http://games.on.net//mode=news Games On Net News RSS feed Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:40:56 GMT http://games.on.net/article/3991/Weekly_Digest_-_090908 Each week, we collate the most popular stories that we published over the past seven days, plus a lineup of the most downloaded files added in the same timeframe. That way, in case you missed something, you can catch up in one helpful little spot, every Monday morning.<br /> <br /> This week, we see a <a href='/article/3685/'><b><i>repeat video</i></b></a> in top spot, squishing our <a href='/article/3958/'><b><i>new site announcement</i></b></a> down to #2. You're very interested in seeing what other people have done with <a href='/article/3986/'><b><i>Spore</i></b></a>, finding out how <a href='/article/3976/'><b><i>Grand Theft Auto</i></b></a> is <i>saving</i> lives, watching the new video from <a href='/article/3979/'><b><i>Battlefield Heroes</i></b></a> and re-reading the <a href='/article/3686/'><b><i>Bill of Rights</i></b></a> for PC gamers. http://games.on.net/article/3990/The_Warp_Pipe_-_070908 Lately I have found myself more annoyed with the usual bunch of video gaming trends and pop fiction tropes. Bipedal English-speaking aliens, anything with Jedi or Jedi-like characters in it and endlessly cycled fiction crutches like the <a href='http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XanatosRoulette'><b><i>Xanatos Roulette</i></b></a> and characters that never seem to die. Perhaps the anguish of waiting for my new machine has made me extra edgy (especially with <a href='/app/594/'><b><i>Spore: Galactic Edition</i></b></a> staring me in the face), but am I the only one that thinks it’s time that fiction writers (in all mediums) tried something new? Or is this just <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_law'><b><i>Sturgeon’s Law</i></b></a> in practice?<br /> <br /> With this week’s <b>Warp Pipe</b>, I thought we’d take a look at another round of classic video games that could use a remake or reimagining. http://games.on.net/article/3985/Friday_Roundup_5092008 Here we are again, with a slightly new-look <b>Friday Roundup!</b>. Each week, we bring you the latest demos, clients and full games that have been added to our File Library, in an effort to help you avoid another boring weekend with nothing to do. There's some gems here, check 'em out and let us know what your favourites are!<br /> <br /> This week, we have for you demos from <b>Archibalds Adventures</b>, <b>Candy World: The Golden Bones</b>, <b>Cosmic Sunder: Elements</b>, <b>Death Track: Resurrection</b>, <b>Dream Pinball 3D</b>, <b>Euro Truck Simulator</b>, <b>Home Sweet Home</b>.<br /> <br /> We've also got full games or clients from <b>4Story</b>, <b>Atlantica Online</b>, <b>Command & Conquer: Red Alert</b>, <b>Dreamlords</b>, <b>Eudemons Online</b>, <b>GoldSlam</b>, <b>Gong!</b>, <b>Requiem: Bloodymare</b>, <b>Runes of Magic</b>. http://games.on.net/article/3986/Spore_-_Celebrities_get_in_on_the_Creature_Creation A little game named <a href='/app/594/'><b><i>Spore</i></b></a> has just hit the streets in Australia, with countless people playing God in <b>Will Wright</b>'s newest masterpiece. Whether or not it lives up to the awe-inspiring expectations people have is a matter for another time, but right now, I'd like to show you a little something I discovered while browsing the intarwebs the other day.<br /> <br /> &#34;If your favourite TV, Music, Technology and Pop Culture stars could create their own alien life forms, what would they look like?&#34; ... find out, with <b>Spore Vote</b>. http://games.on.net/article/3984/Tom_Clancys_EndWar_to_receive_special_Xbox_360_VIP_Demo By now, you're familiar with the idea of a demo (in fact, being a Friday, we'll have a pile of them ready for you this evening!), but have you ever heard of a <b>VIP Demo</b>?<br /> <br /> You have now - that's what's in store for the Xbox 360 version of upcoming <a href='/filelist.php?company=35'><b><i>Ubisoft</i></b></a> title, <a href='/app/2129/'><b><i>Tom Clancy's EndWar</i></b></a>. Recently named the Best Strategy Game of E3 2008 by the Game Critics Awards (the first time a console title has ever received this award), it's heading Down Under soon, with the pre-launch VIP demo only available to certain lucky gamers. http://games.on.net/article/3983/Audiosurf_-_Six_racy_new_achievements_rock_out Keeping with the <a href='http://www.steampowered.com'><b><i>Steam</i></b></a> concept, we've also just received word that indie music-racer <a href='/app/3474/'><b><i>Audiosurf</i></b></a> has received not one, but <b>six</b> new achievements, to further enhance your gaming experience.<br /> <br /> You'll now be rewarded with a cleverly-named prize for things like dethroning a friend from a global scoreboard, beating a friend's score within quarter of an hour, collecting a 24-block match, or filling all columns within 15 seconds with no greys and no matches! http://games.on.net/article/3982/Age_of_Conan_comes_to_Steam If you haven't yet picked up your copy of <a href='/app/569/'><b><i>Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures</i></b></a>, and you don't feel like leaving the house, it's okay - you can now grab it via <a href='http://www.steampowered.com'><b><i>Steam</i></b></a>, the digital delivery service.<br /> <br /> Even better, if you get in quick, you can get 10% off for one week - so snap it up before September 11th! http://games.on.net/article/3981/Fable_2_A_new_trailer_begins_an_adventure <a href='/app/2035/'><b><i>Fable 2</i></b></a>. If there is another game that is as eagerly anticipated on the Xbox 360, then I (like many others), must be living in a cave. From the mind of industry legend, <b>Peter Molyneux</b>, <a href='/app/2035/'><b><i>Fable 2</i></b></a> will present the player with a larger game world, enhanced graphics and a number of other improvements over the original, released in 2004.<br /> <br /> Today - we've got a treat for those awaiting the title, in the form of a <a href='/file/20358/'><b><i>new trailer</i></b></a>. There is not much I can say about the trailer, other than the fact that it makes me <i>considerably</i> more interested in the title than what I was prior. So what is all the fuss about? http://games.on.net/article/3972/Fracture_Multiplayer_Hands-On_Impressions__Developer_Interview Picture this: It is 2161, and the community is on the brink of war. One side boasts cybernetically enhanced soldiers, while the other features warriors who have been augmented with the latest, and most advanced genetic engineering. Both sides have been equipped with a terrain deformation device - the Entrencher. Sounds pretty far-fetched, but how does it translate into a video game?<br /> <br /> <b>helic0n</b> took it upon himself to find out, and recently spent some time hands-on with <a href='/app/2169/'><b><i>Fracture</i></b></a>, a new earth-moving third-person shooter from <a href='/filelist.php?company=23'><b><i>LucasArts</i></b></a> currently under development. Playing the game raised some interesting questions, so being the enterprising fellow he is, he shot off an email to the developers, trying to get some answers.<br /> <br /> He got them, and is ready to share <a href='/article/3972/'><b><i>his findings</i></b></a> with you. http://games.on.net/article/3980/Guitar_Hero_World_Tour_-_Australian_Prices_Revealed Well, it's official. <a href='/app/3928/'><b><i>Guitar Hero: World Tour</i></b></a> is heading Down Under - and is set to make an appearance on <b>November 12th, 2008</b>. We've just heard from <a href='/filelist.php?company=79'><b><i>Activision</i></b></a> on the topic, and they also slipped us a piece of paper with some numbers on it - the recommended retail price structure for the game, when it arrives in Australia.<br /> <br /> Honestly - it's not horrible. It's not pretty, but it's not as bad as some of us were bracing for, at least... http://games.on.net/article/3979/Battlefield_Heroes_New_gameplay_trailer_captured It has been a while since we've heard anything regarding <a href='/filelist.php?company=172'><b><i>DICE</i></b></a>'s upcoming <a href='/app/3393/'><b><i>Battlefield Heroes</i></b></a>, the free to download, free to play introduction into the battlefield universe. While it would appear that they've been busily working away on the eagerly anticipated <a href='/app/2621/'><b><i>Mirror's Edge</i></b></a>, we've today captured a <a href='/file/20348/'><b><i>trailer</i></b></a> which depicts some of the gameplay we can expect from the title when it launches later this year. <br /> <br /> There is still some uncertainty as to whether the game will be supported locally - but I'd imagine I'm not alone in saying that hopefully it will be. The <a href='/file/20348/'><b><i>new trailer</i></b></a> depicts some of the gameplay we can expect - and is backed with a suitably eccentric and diabolically catchy piece of audio. Why not <a href='/file/20348/'><b><i>check it out</i></b></a>? http://games.on.net/article/3977/Sacred_II_Fallen_Angel_meet_The_Temple_Guardian_and_The_Inquisitor For those who may not be familiar with the premise of <a href='/app/1617/'><b><i>Sacred II: Fallen Angel</i></b></a>, it is the sequel to the 2004 RPG title <a href='/app/2359/'><b><i>Sacred</i></b></a>, which featured Diablo-esque gameplay. <a href='/app/1617/'><b><i>Sacred II: Fallen Angel</i></b></a> is set to expand upon the original, exploring a civil war between the High Elves regarding the mysterious &#34;T-Energy&#34;.<br /> <br /> You may remember a <a href='/article/3354/'><b><i>feature</i></b></a> we ran not too long ago regarding the <b>High Elf</b> class in <a href='/app/1617/'><b><i>Sacred II: Fallen Angel</i></b></a>. Today, we've got two such features - the first discussing <b>The Temple Guardian</b> and then <b>The Inquisitor</b>. http://games.on.net/article/3978/Midnight_Club_LA_-_Take_a_look_inside_the_garage_with_this_new_video We've been having a bit of a look at <a href='/app/2831/'><b><i>Midnight Club LA</i></b></a> recently, and today we've got another treat for you petrol-heads hanging out for <a href='/filelist.php?company=14'><b><i>Rockstar</i></b></a>'s new sandbox racer.<br /> <br /> The <a href='/file/20353/'><b><i>new video</i></b></a> gives us a first-look at the garage in the game, something that hasn't yet been shown even in screenshots. If you wanted to know about how the in-game customisation options will work, here's your chance to take a peek, as this shiny 2006 Lancer Evolution IX MR pulls into the garage! http://games.on.net/article/3975/PS3_to_get_new_Bluetooth_Headset_bundled_with_SOCOM_US_Navy_SEALs_Confrontation <a href='/filelist.php?company=450'><b><i>Sony</i></b></a> have just unveiled a new Bluetooth Headset that has been designed for use with the <a href='/filelist.php?platformid=10'><b><i>Playstation 3</i></b></a> console. The headset will be available in October, and will be bundled with <a href='/app/3920/'><b><i>SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Confrontation</i></b></a>. It will also be available as a standalone product.<br /> <br /> The official Bluetooth headset will feature a number of technologies which are set to enhance the online experience of <a href='/filelist.php?platformid=10'><b><i>Playstation 3</i></b></a> owners, along with introducing a number of gameplay innovations. http://games.on.net/article/3976/GTA4_Now_teaching_kids_to_save_lives Just when you thought all video games were bad, and <a href='/app/1964/'><b><i>Grand Theft Auto IV</i></b></a> the worst of the bunch, along comes a bit of news to make you rethink that position.<br /> <br /> On August 27th, 11-year-old Audrey Plique was riding with her family in their Jeep, when it suddenly swerved off the road, and flipped four times. When the car came to rest, young Audrey quickly managed to get her brother, sister and parents out of the car, as she knew that &#34;when a car rolls over, it can blow up.&#34; Where did she get this knowledge? Playing <a href='/app/1964/'><b><i>Grand Theft Auto</i></b></a>. http://games.on.net/article/3974/Steam_Updates_Itself_and_Garrys_Mod_then_gets_a_New_Skin I've always wondered if, sometimes, these <a href='http://www.steampowered.com'><b><i>Steam</i></b></a> updates break more than they fix - and today's changelog for <a href='/app/1095/'><b><i>Garry's Mod</i></b></a> suggests that this is, in fact the case. There is one simple line accompanying the update, explaining that it's fixing damage incurred by yesterday's tweak. Oops!<br /> <br /> ...while on the topic of <b>Steam</b>, if you'd like a fresh new look for your client, to go with the fresh new look of <a href='http://games.on.net'><b><i>Games On Net</i></b></a>, <b>leca</b> has come to your rescue, with a brand new <a href='/file/20330/'><b><i>custom skin</i></b></a> for <a href='/filelist.php?company=62'><b><i>Valve</i></b></a>'s popular client (which has itself just been updated, too!). http://games.on.net/article/3973/CC_Red_Alert_3_-_turning_Warhammer_Online_characters_into_bears <a href='/filelist.php?company=6'><b><i>Electronic Arts</i></b></a> want you to buy their games. They want you to buy several of their games, to the point that they're using one highly-anticipated title to promote another highly-anticipated title, despite the fact that, really, the two games aren't that similar at all.<br /> <br /> If you're a fan of <a href='/app/3481/'><b><i>Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3</i></b></a> and you've also got a soft spot for <a href='/app/458/'><b><i>Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning</i></b></a>, then you may start rejoicing - a <b>Red Alert 3 Collector's Edition</b> has been announced, which includes - among other things - an exclusive ingame item for <a href='/app/458/'><b><i>Warhammer Online</i></b></a>. The item, <i>Korssar's Helm</i> will magically transform the wearer into a ferocious bear. Of course! http://games.on.net/article/3971/Multiwinia_Monday_4_-_better_late_than_never This week's <a href='/app/3709/'><b><i>Multiwinia</i></b></a> information takes a look at the fourth game mode - <b>Rocket Riot</b>. We also take a moment to look back at what's happened since the original game, <a href='/app/233/'><b><i>Darwinia</i></b></a>, and how things have changed in the game world.<br /> <br /> We've also got some new screens, a new cartoon, and a <a href='/file/20315/'><b><i>video</i></b></a> to explain it if you don't feel like reading much. The game's just two weeks away from release, can't hurt to be well informed! http://games.on.net/article/3969/Resistance_2_US_Street_Date_Announced_Collectors_Edition_Detailed We've <a href='/article/3492/'><b><i>previously reported</i></b></a> speculation that <a href='/filelist.php?platformid=10'><b><i>Playstation 3</i></b></a> exclusive <a href='/app/3360/'><b><i>Resistance 2</i></b></a> is set for a release at some point in November. Today, a US release date for the title has been announced, with November 4th set as the day of reckoning in that region.<br /> <br /> With the announcement of the release date, a collector's edition for <a href='/app/3360/'><b><i>Resistance 2</i></b></a> has also been detailed, which will include a number of extras. It is uncertain at this point whether the local release will reflect the US date - and if we will be seeing a collector's edition locally at all. http://games.on.net/article/3970/Disaster_Day_of_Crisis_Survival_for_the_Wii_still_alive Way back during the E3 of 2006, <a href='/filelist.php?company=39'><b><i>Nintendo</i></b></a> announced that <a href='/filelist.php?company=368'><b><i>Monolith Productions</i></b></a> were developing a little title called <a href='/app/4449/'><b><i>Disaster: Day of Crisis</i></b></a> for the <a href='/filelist.php?platformid=11'><b><i>Nintendo Wii</i></b></a>. Any information regarding the title has proven itself extraordinarily scarce, with it having been stated on occasion that the title had been axed. This is not the case.<br /> <br /> <a href='/app/4449/'><b><i>Disaster: Day of Crisis</i></b></a> is a survival game for the <a href='/filelist.php?platformid=8'><b><i>Wii</i></b></a>, in which a series of natural disasters have ravaged the United States. The player is charged with a simple task - survive. Recently, a pile of new information has been found, emitting a SOS signal - we've investigated, and have rescued a massive pile of <a href='/screenshots/4449/'><b><i>screenshots</i></b></a> regarding the title.