New Free-to-play MMO, Salem, Announced – Paradox Interactive announces development of a new free-to-play MMO under the working title of ‘Salem’, which boasts features such as player-constructed buildings and modifiable terrain, as well as permanent player death. For more information and to view video of Designer/Creative Director Bjorn Johannessen, see PC Game’s article (Here.)
Konami Takes Over Hudson – A majority shareholder since 2005, Konami has decided to make the move to become full owners of developer Hudson. Konami intends to use the developer to further it’s social and mobile games. (Source: GamesIndustry.biz)
Splash Damage’s Chris Sweetman on Brink’s Audio Design, Choir of Guns Trailer – The Bethesda blogs have posted an update from Splash Damage’s audio director Chris Sweetman, offering a tidbit of the full blog post from Brink’s website (post can be found here) as well as a video titled ‘A Choir of Guns’. Find the video here.
Price and Release Date for Stacking Announced – Double Fine’s unique puzzle game, Stacking, will cost just under $15 when it hits PSN on February 8th, and XBLA the following day (That’s the 9th, for the counting-impaired.) I’ve been excited about this game since I stumbled across Gameinformer’s preview a few months ago, so I consider this all very good news, which is why this whole blurb is in headline-green. (Source: Giant Bomb)
Possible LA Noir Release Date? According to gameinformer, Amazon and Gamefly have posted an April 5th release date for Rockstar’s next big title, LA Noir. Rockstar has not confirmed this date, however, and retail dates are always subject to change. I’ll stay optimistic, as April 5th is semi-near my birthday, so that could make a good present. Just say’n. (Source: Gameinformer)
APOX Now Available via Steam –APOX, the post-apocalyptic real-time strategy game from Blue Giant Interactive is now available on steam, for 33% off no less (currently $9.99) Check it out on steam here.
Modern Warfare 3 in November? – Keeping with the release-date rumors theme, online reports (namely, the LA Times’ article found here) say that Modern Warfare 3 is well into development, and Infinity Ward is aiming for a November launch. Also of note; Sledgehammer Games has reportedly been contracted to help develop the single-player content, while Raven Software is working on the multiplayer element.
The last part of the rumor states that MW3 will depict a brutal civil war scenario, in which America is divided East versus West. Of course, I just made this last rumor up, but I could be right . . . right?
John Romero Working on the Wrong Kind of Doom; Social Games – Gameinformer brings us word that id co-founders John Romero and Tom Hall are forming a new company, Loot Drop, and are now working on a social game to be published by RockYou. Lucky us. (Source: Gameinformer.)