Gamer Times No. 2

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Hello, dear readers!

As AQuaRity, head of our Gaming block, rightly noted, it would take «four Kamaz trucks of earth» to bury this post.

However, these same «four Kamaz trucks» may not need to budge. We cannot be buried for the simple reason that we are a company. Gamer\_Times welcomes you! Unfortunately, we haven't had the time to fully utilize our «cooperation with the administration» yet, so we still have many surprises in store.

After the hiring, our staff increased almost 4 (!) times and came close to twenty %gamername%'s. Note that some of them didn’t even manage to write anything for this issue (we did start the hiring a bit late). By the way, we are still hiring, so don’t hesitate.

We have added several new sections and made a few changes in concept. A downside of the pilot issue was that it represented a «Gamer in a Gamer». We decided to leave the news block untouched for now (though we do have some thoughts on its modernization), while reviews have vaporized. Instead, we have introduced the «Game Block», briefly describing everything that has been released in the past two weeks.

Yes, we release every two weeks, you understood correctly. So you will see us quite often. Don’t forget to subscribe to us (the “Follow” button). We still have many untapped cards.

Under the logo of almost every section, there is a brief description — what it is about and some thoughts on its future. We are open to suggestions, so feel free to comment, write personally, in short, signal us. We will consider everything and think about everything.

The name speaks for itself. All the news in one place. In the future, we plan to make this section smaller.

Announcements


On August 19, Paradox Interactive, known for its tactical strategies, announced a new game on its website. This game is Cities in Motion, a transport simulator set in the surroundings of four European cities. The PC release is planned for no earlier than 2011.

Cites in Motion will allow players to create and manage their own public transport company, which will be able to build its own transport network connecting Vienna, Helsinki, Berlin, and Amsterdam. More than thirty types of transport will be available, including buses, trams, subways, and water transport. Each city is constantly growing and evolving, and you will have to take into account the needs of its residents and timely improve the transport..

Publisher and developer — Paradox Interactive.

Additionally, Paradox Interactive announced another new project on its official website. It’s the long-awaited sequel to Crusader Kings – Crusader Kings 2.

Players will take on the role of any of the great Christian Dynasties of the West and use them to conquer all of Europe and liberate the Holy Land.

The sequel is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2012.

Developer and publisher — Paradox Interactive.

According to a statement on the official website of the developer studio Relic Entertainment, on August 17, THQ officially announced its second standalone expansion for its real-time strategy game — Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II. It will be available for sale in the first quarter of 2011.

Ten years have passed since the events of the first expansion, Chaos Rising, and the Aurelia sub-sector is still engulfed in war with the Imperium, striving to maintain control over it. The betrayal of Gabriel Angelos and his squad led to the Imperium forces being completely surrounded by hostile xenos. Retribution will allow players to choose a new race (orcs) and, with its help, determine the fate of the entire sub-sector in battles.

The expansion is titled Retribution (Revenge).

The debut trailer of the project was shown at the GamesCom conference:

Developer — Relic Entertainment, publisher — THQ.

According to a statement on the official website of the developer studio, the sixth part of the famous strategy Heroes of Might & Magic has been announced.

The action takes place 400 years before the events of the fifth «Heroes». Angels are plotting to renew the unfinished war. The legendary archangel, the leader of the heavenly army, killed in the war against the ancient races, returns to life with thoughts of revenge. Under the cover of preparations for the invasion of demons, he unites the peoples of Ashan to exterminate his old enemies. However, he underestimates the strength of the human — too human — dynasty of the Griffon dukes...

The first trailer of the project is available for viewing:

Developer — Black Hole Entertainment, publisher — Ubisoft.

Jagged Alliance 2 – Reloaded will see the light of day next year, as reported by the official website of the JA series. It will be the same JA2, which has received numerous awards worldwide, but in a completely new packaging. The German publisher bitComposer Games is developing the remake of JA2, which will not only retain all the time-tested principles of the game but will also completely eliminate its shortcomings.

In Jagged Alliance 2 – Reloaded, there will be new, fully isomorphic 3D graphics, the interface will be completely redesigned, and a new training mode will help players easily understand the rules of this game.

Publisher and developer — bitComposer Games.

At the press conference of Deep Silver, which took place at the GamesCom exhibition in Cologne, a new role-playing game was announced — Risen 2. Unfortunately, the developers were extremely tight-lipped and said almost nothing about the project.

Additionally, a continuation of the Sacred game was announced — Sacred 3. The development will be handled by a new studio.

It is only known that both games will be released on PC and some consoles in 2011-2012.

Did you spend all night long playing Neverwinter Nights many years ago? Well, then, Cryptic Studios offers you to dive into the Neverwinter universe once again. On August 23, according to the Gamespy portal, Cryptic, Atari Europe, and Wizards of the Coast announced a new MMORPG based on the NwN universe, based on the D&D system.

The game will not appear on PC until 2011, but its release is part of a much larger multiplatform event, including the launch of a new board game from Wizards of the Coast, and a book trilogy by Salvatore. The first book, Gauntlgrym, will lay the foundation for the game’s plot and is set to be released on October 5.

Based on the D&D 4th edition system, the game will also include an editor that will allow players to create their own levels and connect them to the game.

DLC

**The Sacrifice**, a new DLC for **Left 4 Dead 1** and **Left 4 Dead 2**, was announced on August 20 by **Valve**. The DLC is compatible with both parts, so regardless of which part you are playing, this DLC is available to you, reports the portal **ripten**.

The new DLC centers around the survivors from the original game. The plot of the DLC fills the gap between the end of the first part and the beginning of The Passing DLC from the second part of the game. The DLC tells about the characters from the original game, in it you will understand how they met the heroes from L4D2. The main thing is that you will be able to choose who survives and who dies. Prior to this DLC, according to Valve, Bill died.

The DLC will be freely distributed on PC and Macs, but Xbox users will have to pay for it.

BioWare announced the release date for a new DLC for Mass Effect 2 – The Lair of the Shadowbroker (The Lair of the Dark Broker). It will be available for download on Xbox and PC on September 7, and will cost 800 Bioware/Microsoft points, which is exactly three hundred rubles.

The new DLC can be completed on the planet Illium, where a secret center of the Dark Broker will appear. Additionally, 5 new achievements and 1 new research will become available.

The most interesting detail is that those who played Mass Effect 1 will be able to continue their romantic relationship with Liara.

On August 26, BioWare announced a new DLC for Dragon Age: Origins - “Witch Hunt.”

The Archdemon has been slain, the plague was stopped by a lone Grey Warden, Ferelden celebrates its liberation, but... What happened to Morrigan? The true purpose of the witch who joined the Wardens remained unknown until the last battle. She vanished, dissolved in the shadows. It was said that she had traveled over the mountain to Orlais, but no traces of her were found. She hadn't reminded anyone of herself in any way... until now.

A year after the victory over the Archdemon, news reached the Grey Wardens that Morrigan had returned to Ferelden. She was seen in the southern deserts. Is it really her? And if so, what does she want? What secret business brought her here? The Wardens set out to find her and finish what was left unfinished once and for all.

Key features:

▪ Meet Morrigan face to face in this dramatic conclusion to the original DA:O story.

▪ Earn rewards and import their power into the Awakening and Origins campaigns.

▪ Import your character from the Origins or Awakening campaigns or create a new, high-level hero!

Other News

According to the **gamespy** portal, the newly minted hit **Take-Two** – **Mafia 2** – has been labeled a «mountain of racist nonsense». This is the label that the organization Unico National has placed on the game; the organization has also demanded that the game’s release be completely halted.

The president of Andre DiMino accused Take-Two of discriminating against Americans of Italian descent because Italians living in America are exclusively portrayed as criminals in this game.

"Take-Two directly, grossly, and unjustly insults Italians and Italian-Americans. They humiliate a certain group of people while completely disregarding others. We demand the game’s release be stopped and then clean it of all references to Italians and Italian-Americans,” said Andre DiMino.

The game was released in Russia on August 27.

Bioware delighted us with the debut trailer of its continuation of the Dragon Age game, which was augmented by 23 seconds on August 26.

According to the news portal 1nsk.ru, the game Portal will be studied in college. This initiative was proposed by college instructor Michael Abbot. He believes that Portal fits perfectly into the school curriculum, allowing a new perspective on modern science and art. Moreover, Abbott sees a deep philosophical subtext in Portal, which can very well become the subject of fruitful discussions. The game by Valve has already been tested by the education council, which has approved Abbott's idea.

If the experiment with Portal is successful, then the Wabash college curriculum may also include BioShock and Planescape: Torment.

It seems that games are increasingly penetrating our educational system, reports the portal joystiq.com. It has become known that the University of Florida will study the discipline “21st Century Skills — Starcraft.” The course will be taught by Nathaniel Poling. He will use Starcraft to teach students «critical thinking, problem-solving, resource management, and situational decision-making».

In an interview with Technology Review, Poling said that Starcraft would require students to manage large groups of different creatures - i.e., the same skills that managing a business requires in real life. The course is strictly online and will require students to play the game, review replays, and make notes containing analysis and ways of educating the gaming/real-world interactions in groups. The course does not include any final exam and will not affect the student’s diploma.

A huge section devoted to GamesCom.

About GamesCom

What are computer games? Are they new virtual worlds, adventures, puzzles, thrills? Are they objects of fan worship? Is it something spiritual, close to each of us, ephemeral, subtle, and sensitive? The soul and heart of a gamer? Their mind and desires? Of course, yes, but the main thing in computer games is not that. They are primarily a product, and like every product, they need advertising. One might think that a good game does not need advertising. But that is not true. Moreover, where in our time have you seen a product without advertising? Understanding this, the gaming industry has plunged itself into the depths of marketing, starting to advertise its product.

One of the most effective ways to promote a product in the market is to hold exhibitions to familiarize the consumer with the product and show all its positive aspects. The gaming industry did not deviate from the common rules and has been organizing exhibitions since the very beginning of its existence, where developers could showcase the fruits of their labor to the world every year.

Of course, there are different types of exhibitions. Some are narrowly specialized, others are broad-profile; there are regional and global ones. Nevertheless, each of them finds its audience, each enjoys some popularity. Today, I want to talk about one of the most famous in the world, the largest gaming exhibition in Europe — GamesCom, which recently concluded in Cologne.

GamesCom is only two years old, but it is already incredibly popular among both developers and consumers. What is the secret of this notoriety and how has the exhibition been able to achieve such scale in such a short time? The answer is simple: GamesCom is the successor of another similar event that had a longer history and managed to win a sizeable following. This exhibition was called Games Convention and it should be considered the predecessor of GamesCom.

Games Convention — is an exhibition of computer games held in Germany, just like GamesCom, but not in Cologne, rather in Leipzig. GC is one of the largest and most popular events worldwide dedicated mainly to the computer games industry (PC, console, online, and mobile games), gaming technology, and other areas of art that are, in one way or another, related to this industry. GC was founded in 2002, during the peak popularity of video games. Practically from the first year of its existence, it began to gain great popularity, especially among European producers. Each year the number of spaces rented at the exhibition rapidly increased, and with it, the number of GC visitors grew. Yes, more and more people came to see GC, as there was a lot to see. A huge number of companies, each with its own department where an inquisitive gamer could get acquainted with the latest innovations in the industry, play new games, talk to their creators, learn about future plans, and simply spend their time pleasantly. Giants of the industry from all around the world gathered in Leipzig, each with its own concept, program, and developments. All of them tried to visually explain to consumers why their game is the best.

In 2008, the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software established GamesCom. Initially, this exhibition was conceived as a direct competitor to GC, aiming to surpass its popularity. However, due to fears of competition or for some other reasons, in the same 2008, after its seventh season, GC closed down, clearing the way for its younger successor. And GamesCom had no choice but to become the successor of the well-known exhibition.

Game producers, who gather in Germany in late August, remained true to their habits and this time converged in Cologne for the first gaming exhibition GamesCom. Rarely did anyone worry about the name or organizer: the event existed, took place at the same time and almost in the same location, attracted no less attention from gamers, which meant everything was alright. Moreover — many were drawn to the novelty, a fresh brand in the world of gaming exhibitions, which certainly attracted the curious.

As a result of all this, in 2009 GamesCom gathered many more visitors than all previous Games Conventions. Over 300 companies and studios from 25 countries applied to the first event. Among them were names like Activision, Blizzard, Bigben Interactive, Capcom, dtp entertainment, Electronic Arts, Funcom, GOA, Hama, Koch Media, Konami, Microsoft, Namco Bandai, NCSoft, Nintendo, Rondomedia, Sega, Sony, Square Enix, Take-Two, Tivola, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. What can I say, a good, well-known, and experienced team of developers gathered, which is why the exhibition did not feel a lack of attention. The spectators did not lag behind either, and they showed up at the conference, setting a kind of record — the number of visitors to the first GamesCom was twice that of the previous year's event by GC. From its first year of existence, the computer games exhibition in Cologne established itself as one of the best of its kind in the world, and by 2010 it entered as the best gaming forum in Europe.

The results of the first GamesCom were quite rosy. The exhibition gathered many people involved in video game development, and the celebration of gamedev in Cologne was truly successful. Besides the obvious benefits to developers, GamesCom-2009 vividly proved the necessity of such events for the average gamer wanting to be informed about everything new and interesting in the world of games. The bigger the exhibition, the higher the chance of satisfying the desires of all who are interested in games. Undoubtedly, such events should become more global, expanding to cover the entire industry, precisely to concentrate all that has been done in gamedev over the year. GamesCom positions itself as such an unifying exhibition.

Emboldened by the success, the organizers of GamesCom took on work with even greater confidence, and in 2010 the exhibition set new records. This time, it was not just big, but enormous, mega-visited and popular. It seemed that all progressive humanity had converged at GamesCom to look at others and show themselves. I will allow myself to present some statistics. In 2010, over 500 companies from 33 countries participated in the exhibition, visited by 254,000 visitors, and 4,500 media representatives from 43 countries. These are just a few figures, but they are already striking. In terms of scale, GamesCom-2010 became the largest gaming exhibition in Europe, which is what the organizers aimed for.

At GamesCom-2010, many news in the industry were presented. In particular, about 200 world, European, and German premieres were made. Developers showcased new technologies in the gaming industry, showing viewers the developments of the past year. It turned out that the organizers themselves did not expect such scale for the event. «After a successful premiere, we succeeded in making the exhibition even larger and more international this year, inviting more participants and visitors. The number of positive feedback from industry representatives, trade, and private visitors, as well as from the media, shows that GamesCom 2010 was a truly successful event» - said Oliver Kurt, general director of the Cologne Trade Fair.

«GamesCom 2010 exceeded all our expectations and provided new impetus for growth. We were particularly pleased with the expansion of international presence: this year we received more international industry representatives than ever before, thus strengthening the exhibition’s position as one of the largest international events of its kind. We are looking forward to a successful continuation next year» - summarizes Olaf Wolters, managing director of the German Association of Interactive Entertainment Software.

Similar reviews arose from all participants and visitors to the exhibition. Many were struck by the scale of GamesCom 2010, as well as its quality organization, which satisfied the needs of all its participants. What can I say: Germans have always been excellent organizers, and this time they did not disappoint either.

You can only agree with Olaf Wolters that the whole world is eagerly waiting for the continuation of the celebration. Companies left the exhibition looking toward the future, anticipating another gathering in a year. And it will happen, as everyone understands the need for it: both developers and ordinary consumers.

Yes, exhibitions such as GamesCom are essential, as they are a place where the industry's elite gather, a forum for mutual communication, discussion of future development prospects, plans, and an introduction to new technologies and techniques in gamedev. GamesCom confidently copes with this task, and this confidence instills hope for the bright future of the Cologne exhibition. And if in just two years of its existence it is breaking all records, it is difficult to even imagine what the future will hold. Let’s hope that it will soon grow into the largest gaming exhibition in the world, gathering under its wing not the majority, but all representatives of gamedev. There are messages for this, and there are opportunities too. And since that’s the case, there is just a little left to do – sound organization. But we can rely on that too. Therefore, it can be confidently stated that GamesCom 2011 will be the largest gaming exhibition in the world. The future of such events lies in it.

IGN. Gamescom: Impressions of Tera.

Fire and ice in the action-MMO from **Bluhole Studio**.

Nowadays there are many MMO games, and many of them are alike in gameplay. Therefore, it is good when something unique appears, such as Tera from Bluhole. In this game, instead of battles like in World of Warcraft, you will have to aim at enemies with distance magic attacks, and you can dodge or simply move out of the line of enemy fire, just like in an action movie. Thus - at least if the developers are to be believed - you have a chance to defeat characters of a much higher level than yours, as long as you possess adequate skills.

At Gamescom, they showed a small playable excerpt in a “public dungeon” (this means the presence of other players nearby). Advancing through it was quite standard. When we encountered groups of monsters, we carefully chose whom to attack and whom to leave alone. I played as a magical class with distance attack capabilities, while the other two group members were a tank who took the hits and distracted enemies and a healing priest who kept us alive.

Among the abilities available to me, I most often used a fireball, tied to the left mouse button as I could use it often enough. For encounters with larger groups of monsters, I had a mass attack, but it had a long casting time, creating a large sphere that slowly moved forward and damaged everyone it touched. Most magical attacks have their range, so I needed to get close enough to the enemy (you can determine this by the cursor) for the attack to hit the target. If the enemy was too close, I could use the evasion ability, where my character would spin and jump backward. And when my mana ran low, I had an ability that quickly replenished its supply.

My role in battles was quite simple – I had to avoid close combat with enemies and mercilessly bombard them with fire and ice: single-target and area damage spells, until they fell. Often I had to replenish my mana, and during this time the main focus was to choose the right position, since casting spells required standing still. The fineness of the battle lay in the fact that the opponents were constantly moving, causing me to choose carefully where to aim, preparing the attack. For some abilities, this is especially important, as they have significant cooldown times.

The key to survival, which is particularly essential for the