BT Gold

The Chronicles of Spellborn’s European publisher, Frogster Germany, has set a launch date of Q1 2008 for that territory. This extra time will be used by Spellborn International for additional QA testing and incorporating more content.

Frogster Studios has also licensed The Chronicles of Spellborn in the Japanese market in one of the largest closings for a single product in Japanese PC game history. Frogster will receive a percentage of future subscription revenues and a non-recoupable advance license fee of more than $1 million USD. The identity of the partner and more details about the deal will be announced during G-Star in November.

Spellborn International recently completed a major milestone in the game development with the completion of a series of stress-tests to check server and network stability. With the heavy action oriented combat of TCoS, a major development initiative has been to maximize the number of players that can engage in combat in each zone. During the stress tests the game was able to accommodate more than 500 characters in a single zone.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Chronicles, Spellborn European Release

YUKE’S Company of America, subsidiary of Japanese game publisher YUKE’S Company Limited, announces that NEVES for Nintendo DS has gone gold and will be available in November. Developed and published by YUKE’S and distributed by Atlus U.S.A, NEVES requires the player to combine seven wooden blocks to form specific figures ranging from simple items like a sword or key to more complicated ones such as birds or airplanes.

Utilizing the touch screen features unique to the Nintendo DS, NEVES offers a challenging but relaxing puzzle experience to a broad audience of gamers. Puzzles can be as simple as a sword or as complex as a battleship. But as varied as they may be, each puzzle always features the same seven wooden blocks. And with over 500 different puzzles to choose from and four different modes including puzzle mode, count mode, time mode, and versus mode, players will have countless hours of fun solving puzzles of varying difficulty.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: DS, Nintendo DS Goes Gold

Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainment’s digital retail store, announces that id Software’s Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, is now available for worldwide digital download via Direct2Drive.

Developed by Splash Damage and published by Activision, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars offers the ultimate in objective-based multiplayer action, either online or offline with computer controlled players. Up to 24 gamers can play online, electing to play as the human Global Defense Force (GDF) or alien Strogg in one of five unique character classes. Employing an arsenal of weapons, vehicles and deployable armaments, players engage in an action-packed test of skill and coordinated teamwork through a series of combat objectives. Persistent character growth and achievements reward gamers for teamwork, while clearly defined mission and class objectives guide new players to meaningful contributions on the battlefield.

Since launching in October 2004, Direct2Drive has allowed gamers to conveniently purchase and download the latest premium games from the world’s top publishers. Consumers can download Enemy Territory: Quake Wars now via Direct2Drive. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars for Windows PC is rated “T” by the ESRB.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Digital Download, Quake Wars

K2 Network has announced details of the exciting experience within its epic Age of Exploration MMORPG Sword of the New World: Granado Espada.

Sword of the New World: Granado Espada, the heroic MMORPG, has more to offer than initially meets the eye. Delve deeper and whilst you become immersed in its breathtaking graphics, large scale maps, a game full of surprises and mysteries will unfold. Hidden dangers, treasures and fame present themselves to those that seek to become one with the world, and profit and advancement by some unusual means will follow.

As recalled by Ambassador Vartigus, an intriguing and poignant tale tells of Captain Sharffenberger, a smart and wealthy man courted by royalty who wanted him to marry one of their daughters. His heart however belonged to another, a love from his youth who was never forgotten. Adelaide Rosecraft captured his heart and they forged an unrivaled unity but she was sent to a far away land never to meet again. Their last night together they embraced passionately and both vowed never to forget each other¡­

Roderick Sharffenberger followed in h is father’s business and in his thirties he became captain of his very own ship, St. Augustine, left by his father. Throughout all these years he kept the eternal secret close to his heart and never gave up his endless search for his true love. Then unexpectedly he received a letter from Adelaide expressing her desire to meet him at Porto Bello. He hastily sets sail but a dark storm engulfed his vessel and while the sea raged, he made a pact with the darkness, to grant him and his crew life so that he may see Adelaide one last time.

Though his intentions were good, compromising with the dark side of life could reap no real rewards and now Sharffenberger roams the sea, undead! Coming ashore, looking for his lost love, he kills, unmercifully everything that stands in his path.

This sad but poignant event to some, takes place 3 times a day on every world for gamers to become part of. There are different level ranges for the event but all players can log in and participate. When Captain Sharffenberger dies he drops loot and random players who participate are awarded costumes (items that change their character’s appearance) for their efforts.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Wrath of Captain

NaturalMotion announces that morpheme 1.2, the latest version of its animation middleware, adds support for Nintendo’s Wii console. morpheme is robust middleware designed to give developers and animators unprecedented creative control over the look of their final in-game animation by allowing them to author and preview blends, blend trees and transition graphs in real time. In addition to Wii, morpheme is also available on PlayStation3, Xbox 360 and PC.

In addition to Wii support, morpheme 1.2 features a host of new functionality, including:
morpheme:runtime
- Enhanced run-time compression;
- Enhanced SPU support for PlayStation3.
morpheme:connect
- Collaborative network editing through referencing;
- Reusable sub-networks;
- Enhanced copy & paste functionality;
- New flexible layout manager.

morpheme consists of two components: morpheme:runtime and morpheme:connect. morpheme:runtime is a run-time engine optimized for PlayStation3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC, and ships with full source code. morpheme:connect is a 3D authoring application that allows animators to graphically author blend trees and transition logic (based on Hierarchical Finite State Machines), modify and edit parameters through sliders and view the results in real-time. morpheme is designed as a flexible and open system and does not require the licensing of any other product. morpheme is also designed to seamlessly integrate with other middleware and DCC applications.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Wii Support

This month’s gallery has a few spooky pictures to remind us Hallowe’en is just around the corner. Curiously, it also has a slight whiff of fish.

Head over to the Players’ Gallery to view this month’s fantastic selection.

On a serious note; Pete keeps threatening to create a masterpiece of his own for the Gallery, and we’ve seen his skills with a paintbrush before. If you don’t want Jagex HQ to end up bright purple then please keep sending in your fantastic artwork to keep him busy!

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Gallery

Horacio has his heart set on some improvements to his master’s already meticulous garden this week. Rather than filling it up with flowers, a patio and some crazy paving, Horacio is after one of the rarest plants on RuneScape.

Rarity may not be the biggest problem, however, as this plant requires all your skill, cunning and a hefty stack of Woodcutting and Agility. Plant hunters beware; this plant bites back, so no ordinary gardener can waltz in with some clippers. It seems some Slayer knowledge could help with this Master quest.

Helping Horacio overcome this vine-based task may well prove handy in other areas. Aside from a great reward, Horacio may have a need for a master pruner.

Summary

Where to start Back to my Roots
Speak to Horacio outside Lord Handelmort’s mansion, in East Ardougne.

Requirements to complete Back to my Roots
Fairy Tale part 1
Hand in the Sand
One Small Favour
Tribal Totem
Level 55 Agility
Level 53 Farming
Level 59 Slayer
Level 72 Woodcutting
Must be able to defeat a level 167 foe.

Access to
A new maze, slightly larger than Draynor Manor
8 new creatures
Farming patch
Transportation between Eagle’s Peak and Karamja
Tears of Guthix-style repeatable reward for two skills
Papaya seeds as a monster drop

——————————————————————————–

In other news…

We have increased the number of ways you can acquire battlestaves, as promised. Baba Yaga’s shop on Lunar Isle now has a larger stock, the cost of battlestaves in the Mage Training Arena shop has been significantly decreased and, not to be outdone, Zaff now receives a daily stock. To acquire them, chat to Zaff himself or right-click ‘Buy Battlestaff’. The number available to you depends on your level of achievement in the Varrock diary, and whether you are wearing the correct Varrock armour. To find out how many staves you can buy, visit this article.

Arhein is responding to the changes in demand for pineapples and seaweed by adopting a similar approach to Zaff. He can now sell each player a limited number of these items every day. Speak to him (instead of using his quick-trade option) if you’re interested.

The rock crabs east of Rellekka will frequently drop seaweed in the form of banknotes, making them a more convenient source of this prized commodity. Players may also burn kelp on a range or fire to get soda ash (kelp is found in the underwater area, accessed during Recipe for Disaster).

There have been some adjustments to the prices of various other items in shops. In particular, the TzHaar rune merchant’s offer-price for buying chaos and death runes off players has been adjusted so that they are no longer affected by the number of runes in the Player Stock section of his shop. Aside from this, the shop price for steel throwing knives has been raised in order to avoid undercutting player prices.

It is no longer possible to use prayers in Glarial’s tomb near the Baxtorian Falls of Kandarin. The unusually large moss giants were already capable of damaging players here, regardless of the Protect from Melee prayer, so this isn’t going to make a huge difference to their threat. Do be careful when you venture in there!

A sapling designed for net-trapping red salamanders near the Ourania Altar had become unavailable due to a recent mapping bug. It’s now been fixed, so you can go trapping there again.

Finally, we’ve added a right-click option to the gardeners who stand near Farming patches so that you don’t have to go through so much chat when you’re paying them to protect your crops.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Roots quest

It was about a month ago when British prime minister Gordon Brown vowed to get to the bottom of the youth/games/violence debate through the initiation of a comprehensive study designed to answer the question of “Are games (and other forms of media) making kids more violent, and if so what should we do about it?”
Brown’s plan was instigated as a reaction to widespread public anger against media violence, following the tragic shooting of an 11-year old boy in England last August.

Psychologist Tanya Byron is heading up the study, which officially goes into full swing today over at East London school. Commenting on its intent, Dr Byron confirmed that “[the study] will be about what industry is doing already to protect children and what more could be done to ensure they have a positive experience on the Internet and with games.”

The BBC has several comments up today from representatives of the British games industry. At the moment they seem generally onside with the snap inspection, though the attitude from trade bodies remains understandably somewhat wary. While the findings of the report will no doubt have serious implications for the future of media legislation in the United Kingdom, it is not currently known whether gamemakers can expect to find themselves ultimately demonized or absolved by the report’s conclusions.

Paul Jackson of the ELSPA (similar to the ESA in North America) feels that video games are “too often blamed for everything from obesity to youth violence [in Britain]. It is just not true and it’s not appropriate.”

Jackson is, however, hopeful that the government’s probe will help clear the besmirched name of video games in the UK. “We feel quite positively about this review,” he states. “It’s clear [it] is about making sure parents are properly informed about what their youngsters are playing and what they are accessing on the internet.”

Concluded Mr. Jackson: “We are a very important British industry. We are very responsible and keen to ensure that our products are only played by those who they are designed for.”

Davd Brabin (of UK-based Frontier games) feels that video games are taking the brunt of the public’s recent anti-violence attitude on the chin. “[The review] might be useful,” he says, “but it should not just look at one media, especially when media are intersecting. Historically there has always been in government a Luddite sentiment – whatever the new industry is tends to take the blame of the latest ailment of society.”

Philip Oliver, CEO of Blitz games, feels that the study is a step in the right direction, although he feels the government should perhaps focus on educating parents at the same time as they investigate schools. “[Parents] aren’t paying attention to the certificates. That is partly because they don’t understand them and have a distorted image of games that either they are harmless or totally evil.”

The British probe is timely considering the BBFC’s recent refusal of Rockstar’s remastered and (somewhat) subdued Manhunt 2 earlier this week. Britain obviously has some conclusions yet to draw on the subject of game violence and whether or not the Nation needs to display a decisive show of force against it.

Margaret Robertson, games consultant end former editor of Edge magazine, concludes the BBC’s report on a hopeful note for the British games industry.

“The games industry is holding itself to higher standards than the film industry” she says. “This is a solved problem. Allowing that, everyone is united in not wanting material for older gamers to get into the hands of children.”

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: game, Violence

We live in a fantastic age for online gaming, with nearly any game with a multiplayer mode being playable across the world through the ether of the Internet (on Xbox 360 and PS3, at least). That’s why the lack of online co-op in buddy-buddy game Kane and Lynch such surprising news. Sure, the new Fragile Alliance mode — both competitive and cooperative at the same time — sounds interesting enough (read all about it in our new preview), but the lack of a traditional co-op mode seems like an obvious omission.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Kane and Lynch director Jens Peter Kurup explains the decision. “It’s a matter of focus, choosing what you want to deliver at what time,” Kurup said. “We looked at it and decided it was too much of a risk to change our code to be very, very good at that, and we’re not going to be very, very good at other elements. I’ll miss the online co-op, but not terribly.”

Unsurprisingly, they’ve caught some heat from people who will miss it terribly. “Everybody always wants more,” Kurup said. “People are going to say it would have been nice to have online, but they also want the game at some point.”

Kurup says online co-op is something they’d like to do in a sequel, which may not be much solace to those looking to play with their-long distance friends now. But hey, we could all use a little more face-to-face human interaction in this crazy day and age of emails, IMs and teleconferencing… right?

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Kane, Lynch Dev, Online Co-op

Microsoft’s Games for Windows Live service has received a bit of flak and with the recent release of competitive (and totally free) features in Valve’s Steam, Microsoft has plenty to do if they want to prove their own service worthwhile. The latest step in that will come in the form of Games For Windows Live version 1.2 in November.
Microsoft has not revealed a complete list of changes for patch 1.2, but they have mentioned a couple of things. The new version of GFW Live will add support for offline achievements, allowing players to add to their Gamerscore even if they’re not connected to the internet. Changes to the user interface are also on the docket, including some stuff that has been standard on the Xbox 360’s Live service for a while, such as showing if a friend is in a joinable game.

The last update to Games For Windows Live, version 1.1, was realized in August and added new languages, gamer pics, and connectivity troubleshooting options. Along with the announcement about version 1.2, Microsoft sent out a reminder of the first wave of PC titles supporting all the GFW Live services

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: GFW Live Version 1.2