machinarium, from the makers of Samorost

Amanita Design team (Samorost 1 & 2) is now working on a full-scale adventure game called Machinarium. We expect to release the game in the 2nd half of 2008. More Info sooner or later.

machinarium
Samorost

Rants on Piracy and the PC gaming industry

Casual Games and Piracy: The Truth
Piracy & Casual Games - The Follow-Up
THQ Creative Director Rants on Piracy, Death of Iron Lore

SCi cuts 25% jobs, cancels 14 projects

"Our quality has slipped below acceptable standards and, through disappointing game development and working within an ineffective operating structure, we are failing to realise the commercial return our creative ability and our shareholders demand."

SCi is the parent company of Eidos, but it's unclear if these cancellations will affect Avalanche Studios and/or IO Interactive.

SCi to cut 25 per cent of jobs, cancels 14 projects

Mirror's Edge screenshots 2

Mirror's Edge screenshots

Design a Challenge Room for Bionic Commando

Contest: Design a Challenge Room for Bionic Commando Rearmed + Get it in the Game!

Second screenshot of "ICO 3"? (FAKE)

Exclusive Screen of Shadow of the Colossus 2
First screenshot of "ICO 3"?

Update:
Shadow of the Colossus 2 Picture a FAKE

Alone in the Dark 5 - Burning Chairs

Download High-Quality (.mov)

Alone in the Dark 5 - Sticky Tape

The Making Of Dwarf Fortress

Interview: The Making Of Dwarf Fortress
Let's Play Dwarf Fortress: Boatmurdered

Nvision'08 taking place August 25th to 27th

Nvidia has announced it will hold a conference for the world of visual computing in games at San Jose this August.

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The conference will boast technical sessions, an exhibition hall, and a HD theatre. Nvidia said it hopes to attract 15,000 to the event, including 10,000 'amateur and pro gamers, demosceners, Game modders, machinima creators, and 3D artists', 3,000 from the trade (including game developers and software vendors) and 2,000 other visitors.

Nvidia to host 2008 event toasting visual computer arts

Recommendation: Penumbra - Black Plague

The atmosphere in Penumbra: Black Plague constantly keeps you at the edge of your seat, which is mostly due to its eerie sound design. The puzzles seems fresh and logical, and it's the first game to feature physic gameplay that doesn't feel tacked on.

While I highly recommend anyone to atleast try this game out, I must give a heed of warning for the total let-down of the end segment of the game. It seems the developers felt the need for somekind of climax and therefore threw together a Half-Life-esque ending with travelling to another universe.

Also, there's a couple of bugs left in the game before it was distributed, and a few consistent crashes, but which there's hotfixes provided for. But even after that I'll gladly recommend it to anyone due to its standout gameplay and atmosphere.

Penumbra: Black Plague

GoldenEye to XBLA, o'rly? no? yes? no?

"The story in Xbox World 360 is based entirely on rumour and speculation," MGS told us.

"Unfortunately, we were never contacted by the publication to confirm information or participate in the story in any way, as we would have confirmed that we do not have the necessary rights to release GoldenEye on Xbox Live Arcade."

MS rubbishes GoldenEye XBLA talk

In the new issue of Xbox World 360, we've got the inside scoop on the aborted GoldenEye project. An inside scoop that includes hands-on details and FOUR PAGES of dazzling new shots. No rumour. No speculation. Oh, and contrary to reports, comment from Microsoft too.

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"Explosions and flame effects have been remade from scratch, and rows of trees and new in-game objects add a sense of presence to areas without affecting gameplay.

The atmospheric changes are most apparent when playing the Jungle level, where every tree and plant has been rebuilt.

Where a green wall at the edge of the arena fenced you in on the N64, now the wall has been removed and a new wall of foliage has been set several metres beyond the original boundary..."

GoldenEye XBLA: Go inside the game

Goldeneye 007 coming to XBLA?
No GoldenEye for XBLA :'(
Wait... is Goldeneye 007 coming to XBLA?

Thoughts on EA's $2 billion bid for Take Two

"While everyone seems to be focusing on Grand Theft Auto 4, however, there is another important piece of this puzzle that cannot be ignored: Take Two, which owns 2K Sports, is the only other power player in sports gaming on the market.

EA has just extended its exclusive deal with the NFL until 2013, and an acquisition of Take Two would put EA in control of the only strong competitor left in sports gaming."

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"EA may claim that it's not rattled by the power of the Activision/Vivendi merger, but this acquisition would give EA unprecedented power over sports gaming, and would allow the company to add BioShock, Bully, Midnight Club, and of course the Grand Theft Auto series to its already impressive stable of games."

EA's $2 billion bid for Take Two bad news for sports gaming

Stage6 to Shut Down on February 28

Stage6 to Shut Down on February 28

GDC'08: The State of Indie Games

So it finally happened again...

It almost went two years without me becoming sick once, but I've been feeling increasingly worse since last Thursday and I can no longer deny that I've gotten the cold.

It's not all that bad, just a plugged nose, some sneezing / coughing and a heavy head. Feel free to post your condolences as I stay here and wallow in my own self-pity.

Where's the curry?