dmitry Arkhipov, Vice-President of Development at Akella. “Our team is dedicated and passionate about ensuring that Disciples III: Renaissance takes the franchise further by providing fans more dynamic gameplay and deeper strategies in an incredibly atmospheric and rich 3D world. Kalypso is the perfect partner to work with to ensure that Disciples III: Renaissance will be delivered to gamers around the world.”

Disciples III: Renaissance is the next title in the award winning Disciples series and represents a leap forward in the evolution of the turn-based RPG/strategy genre. Building on the successes of the first two games, Disciples III: Renaissance introduces a host of new features as well as the compelling gameplay that made the previous titles so popular.

Key features:

• Three playable races – The Empire, the Legions of the Damned and the Elven Alliance. Each race has unique units and city designs.
• Cities, locations, units and other game assets are now represented in full 3D
• Advances in gameplay allow increased fluidity in multiplayer games and less downtime in single-player games
• A new upgrade system allows the player to assign attributes to their leader units. This system employs inventories and new stats and abilities
• Visual representation of characters’ equipped armor, weapons and artifacts"

True Games Interactive and Petroglyph have released new information on the storyline and bosses of "Mytheon."

"The ancient Greek mythology and expansive folklore of Mytheon transports players to a time where heroes do battle with legendary monsters and gods. Chief among the grand and colossal gods in the ancient world is the mighty Poseidon, god of the seas and earthquakes, and the creator of horses, including the famed Pegasus. One of the early environments in Mytheon is The Shattered Isle, a mystical island created by Poseidon to house his family and loyal servants. This island represents the dichotomy of the seas; beautiful and tranquil on one side, and dark and treacherous on the other.

Poseidon was the first and only god to attempt an outright assault on the fabled city of Argos. Had it not been for the protection of the Golden Fleece, the city would have fallen. He is encountered on the Shattered Isle where he is amassing an army to destroy the city of Argos. Poseidon’s wrath is born out of arrogant jealousy over mankind’s newfound favor with the Fates. For millennia, he has blessed mankind with such gifts as his beloved horses and the secrets of sea-faring.

“Experiencing the myths and legends we grew up with are what make Mytheon such a unique online experience and the giant gods in the game are an amazing challenge, said Peter Cesario, director of new business and product development at True Games Interactive. “For years video games have been trying to capture the essence of fighting something so powerful, so huge that it is god-like; Mytheon is the real thing.”

Challenging a god-sized boss is one of the many thrilling encounters Mytheon players will face. And none is more epic than battling Poseidon, the master of earth and water who uses these primal elements to decimate entire legions of men. It is ill-advised to rely on summoned structures in this epic fight, for Poseidon’s mastery of the earth will ensure their destruction. At his command are the various creatures of the ocean, including a giant man-eating sea monster called the King Sentinel. Guarding Poseidon’s temple is the majestic Pegasus—in order for Poseidon to be challenged, Pegasus must first be defeated, proving the Stonecaster’s worthiness to face the mighty deity himself.

“Using mythologies from the various civilizations throughout our history as the basis of the story of Mytheon has given us a wealth of material to pull from,” said Chris Rubyor, lead designer of Mytheon at Petroglyph. “We wanted the player to feel instantly familiar with the monsters and gods he or she will be fighting, but still feel a sense of awe and wonder at the encounters. We look forward to expanding on the Greek mythology that greets players in Mytheon to even more incredible encounters from Egypt, Asia and more as we continue to expand the game.”

Mytheon is an online, multiplayer action/RPG with strategic game play where players experience classic mythology come to life and challenge legendary gods to define their own fate. Players, or "Stonecasters", are powerful humans imbued with the ability to cast spells, summon minions, and erect structures that aid them in battle. An assortment of classes are available that approach combat differently and offer a range of unique, cinematic abilities.

Using some of the best and most familiar mechanics from traditional collectible card games, players will earn, buy, trade and collect stones they can assemble similar to deck-building among a thriving online community. Several compelling features have been added to create fast, visually stunning 3D combat sequences with a deep layer of strategy beneath it.

For additional details on Mytheon and to sign up for the closed beta test please visit: https://www.MytheonGame.com. To follow all the latest news, please visit https://www.facebook.com/mytheon, https://twitter.com/mytheongame and https://www.youtube.com/group/mytheon"

New screenshots and a video of Gateway to Khitai, a location in the upcoming "Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer" expansion, have been released.

"Rise of the Godslayer tells the story of an Empire slowly spiraling into chaos, as a consequence of the actions of a young Conan many years ago. After killing the Elephant God in the famous Robert E. Howard story 'The Tower of the Elephant', strange and horrible things have been happening to the Empire of Khitai. As a player you must explore the dark roads of the Empire and walk the path of the Godslayer as you unravel a mature and deep storyline full of brutal conflict and political intrigue."

Futuremark today released new screenshots from "Shattered Horizon Moonrise," an upcoming DLC pack for the recent first-person shooter set in space.

"The Moonrise pack, which will be free to all players, includes four new environments effectively doubling the number of levels in the game.

In Shattered Horizon, a catastrophic explosion on the Moon has filled near-Earth space with billions of tons of rocky debris. Teams of players fight in zero gravity to control the limited supplies that mean the difference between survival and death in the cold of space.

The four Moonrise levels are set around the shattered Moon, taking the fight deeper into space and showing a new side to the conflict. The screenshots released today show hints of exotic new locations: an MMC cargo ship lured into a trap by the ISA, a huge mass driver installation, the broken remains of a luxury lunar hotel and fragments of what was a massive communications dish on the Moon.

Although a release date for the Moonrise pack has not yet been announced, Futuremark Games Studio confirmed that a small group of selected players is helping them test near-final content.

For more information visit https://www.shatteredhorizon.com/"

New screenshots and a trailer for "Supreme Commander 2" have been released, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming strategy sequel by Gas Powered Games.

"Set 25 years after the end of the Infinite War, SUPREME COMMANDER 2 starts with the galaxy reeling from the recent assassination of the newly elected president of the fragile Colonial Defense Coalition. The members of the Coalition – the United Earth Federation, The Illuminate and the Cybran Nation –blame each other, and the early rumbles of war can be heard throughout the galaxy."

New screenshots from "Metro 2033" have been released, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming FPS by 4a Games.

"Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow, Metro 2033 is a story of intensive underground survival where the fate of mankind rests in your hands.

In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the earth's surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age.

The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival, with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside."

Three new screenshots from "Audere Semper" have been released, giving viewers a look at the upcoming adventure game by Adventure Productions.

"Her adventure begins with what she thinks is nothing more than a way to pass time at the newspaper. A mysterious coded message turns up and Elisa decides to try her skills at deciphering its meaning. What she uncovers is just the first piece of a deeper intrigue. As she follows its trail, Elisa will have to choose between the scoop of a lifetime and her own ethics. And she will find herself trapped in a series of tangled events deep in the heart of Rome. For this ancient city, known for its culture and art, also has a history of dark secrets and esoteric movements."

NeoCore announced the release of "King Arthur – the Role-playing Wargame," which is available via Steam.

"It has been undeniably one of the biggest achievements for the whole team so far, and King Arthur grew to be the game that we envisioned years ago. Our desire was to create an innovative wargame, and King Arthur is exactly what we had outlined in the original concept: a creative mixture of the elements from the best strategy games and RPGs, with beautiful graphics and a gripping story, based on the rich mythology of the legendary King Arthur, with a truly unique, but still faithful approach to its chosen background.

We sincerely hope that King Arthur is going to please all the fans who are ready to begin the journey into the mythic Britannia."

       
       

Plenty of additional screenshots are available in the game’s gallery.

Got Game Entertainment today released a new trailer for "Twin Sector," giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming action adventure game by DnS Development.

"Developed by DNS Development and scheduled to arrive at retailers in early December, Twin Sector is the only other videogame to take on the market featuring physics-based first-person exploration/puzzling. In addition, this action-packed adventure raises the bar with a strong sci-fi mystery storyline, intriguing players and entwining them into an epic thriller. Twin Sector is a thrilling physics-based action-adventure for the PC that allows players free interaction with their environment. Using the advantages of the powerful HAVOC®-Engine, innumerable puzzles, challenges and enemies await the players in a hostile and threatening futuristic environment. Featuring more than 15 missions, alongside a thrilling story line unfolding over the course of non-stop action, Twin Sector appeals to core gamers worldwide."