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neverwinter nights
E308
neverwinter nights 2
It's been quietly (very quietly) announced that a new expansion pack for classic PC title Neverwinter Nights 2 is in development at Obsidian. Called Storm of Zehir, it brings some pretty considerable changes to the game, like "full party customization, dungeon crawling, and free exploration of a non-linear game world via an Overland Map". No idea on a release date, but seeing as the game's nearly three years old, I'm sure you can wait it out.
NX2 Anunciada: Storm of Zehir [Neverwintos, via IGN]
arden
This month's Wired has a look at MMO Arden: The World of William Shakespeare. Armed with a US $250,000 MacArthur Foundation grant, Indiana University profession Ted Castronova and his students created the MMO, which as the professor points out, was "no fun" and "failed." Castronova and his team and working on the game's sequel. He's learned from his experience and offers up these five tips on making academic games that don't suck:
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thq
neverwinter nights 2
Believe it or not, us Mac users occasionally play games on our computers. Yes, it's a struggle, but always worth it in the end. For the few and proud playing Mac games, Aspyr Media has long been our support system, and has come through once again. Neverwinter Nights 2 for Mac will be shipping to North America next week. Aspyr is accepting pre-orders through their website now for US$49.99. Now, Mac users don't have to miss out on the PC RPG fun!
We've heard about Sega's NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams using the Wii weather channel to control weather within the game, but in an article on 1Up, Sega has revealed that there is some additional hidden content on the disc. In the "My Dream" part of the game, players can raise their own A-Life and the hidden content will allow them to have monthly celebrations. Using the Wii calendar as a time clock, the little AIs can celebrate various holidays each month including New Years, Chinese New Year, Halloween, Thanksgiving and even the Bull-Run. Make the jump to check out each month's activities.
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Move over Mario and friends, you aren't the only collection of characters that can have a sports game. Sonic and friends are taking to the court in a new tennis game entitled Sega Superstar Tennis. While sports games don't really intrigue me, I do like the collection of characters they've gathered for this game like Nights (from NiGHTS), Amigo (Samba De Amigo) and my personal favorite, Space Channel 5's Ulala. Of course Sonic and Dr. Eggman are on hand as well because after all, what would a Sega title be without Sonic. But this trailer really begs the question: Who would win in a tennis match, team Mario or team Sonic?
It's a bizarre mix of games this week and seeing as I am busy unpacking a myriad of boxes, much of this week will be devoted to that rather than gaming. Although I'm sure I'll be able to sneak some in here and there. Are any of this week's releases going to make on your shopping list?
FlatOut: Head On (PC, PSP)
Crash cars and blow stuff up.
Samurai Warriors: Katana (WII)
Swing your katana in this Samurai Warriors spin off.
Rail Simulator (PC)
You can make trains too, just like the big boys.
Furu Furu Park (WII)
More mini games for the Wii.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hard Evidence (WII)
The TV show comes to your Wii in game form.
Nanostray 2 (DS)
Part two of the trippy shooter
Nitrobike (WII)
Rocket bikes! Need I say more?
Miami Nights: Singles in the City (DS)
Virtually explore the hot, hot hot Miami singles scene.
Corvette Evolution GT (DS)
Race car driving on your DS.
serious games
NiGHTS fans have been waiting for a proper sequel to the Dreamcast cult classic for some time now. Sega's attempt to capitalize on Sonic's ring collection mania in a more robust 3D world, NiGHTS was a landmark game for the era.
Now NiGHTS has come back to the masses on the Wii in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. So does its predecessor live up to expectations? Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: every thing you need to know about everything that is this one particular game.
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My bank account is fairly drained from my recent move so I won't be doing much game purchasing this week if any. But I know many of you out there have been anxiously awaiting NiGHTS and non next-gen adopting PS2 owners will get a chance to experience the awesomeness of Rock Band. I'm kind of curious to check out the Atari Classics Evolved for the PSP just to see what they did with them. Could be kind of interesting. So, is anyone going to be picking any of these up for their post-holiday game time?
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (WII)
The long awaited sequel to the Sega Saturn classic arrives on the Wii.
Rock Band (PS2)
The PS2 finally gets some Rock Band love in this slightly pared down version.
MX vs. ATV Untamed (X360, PS3, PS2, PSP, DS)
Tame the untameable in this off road racing game.
Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command (DS)
The power of Warhammer in the palm of your hand!
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (PS2)
Your favorite Neo Geo characters in a battle royale.
Sensible World of Soccer (X360)
Soccer is ever so sensible.
Atari Classics Evolved (PSP)
Battlezone, Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Lunar Lander, Centipede, Millipede and more updated with new graphics and sound.
Legends of Norrath: Forsworn (PC)
The Everquest online trading card game gets an expansion.
Indianapolis 500 Legends (DS)
Indianapolis racing action for your DS.
The remake of NiGHTS Into Dreams for the PlayStation 2 is, so far, still currently a Japan-only release. However, that will surely change based on demand for the Saturn classic, now that Sega of Japan has confirmed that the limited Christmas NiGHTS edition of the original game will be included in the PS2 port as a "Christmas Dream", unlocked by completing the standard edition of the game.
Please register your interest for Sega of America executives in the comments, but please, no threats of bodily harm.
NiGHTS Into Dreams... "Christmas dream" Collection [Game Watch]
With NiGHTS into Dreams finally getting a Wii-bound sequel and a surprise remake for the PlayStation 2, what else does Sonic Team have planned? Gearbox Software is already hard at work on a Samba de Amigo follow up and no one actually cares if that furry Billy Hatcher ever shows his face again. But what about Burning Rangers, one of the Saturn's finest technical achievements?
Sonic Team USA Takashi Iizuka told Games Radar, "I hear there is a lot of demand for a sequel, to bring out Burning Rangers on Wii so... we'll see." If you could, that'd be just great. We certainly don't want you working on another Shadow the Hedgehog game, OK?
NiGHTS team prefer Gamecube pad to Wii-mote [Games Radar]
Don't worry, we're still getting updated graphics with our PlayStation 2 port of Sega's Saturn era hit NiGHTS Into Dreams. However, Sega looks to have stayed true to the 1996 original, including the game's original presentation in the remake. It's probably designed to make you appreciate the new coat of paint.
Good thing, too, as Sega's other Saturn-era remakes released under the budget Sega Ages line were starting to make the PlayStation 2 version of NiGHTS Into Dreams look like a bit of a rip-off. Non-postage stamp sized screens are available at Gpara.
NiGHTS Into Dreams [Gpara]
Fans of the original NiGHTS Into Dreams have been watching the development of the Wii sequel, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams with a delightful mixture of joy and anxiety, fearing their beloved title would be marred by the shaky hand of a Sega not quit as sure of themselves as they were back in the days of the Saturn. In an absolutely wondrous turn of events, those players need not worry about getting their NiGHTS on proper, as long as they have a PlayStation 2 around. Famitsu has revealed that a port of the original game will be hitting the PS2 this February in Japan, complete with updated graphics and 16:9 modes for those newfangled wide screen televisions we keep hearing about. For me this is even better news than the Wii sequel. Screw Journey of Dreams - this is all I wanted. Slip Christmas NiGHTS in there as a bonus and I'm set for another 10 years.
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