Friday, February 12, 2010

Futuremark Announce A Major Update For Shattered Horizon Is Out Now

Futuremark have announced that a major update is out now for Shattered Horizon. they say they listened to the community and added request features like Voice Chat, a new ranking system, 5:4 Monitor support and more. They have also revealed that 4 new levels will be coming out soon in the Free Moonrise content pack.

Significant New Features Include:
  • Added in game voice chat support.
  • Improved ranking system better tailored to both new and existing players.
  • Cosmetic changes to player’s suit as rank is gained help distinguish between new and experienced players.
  • Tutorial screens added to main menu.
  • MPR grenades have been made more effective against flying targets.
  • HUD targeting brackets no longer appear on spawning astronauts.
  • Level loading, team selection and match results screens have been redesigned.
  • All game audio has been re-mastered to improve dynamic range.
  • Added support for 5:4 monitor resolutions such as 1280x1024.
  • Servers can now be set to limit access to players above, below or between configurable point thresholds.
  • Server browser list now refreshes player count, level and ping every few seconds. Dead servers are removed from list.
  • Added Melee Only (MO) option to server configuration options.
  • Fixes for several game and server bugs.

Press Release

HELSINKI --(Business Wire)-- Feb 11, 2010 Futuremark® Games Studio today released a major update for Shattered Horizon™, their PC exclusive multiplayer first-person shooter. The update adds some of the most requested features from the game’s active community, including voice chat, a new rank system, tutorial content, 5:4 monitor support and point limited servers as well as fixing several bugs and issues. The game’s menus and audio have been given an overhaul and as an added bonus the studio has also released the soundtrack from Shattered Horizon to the community as a free download.

"This update which includes voice chat and other popular suggestions gathered directly from our community makes Shattered Horizon a better experience for all our players," said Jaakko Haapasalo, producer at Futuremark Games Studio. "And with four new levels coming soon in the free Moonrise content pack Shattered Horizon will soon be even better value too."

Significant New Features:
*Added in game voice chat support.
*Improved ranking system better tailored to both new and existing players.
*Cosmetic changes to player’s suit as rank is gained help distinguish between new and experienced players.
*Tutorial screens added to main menu.
*MPR grenades have been made more effective against flying targets.
*HUD targeting brackets no longer appear on spawning astronauts.
*Level loading, team selection and match results screens have been redesigned.
*All game audio has been re-mastered to improve dynamic range.
*Added support for 5:4 monitor resolutions such as 1280x1024.
*Servers can now be set to limit access to players above, below or between configurable point thresholds.
*Server browser list now refreshes player count, level and ping every few seconds. Dead servers are removed from list.
*Added Melee Only (MO) option to server configuration options.
*Fixes for several game and server bugs.

For the complete list of new features, changes, bug fixes and optimizations please visit the Futuremark Games Studio forums: http://futuremark.yougamers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1318583

Soundtrack available as a free download:
By popular request, Futuremark Games Studio has released the soundtrack for Shattered Horizon composed by Markus "Captain" Kaarlonen of the band Poets of the Fall as a free download from the game’s official website: http://www.shatteredhorizon.com/media/soundtrack

About Shattered Horizon
Shattered Horizon is the innovative first game from Futuremark Games Studio that immerses you in the cold reality of zero gravity combat in space.
Multiplayer first-person shooter set in near-Earth space 40 years from now.
Experience intense zero gravity combat and complete freedom of movement. Use your rocket pack to fly freely through space then land on any surface.
Join your friends in action-packed 32 player battles fighting to control hollowed-out asteroids, huge fragments of Moon rock and the ruined remains of the International Space Station.
Four new levels coming soon in the free Moonrise content pack.

Shattered Horizon requires DirectX 10, a DirectX 10 compatible video card, and Windows Vista or Windows 7. There is no support for Windows XP or DirectX 9. Suggested retail price: €19.95 / $19.95 / £14.95

Shattered Horizon is available now from Steam and the official website: http://www.shatteredhorizon.com/buynow/

Keywords and Suggested Tags
Shattered Horizon, Futuremark Games Studio, first-person shooter, FPS, zero gravity, multiplayer, PC, video game, DirectX10, Windows 7, NVIDIA TWIMTBP, patch, update

About Futuremark® Games Studio
Futuremark® Games Studio, wholly owned by Futuremark® Corporation, was formed in January 2008 to create original games with new and entertaining gameplay. Shattered Horizon™ is the studio’s first self-published game. Shattered Horizon is rated Teen by the ESRB and 16 by PEGI. The game carries the NVIDIA®: The Way It's Meant To Be Played™ seal. Futuremark is based in Helsinki, Finland and maintains a sales office in Saratoga, California. For more information, please visit http://www.futuremark.com/

© 2010 Futuremark® Corporation. Shattered Horizon™ and Futuremark® Games Studio trademarks and logos, Futuremark character names and distinctive likenesses, are the exclusive property of Futuremark Corporation. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.


EA Have Released A Battlefield Bad Company 2 Demo Tutorial Video

EA has released a new video for Battlefield Bad Company 2. this video is a walkthrough of the multiplayer demo that is currently available on consoles. the video goes through the two different teams and their objectives, and the different ways an objective can be completed. the tutorial also explains the different classes available and squads.





Sony Has Released A God Of War III "Vengeance" Trailer

Sony has released a new trailer for the upcoming God Of War III. this "Vengeance" Trailer has plenty of new in-game footage from the game designed "...to sell the high action of the game and put together snippets of several of the big moments". You get to see kratos fighting big monsters whilst climbing on titans, seeing how they use scale.



From USA Playstation Blog



Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

Here is today's Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays news.
Don't forget, you can subscribe to the Audio Re-Cap Podcast on iTunes. if you do, it would be great if you can review and rate the podcast.

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And on qtegamers.blogspot.com:
http://qtegamers.blogspot.com/search/label/Audio Re-Cap


Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

  • QTE Blog: Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest) http://ow.ly/16ylzj

  • QTE Blog: Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest) http://ow.ly/16ynoJ

  • Wii: Nintendo have said "...replenishing Wii inventories will be a challenge.", they're doing what they can http://ow.ly/16iSi

  • Serious Sam HD The Second Encounter release has been delayed until April. The First Encounter will get a update soon http://ow.ly/16iUa

  • NCSoft has released financials. they made ₩634.7B for 2009, 83% increase on 2008. Profit ₩185.4B, 623% increase http://ow.ly/16iY0

  • EA say "We do not have an NCAA Basketball game in development at this time..." they're reviewing the franchise future http://ow.ly/16j0b

  • PS3:Final Fantasy XIII is on sale, prices down from ¥9,240 to ¥3,980 for a limited time. too much stoke speculated http://ow.ly/16j3E

  • Square Enix are interested in making a 3D game, not sure how possible it is to make one. 3D FFXIII Trailer in JP cinemas http://ow.ly/16j6C

  • QTE Blog: Sega Have Released New Screenshots For Empire Total War: Elite Units Of The East http://ow.ly/16yqMT

  • QTE Blog: Sega Reveal Resonance Of Fate Has A UK Release Of 26th March And Release Character/Box Art http://ow.ly/16yqMS

  • PS3: The Motion Controller is challenging for the core gamer, whilst being engaging for the social gamer, diverse genres http://ow.ly/16jiH

  • PSP: Nippon Ichi confirm "Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!" EU Name is now "What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!?" http://ow.ly/16jvD

  • 360: Bungie has said they won't make a 3D Halo game/ redo a Halo game in 3D. another studio could. http://ow.ly/16jxF

  • NCSoft say console versions of Blade & Soul and Guild Wars 2 are on track for a 2011 release. http://ow.ly/16jBn

  • QTE Blog: EA Have Released A New Trailer For Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online On The PC http://ow.ly/16ys9h

  • QTE Blog: This Weeks UK PSP Digital Comic Store Update http://ow.ly/16ys9g

  • Just Add Water have announced that its creating a series for Minis and iPhone called Vektar. its a rhythm/puzzle game. http://ow.ly/16jDu

  • Wii: No More Heroes 2 has a EU release date of by the end of April. http://ow.ly/16jI9

  • PS3: its reported that Uncharted 2 has now sold over 2.5 Million units. http://ow.ly/16jK3

  • PS3: Rumoured pics have emerged of firmware 3.20 and it shows a “3D video output” option. its rumoured to be in Dev hands http://ow.ly/16nxh

  • QTE Blog: EA Announces That The Battlefield Bad Company 2 Has Been Downloaded Over 2 Million Times http://ow.ly/16yuwa

  • QTE Blog: UK PSN Update 11/02/10 http://ow.ly/16yuw9

  • 360: its been reported people have freezing issues when playing BioShock 2 online. 2K Looking into it. http://ow.ly/16puE

  • GameStop have a pre-order bonus for Transformers War on Cybertron. you get a exclusive Shockwave for Multiplayer games http://ow.ly/16pDJ

  • 360: Amazon.com listed Final Fantasy XIV as coming out on the 360, but quickly pulled it. http://ow.ly/16pFR

  • DS: Okameiden has been trademarked in Europe. its speculated that Capcom will release the game outside of Japan. http://ow.ly/16pNx

  • PC: A Starcraft II Closed beta will begin this month. Blizzard say the mid 2010 release is still on track http://ow.ly/16pOW

  • Future Publishing reveal only Edge Magazine sales are up, by 0.4%. revenue down 12% to £36M year on year http://ow.ly/16pVL

  • QTE Blog: This Weeks USA PSP Digital Comic Store Update http://ow.ly/16yxl8

  • QTE Blog: U.S. District Court Denies Motion To Dismiss A Class-Action Lawsuit Against EA And NCAA http://ow.ly/16yxl7

  • Mac: TellTale Games are bringing their games to Macs. Tales of Monkey Island is out now http://ow.ly/16uQy

  • Xbox: DLC for xbox games are back online. http://ow.ly/16uWC

  • Lost Planet 2 will have local split screen co-op. its like Resident Evil 5, staggered screens http://ow.ly/16uZL

  • PSP: the Digital Comics app will get a update that will allow the user to delete comic from inside the app http://ow.ly/16v2c

  • its rumoured that Radical Entertainment have laid off 90+ staff today http://ow.ly/16v5s

  • PS3: GameStop has the ceramic White Dual Shock 3 available for pre-order for $54.99 http://ow.ly/16vaQ

  • PS3: Blue Toad Murder Files set to come out in the USA soon. EU sales have beaten expectations. http://ow.ly/16woW

  • Sudi 51 says he would be interested in making No More Heroes 3 on the Wii Successor http://ow.ly/16wqR



Thursday, February 11, 2010

U.S. District Court Denies Motion To Dismiss A Class-Action Lawsuit Against EA And NCAA

U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken has denied a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by Hagens Berman against EA and NCAA. The Class-action lawsuit, filed on behalf of current and former college athletes, claims that EA used likenesses of current and former college athletes in their NCAA games. The case will be heard in April.

In their attempt to get the case dismissed, EA and NCAA tried using the First Amendment. however, the court recognised that there were similarities between real athletes and those in the game. At this point, EA has not disputed the claims and will have to prove that they did not use the likenesses of college athletes in NCAA games.

Press Release

LOS ANGELES --(Business Wire)-- Feb 11, 2010 Recent developments surfaced this week in a class-action lawsuit filed by Hagens Berman against Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) and NCAA. U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken denied a motion to dismiss the case. The class action, on behalf of current and former college athletes, will move forward April 2010.

The decision forces video game maker, EA, along with NCAA, to now prove they did not use the likenesses of actual college athletes in NCAA-branded video games, said lead attorney Rob Carey with Hagens Berman. “EA tried to hide under the First Amendment but the court recognized similarities between real athletes and the game were just too great to be ignored.”

EA did not at this juncture dispute claims made by plaintiff Samuel Keller, former quarterback for Arizona State University. Instead, the company unsuccessfully sought a defense under the First Amendment. Judge Wilken rejected the gaming company’s argument along with NCAA’s, citing that allegations made by Mr. Keller have merit.

EA reported revenue of $1.24 billion during the third quarter ending Dec. 31, 2009 this week. The gaming company also confirmed its decision to discontinue the development of NCAA Basketball video games, telling Game Informer magazine, “we're currently reviewing the future of our NCAA Basketball business."

For more information about the class-action lawsuit against NCAA and EA, visit http://hbsslaw.com/ncaavideogames.

About Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro is a nationally recognized class-action and complex-litigation law firm based in Seattle with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Phoenix. Among recent successes, HBSS negotiated a $300 million settlement in the DRAM memory antitrust litigation, the largest antitrust settlement in U.S. history, recovered $340 million on behalf of Enron employees, and was part of the leadership team in the $3 billion Visa/MasterCard settlement. In pharmaceutical litigation, the firm's recent successes include a $350 million settlement with McKesson, more than $200 million with other parties in drug-pricing litigation, and a $150 million settlement regarding Lupron. HBSS represented Washington and 12 other states against the tobacco industry that resulted in the largest settlement in history. For a complete listing of HBSS cases, visit www.hbsslaw.com.

This Weeks USA PSP Digital Comic Store Update


The USA Playstation Blog has revealed this weeks PSP Digital Comic store update.

* 2000AD Prog # 1666 - $ 1.99
* Cancertown: An Inconvenient Tooth 2 $ 0.99
* Daredevil (1998) # 96 - $ 1.99
* Daredevil (1998) # 97 - $ 1.99
* Donald Duck and the Three Musketeers 1 $ 1.99
* Donald Duck Origami Maestro $ 0.99
* Groom Lake # 3 - $ 1.99
* Groom Lake # 4 - $ 1.99
* Locke & Key: Head Games # 1 - $ 0.99
* Marvel Zombies (2005) # 1 - $ 1.99
* Marvel Zombies (2005) # 2 - $ 1.99
* Marvel Zombies (2005) # 3 - $ 1.99
* Marvel Zombies (2005) # 4 - $ 1.99
* Marvel Zombies (2005) # 5 - $ 1.99
* Scrooge McDuck and the Witchy Business # - $ 0.99
* Tank Girl: The Gifting # 1 - $ 0.99
* Tank Girl: The Gifting # 2 - $ 0.99
* The Incredible Hulk (1999) # 95 - $ 1.99
* The Incredible Hulk (1999) # 96 - $ 1.99
* The Incredible Hulk (1999) # 97 - $ 1.99
* The Incredible Hulk (1999) # 98 - $ 1.99
* The Incredible Hulk (1999) # 99 - $ 1.99
* The Incredible Hulk (1999) # 100 - $ 1.99
* Transformers: All Hail Megatron # 11 - $ 1.99
* Ultraheroes: Gathering # 1 - $ 0.99
* Uncanny X-Men (2003) # 483 - $ 1.99
* Uncanny X-Men (2003) # 484 - $ 1.99
* Uncanny X-Men (2003) # 485 - $ 1.99
* Wolverine (2003) # 32 - $ 1.99
* Wolverine (2003) # 33 - $ 1.99
* Wolverine (2003) # 34 - $ 1.99
* Wolverine (2003) # 35 - $ 1.99
* Wolverine (2003) # 36 - $ 1.99
* Wolverine (2003) # 37 - $ 1.99
* Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse: Calamari Rising # 11 - $ 0.99
* X-Men (2004) # 181 - $ 1.99
* X-Men (2004) # 182 - $ 1.99
* X-Men (2004) 183 $ 1.99
* X-Men (2004) # 184 - $ 1.99
* X-Men (2004) # 185 - $ 1.99
* X-Men (2004) # 186 - $ 1.99
* X-Men: Colossus Bloodline (2005) # 1 - $ 1.99
* X-Men: Colossus Bloodline (2005) # 2 - $ 1.99
* X-Men: Colossus Bloodline (2005) # 3 - $ 1.99
* X-Men: Colossus Bloodline (2005) # 4 - $ 1.99
* X-Men: Colossus Bloodline (2005) # 5 - $ 1.99
* X-Mickey: The Carousel # 6 - $ 1.99

From USA Playstation Blog