Weekly Video Game News – 09/23/2011
By Patrick Newman
Dungeon Duel Reborn
Irrational Games, the developers behind BioShock, have revealed their plans for an RTS/RPG hybrid that was abandoned in 2002 called Dungeon Duel. The original pitch described Dungeon Duel as a “Fast-paced RTS strategy with the addictiveness of card game trading in a unique fantasy setting-a true RTS game built specifically with consoles and their controllers in mind.” The project’s associate producer Chris Remo has uploaded Dungeon Duel’s official pitch document, which includes artwork and mockups. Irrational Games, of course, is still hard at work on the upcoming BioShock Infinite.
Battlefield 3 DLC Details
Microsoft has announced that all expansions for the EA-published Battlefield 3 will debut on the PlayStation 3, beginning with the Back to Karkland add-on. The debuts will each have a one-week exclusivity window, hoping to snare the competition from their competitors. Battlefield 3, which has been gestating for 3 years, will have both a single and multiplayer campaign, can be played with up to 64 players online (on the PC). It involves vehicular combat and co-op play, among many other in-game features.
Rift – After Hours Dance Club
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Unreal Tournament Update
In a recent Forbes interview with Epic Games president Mike Capps, it was revealed that development on a new Unreal title is tentative, at best. According to Capps, “Unreal and Unreal Tournament continue to have a huge influence on the studio here, even though we’re not currently working on an Unreal IP project.” Though by 2008 Epic had sold more than 1 million units of Unreal Tournament 3, the success couldn’t boost the financial standing of its publisher.
Diablo 3 on Consoles?
Diablo developer Blizzard is currently exploring the possibility of a console adaptation of their newest project – Diablo 3 – precisely because its director thinks the particulars of the game lend themselves perfectly to a controller-based experience. According to Jay Wilson, “One of the reasons why we’re exploring the idea of a console version of Diablo 3 because we feel that the controls and the style of the game lend itself to a console.” Keeping expectations in check, however, Wilson went on to say in his PC Gamer interview that “I can pretty much guarantee that if we decide to do a console version that we will look to support a pad on the PC, but initially with release I don’t think we’ll be ready.”
Gears of War 3 – World Release Party
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Another Call of Duty (Not MW3) on tap?
According to developer Neversoft’s job hiring page, postings for network programmers, concept artists, multiplayer level designers as well as six other positions have appeared. The posts are each accompanied by an “FPS” descriptor, which suggests that the developer is hard at work on a First-Person Shooter title. Since Neversoft is owned by Activision Blizzard, it’s a strong possibility that the FPS in question is another installment of the Call of Duty franchise.
Arkham City PC Edition Delayed
After suffering several schedule changes on its way to being an inevitable best-seller, Batman: Arkham City endured another setback recently when the PC edition of the title was pushed back to November, well after the game’s planned October 18th console debut. Arkham City expands upon the concept of its predecessor by dropping the game’s titular hero into a prison complex overrun by psychotic murderers, only this time the action is expanded to city-size, instead of being confined merely to the Arkham institution.
AMY – Teaser Trailer
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Battlefield 3 Beta next week!
Electronic Arts announced an open beta test for their upcoming Battlefield 3 (scheduled for release October 25th), kicking off September 29th for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Those who pre-ordered the game’s PC version will be able to start the beta a little earlier, on September 27th. Beta players will be granted access to the game’s Rush mode on the Operation Metro map.
Crytek & THQ Developing Homefront Sequel
Despite setbacks having to do with THQ’s stock dive after the release of their hotly-anticipated (but poorly received) Homefront, plans for a Homefront sequel have begun their course. Now under the reins of developer Crytek Nottingham, the sequel is set for release sometime during THQ’s 2014 fiscal year (between April 2013 and March 2014).
