 | Aliens: Colonial Marines for Wii U canceled Apr 5th 2013, 17:44 Sega confirms Nintendo version of first-person shooter no longer in development; unclear how developer Demiurge will be affected. 
The Wii U version of Aliens: Colonial Marines--said to be the best-looking version of all--has been canceled. It was originally expected to launch by the end of March. "Sega can confirm that the Wii U sku of Aliens: Colonial Marines is no longer in development," Sega told GameSpot today. No rationale for the cancellation was provided, though the game's fate had long been in question. It is not clear when exactly Aliens: Colonial Marines for Wii U was canceled or if the move will result in layoffs at Cambridge, Mass. developer Demiurge Studios. A representative from the studio was not immediately available to comment. Prior to today, Sega had three times refused to provide a status update on the project following the critically panned launch of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC version in February. Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford said last month that he was unsure if Aliens: Colonial Marines for Wii U will ship at all. "We'll see," Pitchford said at the time. "That's not our call. I think [developer Demiurge Studios] did amazing work," he went on. "I think it's really cool, but Sega's got to figure that out. We're doing the best we can." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | AAA game development can be 'soul-crushing,' says Warren Spector Apr 5th 2013, 16:44 Deus Ex, Epic Mickey designer says working on big-budget games is "a lot less fun than making games should be." 
The process of making big-budget, AAA games can be a challenging endeavor that breaks a person's spirits. That's according to Deus Ex and Epic Mickey designer Warren Spector, who told Games Industry International that developing such projects comes with many burdens. "As cool as triple-A games are, the time and money that go into them now is just soul-crushing, at least for me," Spector said. "There are so many voices you have to listen to, so many legitimate stakeholders; it's just a lot less fun than making games should be." Spector is recently jobless, after Disney shuttered Junction Point Studios at the end of January. The industry veteran does not know what he plans to do next. According to Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios creative director Stefan Ljungqvist, big-budget games are here to stay, though they may decrease in number. "I don't think big-budget games are going away," Ljungqvist said this week. "There's going to be less of them. But that's a good thing, because maybe we don't need 40 first-person shooters. I don't want to play them all [laughs], but maybe we need one, two or three." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Nintendo UK apologizes for low Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate stock Apr 5th 2013, 15:54 European president Satoru Shibata says "high demand" for latest role-playing game the reason for limited retail availability; new shipment "hopefully" arriving next week. 
Nintendo UK has apologized for a shortage of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimater stock in the region. In a series of tweets (via Eurogamer), Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata explained that "high demand" for the Wii U and 3DS role-playing game has made the title tough to find. "I'd like to apologize for the current stock shortage due to high demand of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate at retail," Shibata said. He added that more copies of the Wii U version will "hopefully" hit stores next week, with additional 3DS shipments expected in mid-April. Shibata pointed out that both versions of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate are available through the eShop. "Both versions of #MH3U are also available on Nintendo eShop. Again, I sincerely apologize for causing any inconvenience," he said. No such stock shortage has been reported in North America. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | God of War: Ascension update adds Elite Levels Apr 5th 2013, 15:21 Update 1.04 for action game raises level cap from 30 to 40, introduces new items, and promises audio fixes and matchmaking optimization. 
God of War: Ascension's multiplayer mode is leveling up. Developer Sony Santa Monica detailed the game's 1.04 update on the PlayStation Blog, revealing it will introduce Elite Levels, meaning the game's allegiance level cap will jump from 30 to 40. With the 10 new levels, additional items, relics, and magic abilities will be added for every allegiance. "For our Champions who have ascended to the highest levels, and for those on their way, now you have a new goal to reach. It will not be an easy journey," Sony said. Additional information about Elite Levels will be divulged in the future, though Sony did not provide a release window for the update. In addition to Elite Levels, update 1.04 will introduce Champion Stats to God of War: Ascension. This will allow players to access their accomplishments--kill/death ratio and win percentages--from the main menu. Update 1.04 will also address bugs and other issues, Sony said, the first of which is related to audio problems. The developer said it is aware of audio drop issues and explained that this was a "critical fix" for the update. Sony is also addressing the shard issue preventing players from attaining the Spear of Destiny in the Barbarian Hammer with the new update. On top of this, Sony said the God of War: Ascension update 1.04 will optimize matchmaking, so that players can get into matches as quickly as possible. Sony said players should see "marked improvements" in this area on a daily basis. Lastly, Sony teased that it is "on the cusp" of announcing the first downloadable content for God of War: Ascension. "We've got some brutal new toys coming to assist you on the battlefield," the developer said. For more on God of War: Ascension, check out GameSpot's review. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Former CoD dev's 2D platformer fails on Kickstarter Apr 5th 2013, 14:15 Robert Bowling's campaign for The Adventures of Dash raises just $33,000 of $400,000 target; soundtrack released as free download. 
What would a 2D platformer created by a former Call of Duty developer look like? The world won't find out anytime soon, as Robert Bowling's Kickstarter campaign for The Adventures of Dash has ended, coming up well short of its target. Funding for The Adventures of Dash closed this week (via Eurogamer), with $33,121 raised of its $400,000 goal. A total of 496 people backed the project. In an update to to the game's Kickstarter page, Bowling's Robotoki studio explained that it remains passionate about the project and is currently exploring opportunities to release the game. "We know we're not alone now in wanting to see this game come to life, and while we're not entirely sure how we're going to make that happen right now, we are going to do everything we can to keep the game alive," the company wrote. If The Adventures of Dash does one day see release, it won't be soon. Robotoki explained that the game is being put "on the back burner" for now, while the developer focuses on its main project, Human Element. As a thank-you to supporters, Robotoki released the soundtrack for The Adventures of Dash as a free download. It includes the game's main theme, as well as the scores for three of its levels. The Adventures of Dash was planned as a side-scrolling adventure game focusing on a narcoleptic boy named Dash. Unable to control when he falls asleep, the game was to have Dash slipping into slumber and exploring a new dream--with a different art style--every time he fell asleep. Bowling served as creative strategist at Infinity Ward from 2006 through 2012 where he worked on high-profile Call of Duty games like Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, and Modern Warfare 3. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Company of Heroes 2 preorder incentives detailed by Sega Apr 5th 2013, 13:33 Preorder bonus for WW2-themed RTS includes both single-player and multiplayer content. 
The preorder bonuses for upcoming RTS Company of Heroes 2 have been detailed by publisher Sega, offering both single-player and multiplayer content for prospective customers. Preordering the game from participating retailers will give players free access to the Theatre of War mini-campaign, offering an unspecified amount of additional single-player content. Sega says this will be available post-release, but no date was mentioned. For the multiplayer part of Company of Heroes 2, customers who preorder will get the Winter Ambush and Voronezh Front skin packs for vehicle customisation alongside two multiplayer commanders for each army. The German forces get the Joint Operations Doctrine, which specialises in artillery, and the Offensive Spearhead Doctrine for better heavy armour and airstrikes. The Soviet army gets the Anti-Infantry Tactics Doctrine, which provides the flamethrower tank among other bonuses, and the Conscript Support Tactics, allowing for reinforcements during combat. The game, which is currently in closed beta, will be released for PC on June 25. Sega purchased the publishing rights for the game from THQ earlier in the year. For more information on Company of Heroes 2, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon screens and soundtrack hit the Internet Apr 5th 2013, 13:31 Screenshots reportedly from unannounced Far Cry 3 spin-off. 
Screenshots and the soundtrack of the rumoured Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon have hit the Internet. Four screenshots reporting to be from the game were found on Xbox.com (images via NeoGAF), showing saturated colours, an 80s sci-fi aesthetic, and a vintage scanlines effect. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is rumoured to be a standalone spin-off of last year's open-world FPS Far Cry 3. Austrailian artist Power Glove has also uploaded three tracks with Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon artwork to music sharing site Soundcloud. The synth-heavy electronic tracks are titled Power Core, Sloan's Assault, and Warzone Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon has been teased numerous times, first appearing as a listing in the Brazilian classification ratings group at the start of March. Ubisoft showed a teaser site for the game on April 1, too. "The year is 2007. It is the future. Earth has been ravaged by a nuclear war and new paths for peace must be found. A U.S. cyborg army may have found a solution: a powerful bioweapon on a distant island. A Mark IV Cyber Commando, Sergeant Rex Power Colt has been sent over to gather information and figure out what the hell is going on," reads Ubisoft's site for Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Ubisoft declined to comment when approached by GameSpot. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Levine: Gender gap 'terrible' for the industry Apr 5th 2013, 13:31 BioShock designer Ken Levine upset over male dominance in game business, says "problem" must be understood before it can be worked on. 
The industry's gender gap is "terrible" for the business of making games. That's according to Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine, who opened up on the issue today on Twitter. "a) The gender gap in the industry is terrible for the industry," Levine wrote. "b) to work on the problem, we need to have an understanding of the problem." He added, "c) The first step is research that doesn't ignore basic statistical standards? (small sample sizes, self-reporting, experience x ref)." "Probably statistically safe to say 50% of potential game talent is female (adjust for nurture issues)," he went on. "Long way to go, but need good data." A new Game Developer magazine United States Salary Survey report found that in 2012, men made more money than women in every category except programming. In addition, men made up a significantly higher portion of overall salaried developers in 2012. Check out the full report for more. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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