Update: Blizzard released the following statement in regards to the job postings:  “We’re exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles and are currently looking to fill a few senior console-related positions on the Diablo III team. As we’ve said in the past, with proper care the gameplay could suit the console platform, and we’re interested in seeing what talent out there might be interested in such a project. If you’re passionate about all things Diablo and have the requisite skill and experience, then head over to our jobs site to check out the positions and apply.

Please note that this is not an announcement of a console title. We are first and foremost developing Diablo III for Windows and Mac PCs and don’t intend to allow any possibility of a console interpretation to delay or affect the release of the game.”

Well I guess that means console gamers won’t be slaying demons along side their PC brethren on Battle.net anytime soon. Hopefully, somewhere down the line, Blizzard will show a little love to those who play with controllers rather then just to those with the keyboards and mice.

Original: Today Blizzard Entertainment added a few job postings to its website that are causing quite a buzz on the Web. Apparently, Blizzard is looking to hire developers with console experience for Diablo III. Now one can only assume that Blizzard would want to hire console developers because they are planning a Diablo III console port, right?

While this may sound a little crazy to some gamers, (I mean Blizzard is pretty dedicated to developing for the PC) it is important to remember that the original Diablo hit the PlayStation one year after being releases on the PC. You also can’t forget about the of StarCraft N64 port. Read more… »

Developer People Can Fly just released a new Bulletstorm trailer today. If you’re like me, you clicked on right away to watch the gory goodness. From the sights and sounds, it seems the game will live up to its promise of being jam packed with colorful language and massively entertaining shooter action–even if it is only remotely close to the trailer.

You want more? Of course you want more.

Read more… »

It’s been two years since Fallout 3 hit, bringing new life to a long sleeping franchise. Aside from garnering all sorts of critical acclaim, Fallout 3 successfully transported a new generation of gamers (by which I mean console as well as younger)  to the harsh wasteland of post WWIII Washington DC.

While Fallout 3 was fantastic in almost all aspects, the one place I felt it was lacking was in the Fallout feel. Anyone who played the first two Fallout games should know what I’m talking about. The original isometric Fallout games were a no-holds-barred glimpse into the savagery that is post-apocalyptic society. Fallout 3 was a bit too touchy feely for my likes, which raises the question: What direction did Obsidian games take Fallout: New Vegas? Read on to find out. Read more… »

Today EA announced that it will make a second attempt to capture the free-to-play audience with it’s upcoming first-person shooter Battlefield Play4Free (The first attempt being the failed Battlefield Heroes). Slated to arrive on the PC in spring 2011, Battlefield Play4Free mixes two of the series’ most critically acclaimed titles: Battlefield 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

According to the press release, Battlefield Play4Free combines “the most popular maps from Battlefield 2 with the familiar classes and powerful weapons of Battlefield: Bad Company.” Development of the game is being handled by EA’s Easy studio who also worked on Battlefield Heroes. Read more… »

It seems that now-a-days your game isn’t a triple-A title unless it has some sort of social media tie in. It should come as no surprise to gamers that EA’s next iteration of the Dragon Age series will be preceded by a Facebook minigame.

Dubbed Dragon Age Legends, this promotional strategy RPG is said to give gamers their “first taste” of the Free Marches, the setting of Dragon Age 2. According to EA 2D general manager Mark Spenner, “Dragon Age Legends will deliver a deep, sophisticated experience, and we will continue to delight gamers by adding new features and content far into the future.” Read more… »

Gaijin Games’ awesome Wii-Ware title, Bit.Trip Beat, recently made its way to the iPhone. The pong-inspired retro-rhythm title also made moves this morning. As of 9AM PST this morning, Bit.Trip Beat has also been available for PC and Mac via Steam.

Hit the jump for more information including Beat’s sale and the Steam version’s added features.

Read more… »

Halloween is just a few days away and, of course,  Valve has release a game update to Team Fortress 2 celebrating this spooky season. Dubbed the “Second Annu-Hell Scream Fortress Hauntedead Halloween Special,” the update brings a whole slew of new content including a new map, masks, hats, special items, achievements, and an AI controlled Horseless Headless Horseman Boss.

All this new content revolves around the new map: CP_Mann Manor. This new attack/defend map features exploding pumpkins, spooky decorations, a randomly spawning Haunted Halloween Gift and the aforementioned Horseless Headless Horseman. Apparently, the Horseman will randomly spawn on control points to chase which ever player is closest. If the Horseman is tailing you, just melee an enemy player to pass off the curse. If you successfully defeat the Horseman, you will receive special “Unusual Haunted Metal Scrap” that allows you to craft the Halloween themed items. Read more… »

Last week I posted a little preview on The Ball, an indie first-person puzzle game that started out as an Unreal 3 mod but has since grown into a full on retail release published by the good folks over at Tripwire Interactive. Developed by Teotl Studios, The Ball has garnered so much critical acclaim and won so many awards (including second place in Epic Games’ Make Something Unreal contest) due to its unique setting, creative gameplay mechanics, and sheer quantity of head scratching puzzles.

Now that I’ve had a bit more time to clear through the single-player campaign and put in some work on  the survival mode, I’m fully prepared to give my opinion on The Ball. Will this game roll over the competition, or simply bounce down the hall of forgotten games? Read on to find out. Read more… »

Like most of you, I have an unhealthy fascination with Minecraft, the indie block based adventure/construction game. Today Minecraft creator Markus “Notch” Persson shed some light on the new features we can expect when the Halloween update goes live.

According to Notch, “There are six new block types (five of them have unique abilities), one new monster, a new dimension, and a couple of bug fixes. Once I get the portals working, I’ll have something very interesting going and I’ll spend the rest of the time leading up to the release adding new smaller features and polishing stuff.” Read more… »

Today PC gaming super hero Valve released some details regarding the number of people who use its Steam service. Over the past 12 months, Steam has seen a 178% increase in users. This pushes the grand total of Steam gamers to over 30 million. Out of these 30 million, six million users log onto team each day.

Valve CEO Gabe Newell remarked about this years growth, saying: “Steam is on track to record the biggest year in its six year history. The year has marked major development advances to the platform with the introduction of support for Mac titles, the Steam Wallet and in-game item buying support, and more. We believe the growth in accounts, sales, and player numbers is completely tied to this work and we plan to continue to develop the platform to offer more marketing, sales, and design tools for developers and publishers of games and digital entertainment.” Read more… »

What do you get when you mix up one part Portal, two parts Indiana Jones, and top it off with a little hint of Pinball? You get The Ball, a first-person puzzler developed by the good folks over at Teotl Studios and published by Tripwire Interactive, makers of Killing Floor and Red Orchestra. On top of all that The Ball also achieved second place in the Grand Finals of the Make Something Unreal contest, as well as winning Best Single-player Mod Of 2008 in ModDB’s MOTY awards. With all this acclaim, it kind of strange that The Ball hasn’t been getting a lot of press.

This past weekend, Tripwire was good enough to send me a preview copy of their upcoming game, which is currently slated to arrive October 26. After spending a good deal of time playing The Ball, I have to say it’s a truly unique experience that you have to play to really get the idea of how it works. Read more… »

F1 games of the past have largely been hit and miss. In the late ‘90s, annual F1 games were sultry staples of the racing genre, but ever since Sony acquired the license there has been a steady decline in the quality and level of interest towards the genre. Then there’s the sport itself which, to be honest, has done little to captivate me over the years. More often than not, I will watch the opening laps of a race only to nod off or vacate the TV as the initial bustle dissolves into an uneventful ritual. I’m, therefore, not what you would call a hardcore enthusiast.

2010 has seen a major turning point for F1 however with revised rules and racer rivalries, and as popularity for the sport has been reignited, Codemasters picked their timing well for the release of F1 2010, the direct sequel to the Wii-exclusive F1 2009 and the first F1 game on the PS3 since the mediocre F1 Championship Edition.

It’s been four long years since Championship Edition, but since the license was handed over from Sony to Codemasters in 2008, anticipation for their first foray into the glamorous world of F1 has been mounting for its deprived fans. Renowned for their consistently critically acclaimed racing titles such as Race Driver and the more recent DiRT series, can Codemasters’ take on the sport deliver the same racing thrills of the past for both seasoned F1 followers and rookie racers alike?

Read more… »