Archive for PC Strategy Games

Petroglyph Games 50% Off Board Game Special

For the month of June 2011, Petroglyph is offering a special deal of 50% off all their board games.  Purchasers will also receive a copy of Guardians of Graxia for PC free.

Their board games include:

Frozen Synapse–Buy One, Give One Free to a Friend

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Matrix Games recently released Frozen Synapse, a PC strategy game that brings the simultaneous turn-based strategy game up to date and lets you give detailed, accurate orders to your squad.  Plan moves, test them out, and hit the "Execute” button.  Both your turns and your enemy’s are executed simultaneously.

Each match is an intense tactical situation, with no “waiting around for the fun part”.  If you can predict your opponent’s moves, you win the match.  The game design rewards the superior tactics.

As of this writing, Matrix says that “as a special bonus, anyone who buys Frozen Synapse and registers an account on the multiplayer server will be given the opportunity to send a full copy of the game to a friend for free”.

The download edition is priced at USD $24.99.  A boxed edition with free download is priced at $34.99.  More details and screenshots can be seen on the Matrix Games web site at the link provided above (as well as ordering details).

Join the HeroClix Online Testing Team

The WizKids site has posted an open message to all HeroClix enthusiasts to join their online testing team.  They’re giving away one Flash White Lantern to a lucky winner who submits a fitting name for the testing group.

As a tester, you get to help the developers find bugs, stop exploits, and other problems.

WizKids is inviting all HeroClix Online players to apply to the team.  See their site for complete details and closing dates.

Supreme Ruler 2020 Updated, Price Reduced

Supreme Ruler 2020The Paradox Interactive web site announced on Tuesday that the price of Supreme Ruler 2020 has been reduced to $9.99 across all digital portals.  In Supreme Ruler 2020, players must take control of a nation on the brink of anarchy and take it to world domination.

Update 8 for the game features a number of improvements, enhancements, and additions.  These include 20 new MOD scenarios, new units and technologies, dozens of new AI additions, new unit commands, and game performance improvements.

Mount & Blade With Fire and Sword Goes Gold

Paradox Interactive announced that its Mount & Blade – With Fire and Sword has gone gold.  It will be released on May 3, 2011.  Players may serve as mercenaries or join one of the five factions to conquer, destroy, or create empires.  Fire and Sword builds on the foundation of Mount & Blade Warband, adding new features such as firearms and grenades, multiple endings, enhanced siege mechanics, 15 new multiplayer maps, and a setting based on Nobel Prize winner Henry Sienkiewicz’s novel "With Fire and Sword".  It is available for preorder from several digital portals for $14.99.

EA Releases Darkspore for PC

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EA Games has released Darkspore for the PC.  In this game, players are fugitives of a race called the Crogenitors, who were masters of DNA manipulation.  They created super-warriors called the Genetic Heroes using their genetic manipulations.  After discovering "exponential DNA" (E-DNA) they learned that it was unstable and produced mutated abominations that become the Darkspore.   As a surviving Crogenitor, the player must reconstruct the lost Genetic Heroes and lead them to battle against the Darkspore.

Paradox Releases Majesty2 Collection

imageParadox Interactive has released the Majesty2 collection to retail.  This package contains the Majesty 2 game and its three expansions, priced at $19.99 MSRP.  The game features over 40 missions across four campaigns. 

The collection can be purchased through GamersGate, Steam, Impulse, GameTap, GamesPlanet, GameStreamer, and other retailers.

If you’d like to buy the download version of the game for $15.99 (as of this writing) and support The Gamer Hotsheet while doing it, click here to pick it up from Amazon.com.

EA Games Sale

The EA Games web site has announced sale pricing on the following PC games:

This information is as of the time the article was published (midnight April 26, 2011).

BradyGames Releases CoD Multiplayer Strategy App

New York, NY – April 19, 2011 – BradyGames is pleased to announce its new "Call of Duty: Black Ops MP Map" App, the first officially licensed Call of Duty®: Black Ops app on the App Store, is now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. A recently released update includes the First Strike Map Pack at no extra cost.

The app, developed in conjunction with Treyarch and Activision, allows gamers to get the drop on their enemies through the use of detailed, interactive layouts of all 14 original multiplayer maps and the four multiplayer maps from the First Strike pack, including overlays for every game mode. For the millions of Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer fans worldwide, this app delivers unprecedented, "at-your fingertips" strategy, whether they’re running Sabotage Mode in Grid or Search and Destroy in Summit.

The multiplayer maps, illustrated by expert gaming guild Sea Snipers, feature customized icons and map keys so players know immediately where to find every bomb site, CTF flag, spawn point and ladder. It also includes pop-up points-of-interest that cover sniping points, hot areas, and typical player routes, as well as map-specific equipment and player load-out advice.

Call of Duty: Black Ops MP Map app is now available for $2.99 from the iTunes App Store on the iPhone or iPad, or at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cod-black-ops-mp-map app/id415883449?mt=8&ls=1#.

For further information about BradyGames’ digital initiatives, please contact: Brian Saliba

Created by Treyarch and published by Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Language. For additional Call of Duty updates and information, visit us on the web at www.callofduty.com/blackops, www.facebook.com/codblackops, and also via Twitter @Treyarch.

PC Strategy Game News

Following are the PC strategy game news items found today:

PC Strategy Games News–04/19/2011

 

PC Game news for April 19, 2011:

Armada 2526 from Ntronium

Matrix Games and Ntronium Games announced the availability of Armada 2526 Supernova this week.

Armada is a space-themed 4X game which offers LAN and play by email options.  There are many star and planet types to discover, and more than 30 special features to make each system unique.  There is a new trade system in the game and a variety of new technologies.

It’s available from Matrix Games in download form for $14.99 and boxed (with free download) for $24.99.  It’s also available via Valve’s Steam client for $26.99 (sale price as of this writing).

Win a Beta Key for Rise of Immortals

Petroglyph Games is currently running a contest where players can submit a guess on the game’s Facebook page about which two Guardians from their Guardians of Graxia game will become Immortals in the new game.  Those who win will receive a beta key for themselves and for a friend.  You can guess once per day between now and Friday April 22, 2011.  See this post on their forum for more details.

50% Off Hegemony from Longbow Games

I purchased Longbow Games‘ "Hegemony" PC wargame from them at Origins.  When I finally had the time to play it, I was impressed with it.  The graphics, controls, strategy, AI, etc., all were as good as any wargame I’d ever played.  I regret that I’ve not had time to do an actual review for this site.

However, if you’re at all interested in the game, this weekend (April 15, 2011) would be a great time to pick it up.  The Stardock Impulse site is offering Hegemony Gold – Wars of Ancient Greece this weekend for only $15, which is 50% off the normal price.  Grab it now while you can!

Kerberos Releases Trailer for Sword of the Stars 2

The Kerberos Productions web site posted a trailer for Sword of the Stars 2 on their web site, as well as video from The Angry Joe Show.  Angry Joe lists SotS2 as one of the 10 most-anticipated games of 2011.

Matrix Posts Screenshots for Advanced Tactics: Gold

Matrix Games has posted additional screenshots for Advanced Tactics: Gold, which is approaching release.  The Gold edition gives players a more powerful game editor, an improved random game engine, new features and abilities, and more.  It includes an updated manual and an improving wiki.  VR Designs has incorporated a lot of user feedback into the title.  For more information, see the Matrix Games announcement.

Computer Gaming News – 10/16/2010

  • Activision has been very busy lately.  Among their recent announcements:
    Downloadable tracks from Linkin Park will appear in upcoming games.
    Tenacious D will be live at BlizzCon 2010.
    The World of Warcraft subscriber base topped 12 million.
    X-Men: Destiny was announced.
    Call of Duty: Black Ops is coming to 3D.
    • Capcom posted details on Super Street Fighter IV 3D’s touch controls and some Halloween deals.
  • EA Games has Medal of Honor in stock for physical or download purchase.  They also report that fans who pre-order Bioware’s Dragon Age II will get an automatic upgrade to the Signature Edition at no additional cost.  They’re also having a big sale on the Apple App Store.
  • Matrix Games posted a discount to Armada 2526 ($29.99 download now) and announced that Empires in Arms received a major update.
  • Paradox Interactive released free downloadable content for Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade.
  • Petroglyph is having a 7th Anniversary Giveaway on Facebook.
  • Gamer’s Front has a variety of ProSIM wargames titles on sale.

Computer and Online Game News – 10/09/2010

  • Matrix Games announced updates to Decisive Campaigns: The Blitzkrieg from Warsaw to Paris and Armada 2656.
  • Paradox Interactive announced the release of Lionheart: King’s Crusade and the Iron Cross expansion to Hearts of Iron II.
  • Longbow Games announced that Hegemony Gold Alpha 2 is now available.
  • Square Enix confirmed that Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded will release on January 11, 2011.
  • Tecmo Koei announced that Atelier Rorona for the PlayStation 3 will be released in Europe on October 22, 2010.
  • Electronic Arts (EA) announced that the Medal of Honor Multiplayer Open Beta is now live, that they’re having a Monster Sale on the Apple App Store, and that DeathSpank is debuting on the PC and Mac.

PC and Online Game News – 08/28/2010

Things have been pretty busy since my return from GenCon, and I apologize for not finding the time to publish regular news updates here…

Today’s PC and Online game news:

  • Matrix Games has posted quite a few updates since our last check, including new screenshots for, and the release of, Decisive Campaigns: The Blitzkrieg from Warsaw to Paris, a second video for Battlefield Academy, an update to Close Combat – Cross of Iron, and updates and “enrichment” for Battlefield Academy.
  • Paradox Interactive has released Ship Simulator Extreme. It is available by retail and download.
  • Racingspider Games’ blog says that they’ve added some new gameplay features to Expedition: Beyond the Walls that will be a bit more interactive at the destinations.
  • 2K Games released Mafia II on August 24. This is “an epic crime-action tale” that is available for the PlayStation 3, XBox 360, and Windows PC.
  • Acclaim apparently has gone under, or at least offline.
  • Eidos announced the release of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light on the XBox Live Arcade.
  • Tecmo Koei Europe’s web site says that Nobunaga’s Ambition (a “standard-bearer in historical simulation gaming”) is now available on the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad.
  • BradyGames has launched strategy guides for Mafia II, OSG Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, StarCraft II, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Sky, Singularity, and Transformers: Cybertron.
  • Guild Wars 2 has added the necromancer to its professions.
  • BigPoint Games has added the web-based game Poisonville to their offerings. This game, currently in beta, has you playing the part of a criminal who broke out of jail and is getting even with those who framed him and got him locked up.
  • Electronic Arts (EA Games) has released Shank: Thongs of Virtue, a “delightfully twisted and fiendishly addictive action RPG”. The game Create also appears in their web store for November 2010 release. Create says it “tracks your creativity and rewards you for it” by unlocking more of the game.
  • Activision announced World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collectors Edition, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, and DJ Hero 2.
  • Sega posted new screenshots and says a demo for Vanquish is coming. They’ve also posted information for Valkyria Chronicles II, Sonic Colors, Virtua Tennis, and Football Manager 2011.
  • THQ announced new downloadable Red Faction: Battlegrounds, the uDraw Game Tablet for Wii, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution, updates for WWI SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, Homefront, and the Wacky Adventures of the Penguins of Madagascar.
  • Battlefront released the v1.03 patch for Strategy Command WW2 Global Conflict.
  • GamersGate lists several new titles, including Sky Taxi 2, Smugglers 4, Lords of the Realm 3, Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death, Alter Ego, Lost Horizon, Hunting Unlimited 2011, Cities XL Standard Edition, Magic Encyclopedia Moon Light, King Arthur The RPG Wargame: The Saxons DLC, Arma 2: British Armed Forces, Free Running, Alien vs. Predators Classic 2000, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Directors Cut, and Ship Simulator Extreme.
  • Advanced Gaming has posted an “Updated Modeling/Community Position Statement” for Harpoon: Ultimate Edition.

PC and Online Games New – 08/17/2010

PC and online game news:

  • Matrix Games announced Panzer Command: Ostfront, the latest in a new series of 3D turn-based tactical wargames.
  • Square Enix posted information about Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Gun Loco for Xbox 360, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for XBox Live Arcade, Chaos Rings for iPad, and more.
  • Tecmo Koei announced that Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage will be released on November 5.
  • Electronic Arts (EA) announced two special editions for Crysis 2, the Crysis 2 Limited Edition and Crysis 2: Nano Edition, the “Be a Goalkeeper” feature for FIFA Soccer 11, the Dragon Age 2 release date of March 8, 2011, and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Limited Edition.
  • Third Wire Productions released the Wings Over Israel Add-on to the original Wings Over Israel game.
  • THQ announced Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution, the uDraw Game Tablet for Wii, downloadable Red Faction: Battlegrounds, and more.
  • GamersGate has recently added a number of products to its catalog, including Bounce, Madden NFL 11 Guide, Fortis, Rise of Flight Iron Cross Edition, Academagia The Making of Mages, and Gratuitous Space Battles Collector’s Edition.