The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles Expands In Stores

Oblivion sure is taking its time to expand... Soon after it was released in March 2006 for the PC and Xbox 360, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion recieved the first official addition - the now-(in)famous horse armors. In the following months, Bethesda seemed to have made a habit out of releasing small packages like that online and via Xbox Live, such as additional quests and dungeons, and eventually the Knights of the Nine pack. This was still not a full-fledged expansion, however; but Shivering Isles is. And it's now up for the taking!

In The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles, you will explore an entirely new plane of Oblivion - the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Within this realm, there are two extreme sides of the god's madness: the sublimely creative, and the completely psychotic:

"The Shivering Isles features a bizarre landscape split between the two sides - Mania and Dementia - filled with vast, twisting dungeons mirroring the roots of the trees they are buried within. You'll encounter more than a dozen new creatures including hideous insects, Flesh Atronachs, skeletal Shambles, and amphibious Grummites. Throughout your adventure, you will discover all new items, ingredients, spells, and much more. Or, you can have the talented craftsmen of Crucible and Bliss forge new armor and weapons just for you."

"Something is happening to the Shivering Isles and Sheogorath himself looks to you to be his champion and defend his realm and its inhabitants from destruction. Do you have the strength to survive his trials, tame a realm fraught with paranoia and despair, and wear the mantle of a God?"

The PC version of Shivering Isles is co-published by Bethesda and 2K Games, and it's currently available in North American stores, while the Xbox 360 version is being distributed straight by Bethesda via Xbox Live. The expansion pack should also be available in Europe in just a couple of days.

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We are always looking forward to any new announcement coming from Relic Entertainment, even though we have long since come to terms with the saddening thought that they may never make another Homeworld game again. Well, not unless THQ goes shopping at Vivendi's backyard sale sometime. Although we're not holding our breath, and you shouldn't either (might be bad for your health). So what's the next best thing after Homeworld? Some may say Warhammer 40,000. Others, Company of Heroes. This time, it's the latter.

Suffice to say that Company of Heroes was last year's best strategy game in most people's (and critics') opinion, and even the best PC game in 2006 according to others, so there was never really much doubt that Relic would continue this newborn franchise. We may not know anything about it yet, but we will soon enough, because the follow-up to Company of Heroes will be fully revealed in the next issue of the Games For Windows magazine - according to editor Jeff Green's blog from 1UP.

After going on an on about some casual game called Peggle and... whatever he was writing about, Green finally makes a hasty mention about the real cover of the next GFW issue:

"It's one of those "exclusive" stories - this time about the followup to Relic's awesome Company of Heroes. Guess what? We get to kill more Nazis again!! Yay! Them shitz never gets old, knowhumsayin?"

I wonder if by "follow-up" he meant a true Company of Heroes 2 sequel, or just an expansion pack. We'll know shortly. In the meantime, we're still waiting for clarification about another couple of Relic's projects - that RPG and MMO revealed by THQ last autumn.

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Black Xbox 360 Elite In Pictures, HDMI Confirmed // UPDATE

Here we go again! It's only been a few days since we last wrote about the black Xbox 360, and despite all the commotion here in Europe after the launch of the PlayStation 3 this weekend (we'll get there, too, in just a bit), our attention has been caught yet again by the stories surrounding Microsoft's darkened console. There's still no official press release detailing the now-certain black Xbox 360 - or Xbox 360 Elite, as it's called - if that's what you were hoping for. But we did come across some photographs taken at the production line in China, showing that it's as real as possible. And (almost) ready for shipping.

The photos were apparently taken last month, but only now some Chinese dude gathered the courage to post them on the TGFCer forums (one of China's top bulletin boards), along with the following message, as auto-translated by Google:

"As mobile phones, cameras can not be brought into plants. The key to reaching the buttocks no plans, joy!"

As horrified as we may be at the thought of someone hiding his mobile phone where the sun don't shine, and then smuggle it inside the manufacturing plant to take those pictures, we can only be grateful for finally having some solid piece of evidence supporting the recent rumours about the Xbox 360 Elite. One of the shots also confirms the 120 GB hard drive, and as for the HDMI output, that confirmation (sort of) comes straight from a Microsoft dev, via Xbox-Scene:

Q: Will the HDMI output on the revised 360 require any code changes?

A: No changes required.

A couple of days ago, it was also stated on Mercury News that the Xbox 360 Elite will indeed have IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) capability, but no built-in or bundled HD-DVD drive. By common consensus, the black model will cost $479, and will start shipping this April, in limited quantities (reportedly a couple hunded thousands). So, what more details do you still need?

UPDATE: Microsoft officially confirmed today pretty much all of the above, announcing that the Xbox 360 Elite will launch on April 29, for $479. [28.03.2007, 23:00]

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It's going to be a challenge to write anything objective about Sony so soon after our previous story, regarding the unannounced (and unforgivable) lack of PlayStation Store service in so many European countries. In hope of clinging to one last thread of impartiality, however, I'll just stick to some sales figures in this story, and see how Sony's console is faring so far in PAL territories. Or at least in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Through a couple of reports issued after the first weekend of the console's availability in these zones, Sony claims that it sold around 165,000 PS3 units in the UK, and over 20,000 in Australia in the first three days. According to MCV, the UK sales figure was confirmed by ChartTrack, meaning that the PlayStation 3 now holds the record for the fastest-selling home console over the opening weekend in the United Kingdom - although still second to the PSP's formidable 185,000 units sold at launch in December 2005.

Comparing to PS3's 165,000 units (which still only account for three quarters of the total 220,000 units allocated for the UK launch), Nintendo only managed to sell 105,000 Wii consoles during its launch weekend in December 2006, while back in December 2005 Microsoft barely shifted around 70,000 Xbox 360 units in the same time frame. I can't say I expected such a high (preliminary) count...

What I would have expected to happen in Europe is what actually took place in Australia this past weekened, where the PS3 was beaten by both of its arch rivals. Ausie blog The Age passed word that retailers sold over 20,000 PlayStation 3 consoles in the machine's first three days, and that "the combined sales of hardware, peripherals and software generated in excess of [AU] $25 million of retail spending", according to Sony Computer Entertainment Australia.

The launch record in that territory is held by Nintendo's Wii, with over 32,000 units sold, followed closely by Microsoft's Xbox 360, with over 30,000 units - 50% more than the PS3's launch figures in Australia. So basically Sony lost a minor battle, while winning the most important of them in the UK. And, like we said earlier, pissing off plenty of people in between.

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Sony Screws Some Europeans With (Lack Of) PS3 Store

How would you like to spend up to €659 (that's $878!) on a shiny new PlayStation 3 console, only to find out that one of its defining online features - the PlayStation Store, supposedly available to "all PS3 users" - is not available in your country. At all! And this isn't just an isolated case in pissant third-world countries, but a widely spread problem in many parts of Europe and other PAL countries, aroud 20 in total. The regional unavailability of the PlayStation Store is being signalled on the European PlayStation.com forums by an increasing number of angry customers, from the following countries (others likely to follow):

- Bulgaria

- Croatia

- Cyprus

- Czech Republic

- Greece

- Hungary

- Iceland

- Israel

- Romania

- Saudi Arabia

- Slovakia

- Slovenia

- Turkey

It seems that Sony has a very sick and twisted sense of humour, because the users who are unable to access the PlayStation Store are directed to eu.playstation.com/terms "for more details". And when they get there, they're greeted with this heartwarming message: "We've searched everywhere, but the page you're trying to open can't be found. Sorry!". Sorry?! That was something they were supposed to say BEFORE people wasted their money on something they never knew was lacking.

Well, in theory, it's still possible to create a UK account on the PlayStation Network from those countries, however users who did that are complaining that they can't use their credit cards in this case for the PlayStation Store. So what's Sony's response in the above topic?

"We are unable to support paid content in some countries. This is for too many reasons to mention. (...) PlayStation Network (online gaming and messaging) is available in all [44] countries. (...) Downloadable content is available in 23 countries. More Stores will be introduced across our territories in time, depending on demand."

That's super! So, let's sum it up: (much) delayed launch, (much) higher price, (much) fewer PS2 games compatible, no PS3 Store in some countries... Yep, I guess you could say that some of us Europeans have every right to be pissed off at Sony. "This is for too many reasons to mention".

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EA Ships Medal of Honor: Vanguard And Command & Conquer 3

We just got two announcements from Electronic Arts, for the two new games they have shipped to stores across North America, with the European territories to follow later this week. The most important of them is, of course, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars for the PC, set to go on sale on March 28, and the other one is a new iteration of the Medal of Honor series. Sub-titled Vanguard, this latest edition is only available for the PlayStation 2 and Wii consoles.

Command & Conquer 3 assumingly needs no more introduction, so we'll skip straight to some comments from Mike Verdu, VP and Executive Producer at EALA, and actress Tricia Helfer - one of the two hawt cylons from the new "Battlestar Galactica" series who were (both) cast to play in the game's live action cinematics. And, of course, Joe Kucan is back to play Kane.

"Command & Conquer is back!", said Mike Verdu. "We've taken the mix of explosive action, deep strategy, and rich storytelling that sparked a genre to the next level. Even better, the series is returning to its roots in the Tiberium universe. Players can take command of the futuristic armies of the Global Defense Initiative, fight for Kane and the Brotherhood of Nod, or control the alien hordes of our new third faction, the Scrin. I can't wait for people to get their hands on this game."

"When I realized that I wasn't going to be a computer-generated character, but playing a live action role in the C&C 3 game, I was really looking forward to see what was in store", said Tricia Helfer. "I can honestly say that it was one of the most fun projects I've worked on."

The most exciting thing we can say about Medal of Honor: Vanguard, on the other hand, is that it's the first game in the series to be released on Nintendo's Wii console. Players will take on the role of Frank Keegan, Corporal of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII, and engage in battles throughout Europe, from Operation Husky on the shores of Sicily to Operation Varsity inside Nazi Germany.

The next chapter, Medal of Honor: Airborne (PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360), was also supposed to come out in Q1 2007, but it has since been postponed until late 2007.

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Late last week, word spread around that the German PC Action magazine has revealed quite a few details about Team Fortress 2, the upcoming multiplayer game shipping alongside Half-Life 2: Episode Two in autumn 2007 (and hopefully no later). So if you ever wanted to know what close-combat weapon the Scout carries around with him, or what the flag (as in "capture the flag") will be replaced with, now's your chance.

A "loose" translation of PC Action's article was posted on the HalfLife2.net forums, listing various details about the classes, maps and general gameplay topics. And since Valve thinks that classes in other games are a joke - "Where's the difference between me choosing a M16 or an AK-47 rifle?", asks Robin Walker - here is the list of classes available in Team Fortress 2, together with their primary, secondary and close-combat weapons / devices:

- Scout: Shotgun, pistol, baseball bat.

- Soldier: Rocket launcher, shotgun, shovel.

- Pyro: Flamethrower, shotgun, fire axe.

- Demo Man: Sticky bomb slingshot, grenade thrower, broken bottle.

- Heavy Weapons Guy: Machine gun (mini gun), shotgun, fists.

- Engineer: Shotgun, pistol, wrench.

- Medic: Machine pistol, healing ray, bone saw.

- Sniper: Sniper rifle, machine pistol, club.

- Spy: Revolver, cigar case (PDA for switching your disguise), knife.

Ooooh, I love the sound of that Pyro! Regarding some of the other classes, it was also revealed that the Scout will be able perform a double jump, like in the Unreal Tournament games, and that the Medic will be able to heal team members from long distances (if they are in sight). Furthermore, he can make himself and his patients invulnerable for 10 seconds. Oh, and the demolition man will be the only one with grenades. Radical stuff!

As for that flag I mentioned above, it will actually be replaced with a briefcase full of documents. So "Capture The Flag" will become "Capture The Documents". That sounds more fitting. But the most interesting piece of info, I think, is the following:

"It would be technically feasible to let owners of a PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 play against each other. Whether this feature makes it into the final game is still uncertain and depends on Sony and Microsoft."

I sure hope they can pull that one off.

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GRAW 2 Multiplayer Beta In April, Launch Delayed To June

Oh-oh, we're getting a nasty feeling of déjà vu here... The first Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter was delayed more than a couple of times on the PC, before it was finally released in May 2006, and the same seems to be happening with GRAW 2 as we speak. Until a few days ago, we were honestly expecting the sequel to ship this month, or at least this spring. But that won't happen anymore, because Ubisoft recently confirmed a lenghty delay for the PC version of Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, all the way to June 2007!

As compensation for pissed-off fans, Ubi has just announced that they will soon open the registration process for an upcoming GRAW 2 multiplayer beta. Sign-ups should begin in the coming weeks, in early April, and this closed beta will feature a map created exclusively for the PC version, called "Calavera". Here are a few more details to go with it:

"The new Recon vs. Assault mode will have players fight their way through this Mexican village near the US border. As a member of the elite Ghost squad, gamers will need to use all of their know-how and expertise to stay hidden and sneak through small winding roads to locate and engage the enemy. As a Mexican rebel, players must be prepared to engage the Ghosts, using high calibre fire power, and must stop them at all cost.

The return of Team Deathmatch will challenge players and their friends to a fight a fight where everything is possible; explore, engage and terminate."

The PC version of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is once again being developed by GRIN, "from the ground up" and "specifically for the PC and PC gamers". Does that make you feel any better about the delay? (ed. - rhetorical questions are so exciting)

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MU Online has been one of the most successful free MMORPGs to come out of Korea, and even long before K2 Network released the game worldwide as Global MU Online last year, the original version was already beeing played in the West by more than a few "MUtizens". These fans should therefore take joy in K2's latest announcement, heralding the release of the first expansion crafted by Webzen - MU Online: Cry Wolf - just a few days from now.

Some of the new content included in Cry Wolf will be the Fenrir mount, five armor sets, two new maps and the bi-weekly Cry Wolf event, making up for over 100 hours of gameplay (that's like... two days for the die-hard fans). Marking the first anniversary of Global MU Online's commercial launch, the expansion will be available for download on March 27 to gamers in Europe, North America, and South America. While you're waiting for it, here are a few more details:

"In Cry Wolf, premium players will explore Aida and the Fortress of Cry Wolf, two new maps for the game. In the land of Aida, which will be the first map to release, players can adventure and quest their way to level 380 and prepare for the Fortress of Cry Wolf. In the Cry Wolf map, allied armies of humans and elves will defend the Fortress against the evil forces of Kundun and their tyrannical leader Balgass.

In addition to new maps and the Fortress of Cry Wolf Event, the expansion offers many other thrilling features: the ability to build and ride the powerful wolf: Fenrir, unique weapons and armor sets for each class; and never before seen monsters and NPC’s including Werewolves, Witch Queens, Death Trees and Dark Elves. All of the above will add hundreds of hours of gameplay for MUtizens, the players of Global MU Online."

We now have some screenshots in our gallery you can see, and as a final word of warning, the MU Online: Cry Wolf website mentions that the expansion is only available to premium users. So... yeah, sorry for breaking it to you.

P.S. Speaking of MMO expansions, the Public Test Server for Lineage II: Interlude is now live, allowing players to create a level 75 character and fully explore the new world. You can get it from the Lineage II website, which also warns that you must have an active Lineage II account to download and play on the Public Test Server.

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What better way to celebrate the European release of the PlayStation 3 today, than to report about another casualty signalled this week in the ranks of Sony's ex-excclusives. The "victim" is Namco's Ace Combat series, which, over the past 12 years, has only seen releases on Sony's PlayStation, PS2 and PSP platforms. But all that will end with the next major chapter, Ace Combat 6. According to Japanese magazine Famitsu (via IGN), the game will switch sides and is destined for the Xbox 360 first and foremost. In fact, they don't even mention a PS3 version at all, temporarily making this a 360 exclusive.

Ace Combat 6, which also happens to be the first next-gen game in the series, should be out in Japan by the end of 2007. So Westerners will probably take it to the skies again in early 2008. The game is being produced by Ace Combat 04 director Hiroyuki Ichiyanagi, and directed by Natsuki Isaki, who previously served as Ace Combat 04 planner and Ace Combat 5 main planner.

IGN also has some initial details about the gameplay changes expected for Ace Combat 6, including a dynamic mission system, simplified control options for beginners, and Xbox Live support for both competitive and co-operative aerial engagements, along with the obvious visual extravaganza:

"The biggest new inclusion appears to be the Dynamic Mission system, which allows for dynamically changing, large scale battles. During missions, you fight alongside a number of ally pilots and squads whom you can send them off to perform separate tasks. Success in some of these mini-missions may be required in order to clear a stage, but this isn't always the case. As you clear tasks, new ones will present themselves, expanding the battle in new ways. The game supports up to six tasks simultaneously."

Aside from Ace Combat 6, this week also saw the announcement of Devil May Cry 4 heading for the Xbox 360 (in a non-exclusive way). And of course, Namco's very own Riiiidge Racer series also made a detour on the Xbox 360, as part of the console's launch line-up. Good luck Sony, you'll need it!

UPDATE: And here are the first screenshots. Great looking, as usual.

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