Atari and Cryptic teaming up on new Neverwinter RPG [update]

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Hey, die-hard fans of fantasy fiction, right about now would be a good time for you to make a saving throw against having your head explode. Atari and Cryptic, whose former unions resulted in Star Trek Online and Champions Online, have announced their next joint effort: A new online RPG set in the frequently game-adapted Dungeons and Dragons universe, Neverwinter.

The PC game allows up to five players (or one player with AI companions) to select between five classes from the pen-and-paper RPG's roster, and play through an all new campaign, the story for which was developed in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast and author R.A. Salvatore. Also, much like previous games in the Neverwinter franchise, this one will include a tool, tentatively named "Forge," that allows players to create their own campaigns. The game's currently set for Q4 2011, but a Salvatore-penned prequel book, titled Gauntlgrym, will hit store shelves on October 5 of this year.

Update: Gamespot recently sat down with Cryptic CEO Jack Emmert to divine a few details about the game, including its five classes (Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, Ranger and Cleric), what the Forge tools will be capable of, and how Neverwinter will adapt the tabletop game's 4th Edition gameplay mechanics. If any of that means anything to you, give the interview a look.Atari and Cryptic teaming up on new Neverwinter RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Busy Weekend

What a weekend. I now have a traffic violation, lost my own wallet, as well as got in a tiny automobile mishap. The last 3 days have been crazy. I'm just happy it truly is behind me and I do not have to deal with that anymore. Well the actual positive thing is that I will possess some even more free time to be able to play video games and goof off seeing that I have no vehicle to get to work. Fortunately my occupation permits me to work from home as well. Okay signing off for right now. I'll be blogging some more later on.

Shutter Island game adaptation for DS rated by ESRB, OFLC

The upcoming Shutter Island game for Nintendo DS didn't get announced with a press release and a bunch of hoopla. It just calmly strolled onto the Entertainment Software Ratings Board website (and Australia's OFLC as well), just like our man Leo strolled off that boat in the film upon which the game is based. While the Aussie board description only reveals that the game is being published by City Interactive, the ESRB description details it as a "seek-and-find puzzle" (read: hidden object) game.

Players will take on the role of US Marshals exploring the movie's Shutter Island location where the "Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane" is housed. Aside from finding "clues/items among scenes of jumbled objects," players will interview hospital personnel and uncover patient files -- one of which is said to have a story about "the scalping of relatives for use as hats." So, not for kids then?Shutter Island game adaptation for DS rated by ESRB, OFLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

New to this

Welcome to my blog. Plenty of blog posts coming shortly.

RUSE won't use Ubisoft's controversial DRM

Ubisoft's RUSE will not use the publisher's controversial "always on" DRM when the game attempts to make its latest release date in September. Instead, the PC version of RUSE will use Valve's Steamworks API to, as the publisher puts it, "offer the best community experience to players." The game will require an initial online activation, but the single-player game should be playable offline thereafter.

Following up with Ubisoft, the company tells Joystiq that it will "continue to use the Ubisoft protection system for most PC games." We'll have to wait and see if the publisher stands by its DRM policies for future high-profile PC titles, or if its commentary is just a, well, you know.
Gallery: R.U.S.E.RUSE won't use Ubisoft's controversial DRM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Get to know Kane & Lynch, Dog Days' multiplayer director in these new videos

They say opposites attract, which would explain the effectiveness of the titular duo in IO Interactive's upcoming sequel, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. Lynch is a psychopath, a well of unchecked aggression who hardly has the foresight to see the repercussions of his actions -- a dog without a leash, if you will.

His partner, Kane, on the other hand is a bit more calculating. An ex-mercenary whose interests lie in financial gain, Kane is the type of guy who doesn't fly off the handle and, for the most part, keeps it cool -- a feat considering his partner.

Also beyond the break, you'll find the latest behind-the-scenes video produced for the game. This one features Kim Krogh, director of Kane & Lynch 2's multiplayer component. (Spoiler: He really likes it.)Continue reading Get to know Kane & Lynch, Dog Days' multiplayer director in these new videosGet to know Kane & Lynch, Dog Days' multiplayer director in these new videos originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

StarCraft 2 sells 1m day-one, 1.5m in first 48 hours, roughly 620K in the US

Blizzard just trumpeted the sales numbers for StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, the first installment in its long-time-coming sequel to the strategy classic. The numbers: "a day-one sales milestone of more than 1 million copies sold worldwide" and "1.5 million copies in its first 48 hours." The context: It's already the "best-selling PC game of 2010 within its first 24 hours of availability" and now holds the "record for fastest-selling strategy game of all time." With a global launch spanning five continents and over a dozen countries, not to mention a dozen years of anticipation, solid sales were to be expected.

A source inside Blizzard confirmed the information with Joystiq, saying that approximately 1.2m StarCraft 2 accounts had been activated - not necessarily sold! - worldwide as of 4pm PT on the 28th, less than two days after the game went on sale. Roughly 620K of those accounts were in the US. Now that we're a full week out from launch, it's anyone's guess how many copies have been sold by now ... though we imagine if sales keep up, it won't take long for Blizzard to share its success again.StarCraft 2 sells 1m day-one, 1.5m in first 48 hours, roughly 620K in the US originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments