Pirates of the Burning Sea Going Free To Play!

     So as most people know by now, as long as they receive occasional news from Sony Online Entertainment in their inbox, that They announced Pirates of the Burning Sea (PotBS)  is switching to a Free to Play model, with Premium and Captain's Club subscription plans.  Sound familiar?  Lord of the Rings Online switched to a very similar model and went live a couple months ago. 

     But why should you care? They cut so much content for Freebie members.  But alas, so far, This is not the case with PotBS.  You can check what Free accounts get vs Premium vs Captain's Club Here .  As you can see, you get quite a bit with a free account in comparison... 2 Characters Per Nation, that's 8 Character slots, Plenty of storage and dock space... If you Bought the game new way back, or subscribed at least once using a credit card or a game card, you automatically get Premium access as well

    The Free to Play model was decided on late last year and the tech to make it happen is completed and in testing. You can expect to pillage and sail the open seas on or around November 22

Lionhead Makes Fable 2 FREE On Xbox Marketplace

     Over at Lionhead's Twitter, they've announced that Fable 2 is FREE of its $20 Price Tag on the Xbox Live Marketplace website in anticipation of their upcoming title Fable 3.  This is either generosity on a whole new level, the likes of which are very rarely ever seen from game companies, or a genius marketing gimmick to push Fable 3 sales.  Either way you shouldn't complain and head on over to Download to your Xbox.

     On a bad note though, it does not work for everyone, but they ARE in the process of fixing that, But head on over regardless and give it a try, if it doesn't work then give it a while and try again

Click for Fable 2 on Xbox Live marketplace

UPDATE
It looks as though it was just a glitch and Microsoft has fixed it.  

     A Microsoft representative sent along this response, which suggests that this whole ordeal was an unfortunate (yet, for some, beneficial) mistake:

      "We have seen reports that an Xbox.com page listed Fable II as being free to download. While getting the entire game for 'free' would be (and was for a short time) an amazing deal, it is now available at the intended Xbox Platinum Hits price of $19.99 . A perfect way to warm up the skills for Fable III which launches on October 26!" 

Medal of Honor PC recruiting for open beta

     Ordinarily, when a Medal of Honor is awarded, it's not going to be taken away. Next month will see an exception of sorts, as Electronic Arts will be giving PC gamers an open beta for its first-person shooter Medal of Honor but will be pulling the plug on the testing period after four days.

      Starting October 4 and running through 11:59 p.m. on October 7, the Medal of Honor PC beta will let players around the world test out two of the game's multiplayer modes on two separate maps. The two modes will be Sector Control (capture and hold strategic points) and Combat Mission (one team is charged with completing five separate objectives, the other with stopping them).

      The open beta will also give PC gamers a chance to see the cause of the recent controversy surrounding the game: the ability to play as insurgent forces in Afghanistan fighting against US-led coalition troops. EA defended the game by pointing out the frequency with which other shooters allow gamers to play as Nazis or terrorists in their multiplayer modes.

      In a statement announcing the open beta, EA Games label president Frank Gibeau said, "We also hope that by offering the multiplayer open beta, we can clear up any misunderstanding about the patriotism and respect that are the foundation of this game. The Medal of Honor franchise has always shown extraordinary reverence for American and Allied soldiers--this game is no exception."

      Relocated from World War II to post-9/11 Afghanistan, the new Medal of Honor will take on Modern Warfare with its own approach to contemporary combat when it launches on October 12. The game focuses on a member of the most elite group inside the modern-day US Special Operations Command, the Tier 1 Operators.

      Instructions on downloading the beta will be available from the game's official site.

All Points Bulletin Cancelled – Game Shutting Down

     The news arrived a couple days ago on the APB forums from the game’s community rep Ben Batemen, the game is shutting down. While Realtime Worlds made an impact with Crackdown and there was a lot of hope surrounding the GTAA-style MMO during its development, the post-launch picture has been pretty bleak.


     APB launched June 29, 2010 to mostly negative reviews. While the developers claim the game has a player base of 130,000 users and Realtime Worlds hoped to find a buyer, the end has come to this game quickly. APB suffered from a number fo bugs at launch that were never fully addressed and also suffered from some press backlash when the developer tried to enact a review embargo to keep word of the game’s state out to players right prior to launch.

     Realtime Worlds itself went into administration a few weeks ago, so this is not an end that was unforseen but Bateman posted the following statement on the games’ forums:

     “APB has been a fantastic journey, but unfortunately that journey has come to a premature end. Today we are sad to announce that despite everyone’s best efforts to keep the service running; APB is coming to a close. It’s been a pleasure working on APB and with all its players. Together we were building an absolutely amazing game, and for that, we thank you. You guys are awesome! From all of the Realtime World staff we thank you for your continued support.”

     The game servers continue to run with no announced shutdown date, but it’s only a matter of time.

Acclaim games down and out

     Acclaim is apparently dead again. Barely three months after the free-to-play online game publisher was acquired by Playdom, the social gaming company has pulled the plug on Acclaim's entire catalog.

     On what used to be the official Acclaim Web site, visitors are given a short message saying that Acclaim games will no longer be in service, effective yesterday. The site also contains instructions on how customers can be reimbursed for unused Acclaim Coins (the in-game currency that drove the company's microtransactions) and plugs for Playdom's lineup of Facebook games. The site gives no indication that the Acclaim name will continue in any form.

      Originally founded in 1987 as a publisher for consoles, PCs, and arcades, Acclaim enjoyed mixed success until its filing for bankruptcy in 2004. The company published critically lauded titles, such as Turok and Burnout 1 and 2, as well as less warmly received titles, such as BMX XXX, Batman Forever, and Space Jam.

      Following the breakup of the company, Throwback Entertainment purchased many of Acclaim's key intellectual properties, while former Activision executive Howard Marks purchased the brand name. Marks went on to reboot Acclaim Games as a free-to-play games portal and had some success with titles like Bots, 9Dragons, and the rhythm action game RockFree, which at one point boasted 15 million registered players.

EverQuest II Extended goes live

     The big news surrounding Sony Online Entertainment's EverQuest franchise occurred earlier this month, when the storied massively multiplayer online role-playing game maker announced Everquest Next, a working title. The third flagship installment in SOE's MMORPG universe, Next is a reimagining of the land of Norrath, telling all-new stories in locations that will be familiar to the franchise faithful.

     However, that isn't the only notable development out of SOE. Last month, the publisher said that 2004's EverQuest II would soon offer a free-to-play option in addition to the game's standard subscription fee. Today, SOE announced that EQII's free-to-play scenario, called EverQuest II Extended, is now available, and players can sign up for access through the game's official Web site. 

     EQII's new business model breaks the game's payment plan up into four tiers: bronze (free), silver (one-time, $10), gold ($15 a month), and platinum ($200 per year, available August 31). At the lowest three tiers, players are limited to four races, of 19 total. Bronze and silver memberships are limited to eight character classes, out of a total 24 options. A comprehensive breakdown of what each payment level offers is available on SOE's Web site.

Lord of the Rings Online Goes Free To Play In September

     Good news for fans of Turbine’s Lord of the Rings Online.

     The conversion from subscription service to free-to-play game is coming September 10th.

     Like Dungeons & Dragons Online, LOTRO will allow players to play completely for free, but also offers micro-transactions to purchase new character types and expansions to the game. Players can still sign up for a subscription service that grants them more character slots per server and a stipend of points for use in the Turbine Store each month.

      Founders and Lifetime Subscription holders get a few more bonuses but are still guaranteed they will not have to spend any additional money to play the game

Dragon Age II Release Date Set

     Aside from announcing Mass Effect 2 on the PS3 in 2011, EA also had another big BioWare announcement at their GamesCom press conference: the release date for Dragon Age II. Which is March 8, 2011. Yay! That’s not very long from now, and it’s less than a year and a half after the first game hit. BioWare's workin’ fast on this one.

Age of Empires Online, Microsoft Flight Announced

    
     Microsoft’s been talking up their “renewed commitment” to PC gaming for a while now. Fable III was the first big PC release they added to their roster, and now they’ve announced two more at Gamescom.
 
     First up is Age of Empires Online, the newest games in the venerable series. Age of Empires Online will be developed by Robot Entertainment, and will drop players into an online world. You’ll get a chance to build your empire from a village in a Greek civilization by completing quests both alone and with friends. Here’s a feature list that Microsoft released:

• A persistent online capital city that lives and grows even when you’re offline
• Cooperative multiplayer quests, trading and a level-based system that lets you progress at your own pace
• Fun, approachable style and storylines
• Free-to-play experiences via Games for Windows – LIVE

     The second announcement will bring tears of joy to fans of flight simulators. It looked like Microsoft Flight Simulator was destined for the ash heap when longtime developer ACES was closed by Microsoft last year. Instead, it appears that the series will be making a comeback soon with the reveal of Microsoft Flight.
Microsoft says that the new title (which loses the ‘Simulator’ tag), “will bring a new perspective” to the genre. They haven’t dropped a ton of information, but you can check out the teaser below.

Top 10 Reasons You Want Mafia 2

     With a few hours under my belt in the Mafia 2 Demo and Many hours in the original, I think I've come up with a Top 10 list you won't see featured on Letterman, as to why you should get and play Mafia 2 when it's released on the 24th of this month.  So let's get to it.

Top 10 Reasons You Want Mafia II

#10)   Tommy. Guns.

           That's right.  The iconic Tommy Gun.  Well not JUST the Tommy Gun, but the ability to put .45 rounds into multiple faces in rapid succession mobster style.  Yeah sure, There are plenty of games that let you do this.  But none of them capture the Gang Era feeling so well, and make you say to yourself  "So THIS is what it felt like to be Baby Face Nelson!"  And speaking of Baby Faces, You'll hear many babies crying from inside houses as you walk down  a street, Hip Firing your Thompson with a huge grin on your face.... You sick sadistic animal

#9)     Dress for Success.

          By Dress I mean the sophisticated suits and stylish fedoras with freshly shined shoes. By Success I mean getting away with $20,000 you forcefully took from the local bank. There are many styles and bits of clothing you can wear, and nothing says 1950's Mobster Action like a Suit with a Submachin Gun tucked in your trench coat.  You *Will* visit the many clothing shops and you *Will* Walk out of said shops with some fancy new threads.  Paying for it is optional, But it's nice to know that a change of underwear will ward off the police if you're wanted.

#8)     Crime Sprees!

          Between Missions in this Free Roam game you will probably be replenishing your health with a cup of joe, or buying a new hat or even buying a shiny new pistol in the local Gun store, only to shoot the owner and take the money back before casually walking out with your new toy.  This is a game about the criminal life, after all, so it's nice to see the ability to put on your common criminal petty theft panties every now and then and rob the registers of the local shops.  After your Crime police will show up and question the owners, or if you sent the shop owners on a one way trip to hell via the Tommy Rocket Express, the shop will be closed down, and empty, complete with crime scene tape covering the doors. 

#7)     Say, That's a Swell ride!

          The closest thing we have today to the 1950's is Sonic.  Yeah I know. Waitresses on Rollerskates and Beachboys over the PA system.  While that can be nice to look at and listen to from time to time, they still won't look or bring you into the era like a good old fashioned Automobile made out of solid metal and have wings large enough to create lift.  Not to mention the pastel colors they'll often be painted in.  But this is Mafia.  If you can't afford that new T-Bird, then you can just yank Suzie Q right on out and take it for yourself.  This is the era before computers as well so just drive it to get your tags changed, it'll be months before police even get the memo.

#6)     Playboy Magazine.

          Throughout Mafia II's world of Empire Bay are lots of lost and dropped Playboy magazines just waiting for you to find them.  Most games have pigeons to shoot or packages to find with no incentive to find them other than an extra number in the stats.  Well now you have incentive because each one found gives you an actual centerfold from the Playboy magazines of the era.  Never in the history of gaming will people be hunting a collectible so fast.  Don't worry though, these are the 40's 50's and 60's versions of Playboy, Only tasteful stuff here

#5)     Police aren't Law Enforcing Robots

          You'll find that this time around the police aren't as ANAL about enforcing the law, allowing you to exceed the Speed Limit by sometimes 20 Miles per Hour without giving a care in the world, or hot wiring a convertible as an officer walks by.  Sure if you T-Bone someone, including the police they'll say you've committed a hit and run, even if you aren't running and try to arrest you but that's alright.  You can now bribe the police, or resist arrest, the choice is yours.  But make no Mistake, these are LAPD Cops incarnate, they *WILL* Ram someone and jack them out of their own car and put them under arrest.

#4)     Rock and Roll

          Mafia 2 has some pretty awesome music this time around.  I don't know how they were able to put it into this game without forking out millions of dollars for the rights, but let's not jinx it.  There's just something about plowing down a sidewalk, sending bodies flying with your 4 Ton Thunderbird with "Rock Around The Clock Tonight" blasting through the stereo that will put a grin from ear to ear on your face

#3)     Money, That's what I want

          Aside form also being in the amazing soundtrack, Money seems to be important this time around.  Or not important I suppose, since you can basically just take what you want.  But Repairing, Repainting, Changing your Tags and your car's wheels will cost money.  Changing the Tune on the Jukebox in the local diner will cost money (Although this is the late 40's and early 50's we're talking about here so it's cheap)  Buying Booze, Customizing your ride, bribing the police, buying clothes and weapons... Whatever the case maybe, everything has monetary value.   Of course lead is also a wise investment choice

#2)     Cheap Gas!!!

          Not only is the gas cheap, someone will actually come out and fill you up while you wait.  It feels nice to only have to pay a dollar for 6 gallons of gasoline, and if it doesn't feel good then file a complaint in the form of violence and get your money back plus interest

#1)     It's Mafia.

          This is the best reason to get the game right here.  If you remember the first, the story was great, the action was great, the Free Roam was great.  The game was great.  This time they have taken it up a thousand notches and made it better than great.  This isn't going to be a lousy buggy port from console to PC, it feels great on PC.  It looks Best on PC and for you nVidia users who can enable PhysX without slowdowns, will look Even better than better.  You will not forget the first time you hold up a Diner with Buddy Holly on the radio with hundreds of rounds flying in and out of the place, tearing the place up.  The story is going to be deep and engaging, the freedom and little details are too many to list, the sound effects and soundtrack are top notch and let's not forget the most important factor: You will actually feel like you're in the Mafia.

Tropico 4 breaking ground spring 2011

    
      The Sims: Medieval is currently scheduled for release next spring, but while that game is taking players on a ride through time, another city simulator will take gamers to a lush yet embattled isle.

     Kalypso Media today announced that Tropico 4, the latest in the strategy simulation series, is currently in development at Haemimont Games and scheduled to hit the PC in early 2011. The announcement promised that details on a "possible" console version are coming soon. The title's predecessor, Tropico 3, was released on the PC in 2009 and was accompanied by an Xbox 360 version in 2010. 

 

     As for the new game, Tropico 4 brings players back to the island nation of Tropico, where gamers are cast as El Presidente, the compassionate (or nefarious) ruler of the land. More specifically, Tropico 4 includes a 20-mission campaign set on 10 distinct environments and packs in 20 new buildings including a shopping mall, aqua park, and stock exchange. Additionally, the game incorporates new interactive disasters like tornadoes, volcanoes, and droughts to wreak havoc on the inhabitants of the banana republic.

     The PC version of Tropico 4 will also feature social media integration via Internet mega hubs Facebook and Twitter. Players will be able to tweet and update their Facebook statuses in game to tell the world of their virtual feats. Tropico 4 is currently scheduled for release during spring 2011.

Crysis 2 Launches March 22

    


     Crytek's Crysis 2 was originally scheduled to ship during the busy holiday season but was bumped for a "better [release] window and polishing." Today, the developer locked down the game's release date in early 2011.

     According to Crytek's Twitter feed, Crysis 2 will hit shelves March 22, 2011, in North America and three days later on March 25, 2011, in Europe. The new date distances the game from such holiday heavyweights as Call of Duty: Black Ops and Halo: Reach and places it just before the April 2011 launch of the upcoming Gears of War 3.

 

     Crysis 2 sees players fend off an alien threat once again, aided by a nanosuit that grants the user superhuman abilities ranging from speed boosts to active camouflage. The sequel features two major distinctions from its predecessor. The original Crysis featured lush tropical environments, but Crysis 2 takes place in the urban jungle of New York City. Additionally, the sequel is going multiplatform and will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation, and return to PC.

STALKER 2 Officially in Development

     GSC Game World announces S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 - the official sequel to best-selling game series - in development now. A completely new multi-platform technology developed by GSC will make the core of the game.

     "After the official sales of the series exceeded 4 million copies worldwide, we had no doubts left to start creating a new big game in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe. This will be the next chapter of the mega-popular game players expect from us" - said Sergiy Grygorovych, CEO of GSC Game World.

     The game is scheduled for release in 2012.

Rage Gets a Release Date

     The news, fresh out of QuakeCon, is that ID’s next big title, Rage, which they’ve been working on forever, now has a target date: September 13, 2011 for North America and September 15, 2011 in Europe on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

H.A.W.X. 2 Demo Next Week

     Put your G-Suit on and strap in, the H.A.W.X. 2 Demo will be here next week and with it comes two action packed missions.

   
Interception Course
Take to the air as a Russian pilot sent to intercept a group of stolen aircraft high above the Caucasus Mountains, a hot spot on the world conflict radar, you will be playing a Russian pilot in this mission part of the new multinational cinematic story narrative in H.A.W.X. 2.

Seek and Destroy
Playing from the perspective of the elite U.S. HAWX squadron deployed to settle conflict spilling over in Africa, you are tasked with taking out specific targets with smart ammunition at night. Take off from a carrier under the cover of night and strike against a weapon smuggling operation using precision guided laser bombs.

16 New Screenshots for Arcania: Gothic 4

     Jowood has released 16 new screenshots for the upcoming Gothic title: Arcania: Gothic 4.

    Gothic 4 is expected to be released on October 12 for PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

2k Games Reveals Bioshock: Infinite

      2k Games has revealed exactly what Icarus is.  The new Bioshock game titled Bioshock: Infinite. And guess what? a Juicy trailer comes with the synopsis of what the game will be about.



      BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter currently in development at Irrational Games, the studio behind the original BioShock (which sold over 4 million units worldwide). Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative and gameplay experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky.

      Former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt has been sent to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned in Columbia since childhood. Booker develops a relationship with Elizabeth, augmenting his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 Delayed

   

      Test Drive Unlimited 2 has stuttered on its way to the shelves as Atari has put the open world racer back to the beginning of 2011, just beyond its scheduled launch date of September this year.

      Developed by Eden Games, Test Drive Unlimited 2 is the sequel to one of this generation's very first racers, an open world game with all-inclusive online options, a suite of supercars and hundreds of miles of Hawaiian road to pound. The follow-up moves to Ibiza, introducing day and night cycles, a full weather system and improved visuals and handling.

      The delay has been caused as Eden and Atari get their chamois leathers out and give Test Drive Unlimited 2 as much polish as possible.

Gearbox Rumored to Have Picked Up Duke Nukem Forever

     Along with the imaginary Phantom console, Duke Nukem Forever is one of the biggest jokes in the history of gaming. It’s been the biggest piece of vaporware in history for years.

     If a rumor making the rounds of the ‘net is true, that may be coming to an end. According to anonymous sources who spoke to Kotaku, Borderlands developer Gearbox is planning to finish development on the long-awaited title. One source even stated that a playable demo would be available later this year.

     Take Two Interactive retains the publishing rights to the title, but they refused to comment on the status of the Duke Nukem Forever Project or whether it had in fact landed at Gearbox. 3D Realms founder George Broussard refused to comment on the situation, as did Gearbox President Randy Pitchford. However, Pitchford did say that he might be better able to clarify the situation at next month’s Penny Arcade Expo.

     Obviously, any rumor involving Duke Nuke Forever at this point is purely speculation, especially given how other rumors about the game have panned out.

Anet's MMO Manifesto: New Guild Wars 2 Video

     A new video for Guild Wars 2 has arrived.  The Developers delve into what makes Guild Wars 2 unique in comparison to other MMO's, as well as a lot of new game footage.