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Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light online patch now available on PS3
Just seven short weeks after its release, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is finally a finished game on the PS3. Crystal Dynamics just announced that the title's online co-op title update has finally gone live, meaning we're just a PC patch away from the game reaching its full potential on all platforms. It's not that we're unhappy for the update -- we are -- but it's been an exercise in frustration seeing Crystal Dynamics get so close to knocking one out of the park only to have missing features pluck it from the air at the last second. ... Oh man, did we just complete a successful sports metaphor? Don't worry, we won't get NBA Jam-style swelled heads. Holy crap, that's a double! And a double's a thing in baseball, right? So three! Okay, two-and-a-half.
New Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer shows the tools of the trade
Man, the genetically altered protagonist of Deus Ex: Human Revolution has it easy, doesn't he? Sure, he has to perform some tricky tasks, but considering the depth of his nanotechnological utility belt -- as shown by the new gameplay trailer -- we doubt he ever runs into any unsolvable problems.
Fanmade Thief 2 multiplayer released in beta form
Who needs a new version of Thief when you can just hack some multiplayer into the old one? A group of modders has painstakingly hacked the ten-year-old Thief 2 into a multiplayer game, and the beta is now available for download and testing. While it will supposedly run, it's not actually playable by laymen quite yet. You'll need a fair amount of networking code knowledge to actually get it working in any sensible way, and even then it will apparently crash and burn. But feel free to geek out at what's been done here -- these guys have gone back through, found unused code in the still closed-off game client, and then rebuilt and rewritten it to try and get it working on modern computers. And this was a game that was never actually designed for multiplayer! What they've done is like taking an old Model T and making it race the Indy 500. Sure, it won't actually win, but the fact it showed up running on four wheels is pretty amazing anyway.
Connect the dots: Possible Tomb Raider reveal in two weeks
Let's connect the dots, shall we? The current, November issue of Game Informer features the above two-page tease for its December issue stating, simply, "A survivor is born." An accompanying website at asurvivorisborn.com (and asurvivorisborn2012.com) mirrors the tease, though it's not clear who owns the domains. A NeoGAF poster pointed out that, at one point, the Google Analytics account number 6150945-XX matched that of kaneandlynch.com, minininjas.com and deusex.com -- all Eidos / Square Enix titles. If correct, it appears the current asurvivorisborn.com account number of 19668291-1 was changed after being spotted. The image of a crashed ocean liner recalls the leaked concept art and fact sheet spotted last year (the fact sheet description is still readable at Shacknews): "When a sudden storm destroys her research vessel, a young and inexperienced Lara Croft finds herself stranded on a mysterious and remote island hidden off the shores of Japan." The "survivor is born" tagline recalls the origin story description in the fact sheet: "This new Tomb Raider concept reboots the franchise by exploring the origin of Lara Croft's transformation into a hardened adventurer as you unravel the story behind the island's mysterious past." In a 346-page thread (!) on tombraiderforums.com concerning the potential of a December 6 reveal, forum admin Justin J. Farr wrote, cryptically, "I know something you lot don't." That could be the meaning of his middle initial "J" or it could be the identity of Game Informer's next cover ... It's not quite a smoking gun, but it's certainly possible that next month's GI reveal will be the Tomb Raider reboot we know Crystal Dynamics – specifically the "pillar team" – has been working on alongside its excellent downloadable installment, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. After the progress the team made on the Legends, Anniversary and Underworld trilogy, all eyes are on Crystal D to keep it up with its first Tomb Raider game under the new Square Enix masthead.
Hitman 5 mentioned on a few IO Interactive resumes
If you were unsatisfied by voice actor David Bateson's kind-of-but-not-really confirmation that a new installment of the Hitman franchise was in the works, perhaps you'll be won over by some additional, recently uncovered evidence. IO Interactive's Rasmus Hoejengaard, Damien Simper and Theo Engell-Nielsen all listed Hitman 5 on their LinkedIn resumes, the latter of which includes a 2011 launch window for the unannounced title. We're not sure what stronger evidence we could find for the project's existence, aside from, like, time traveling into the future and bringing back a finished copy of the game. Can anyone get on that?
Free Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light DLC arrives Oct. 27 on 360
Those of you hopping in to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light on Xbox 360 tomorrow will find not only the newly added ability to play with a buddy online, but also the first of the game's DLC packs, "All the Trappings." (You'll remember it as a way of saying, "Hey, sorry we sold you our game before we implemented all of the features we promised.") The new area and its combination of puzzles and combat challenges will be free for 30 days. Plans for online support in the PS3 and PC versions are still unannounced, but if Square Enix tries to charge you guys for "All the Trappings," we promise to support all of you in a well-earned freak out.
Kane and Lynch film needs a new director
Following the inexplicable trend of movies based on video games getting totally derailed before they even start filming, it seems the once-certain production of Kane and Lynch has become ... decidedly less so. LA Times reports that planned director Patrick Alessandrin (District 13: Ultimatum) is no longer behind the reins of the movie. As a result, the movie's shooting schedule, planned to start next month, has been delayed. A representative from Millennium Films confirmed that "the director has not been chosen" and that the film's "start date is TBD." If you're part of the ever-burgeoning community of high-profile film directors who read this site (what up, Spiels?), consider this your invitation to step in and save the day. That is, if you think you can handle the raw thespianic force of a Willis/Foxx collaboration.
Kane and Lynch 2 shoots up UK sales charts
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days has stormed the UK sales charts in its premiere week to hold the top spot -- for ransom, no doubt. According to Chart-Track, the dubious duo's first outing only reached the number 14 spot in its second week of release back in 2007. It would seem the two have gained a significant following in the meantime. The rest of the chart involves the usual suspects, with Toy Story 3, Red Dead Redemption and Lego Harry Potter holding the next three spots in the queue following Kane & Lynch, respectively. Ubisoft's Dance titles keep on movin' and shakin', as Just Dance moves up the chart to the fifth spot and Dance on Broadway gets knocked down by the understudy to ninth. Whatever else goes on in the charts, those Dance games refuse to leave the top ten. Also, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed Brain Age (known there as Dr Kawashima) to become "the biggest selling UK title ever" after 41 weeks. Out of those weeks, it was absent for only three. Check out this week's top selling titles after the break.
Review: Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
Out of Jack Handey's "Deep Thoughts," one of my favorites goes something like this: "If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting." It's a quote that was oddly present in my mind during my time with Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. If you end up with this game in your disc drive, you'd better be ready to hide behind cover and shoot your way from one end of the game to the other over and over again, because that's what you're going to get. If that doesn't sound so bad, I should warn you that this isn't necessarily a great enchilada. ... Err, cover-based shooter. Sorry. %Gallery-96734%
Deus Ex: Human Revolution footage is more than meets the eye
Boy, the future sure looks violent. And it looks like everything in the future can transform into something else. At least, that's the impression left by this Deus Ex: Human Revolution gameplay trailer. That's right, it's finally time to see what the actual game looks like. Fans of the previous pre-rendered trailer will be happy to hear that, yes, you can punch through a wall and snap a dude's neck.
Kane & Lynch fire off a few thousand rounds in new Dog Days trailer
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is sure to have an actual plot, though you're not going to see any of it in this trailer. However, if you want to see two men shooting everything, and everyone, they encounter -- and you're likely to, if you're a Kane & Lynch fan -- then we invite you to check out the video after the break.
Kane & Lynch 2's greedy, bloody pre-order bonuses revealed
When it comes to extremely violent heists, more is better, which is -- wait, what are we saying? You guys shouldn't really be engaging in extremely violent heists. Largely because they're against the law, but also because it's kind of a mean thing to do. However, if you're planning on taking part in a virtual extremely violent heist via Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days' multiplayer modes, you can gain access to a few extra pieces of content by pre-ordering the title at various retailers. Check out a list of these bonuses and a video of them in action just past the break.
Get to know Kane & Lynch, Dog Days' multiplayer director in these new videos
They say opposites attract, which would explain the effectiveness of the titular duo in IO Interactive's upcoming sequel, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. Lynch is a psychopath, a well of unchecked aggression who hardly has the foresight to see the repercussions of his actions -- a dog without a leash, if you will. His partner, Kane, on the other hand is a bit more calculating. An ex-mercenary whose interests lie in financial gain, Kane is the type of guy who doesn't fly off the handle and, for the most part, keeps it cool -- a feat considering his partner. Also beyond the break, you'll find the latest behind-the-scenes video produced for the game. This one features Kim Krogh, director of Kane & Lynch 2's multiplayer component. (Spoiler: He really likes it.)
Kane and Lynch 2 demo for PS+ users on July 20
PlayStation Plus is set to bear some exclusive fruit next week, with the arrival of a demo for Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. The demo will be available exclusively to PlayStation Plus subscribers from July 20 until July 27, at which time it will be made available to all PSN users. The PlayStation Blog reminds PS+ users that the demo will be delivered automatically to those who have set up the automatic delivery function. Of course, if you'd rather just open up the PS Store and download the demo the old fashioned way, that's okay too. The demo itself will contain a portion of the single-player game as well as the "Fragile Alliance" online multiplayer mode.
Deus Ex: The Icarus Effect flies onto bookshelves in 2011
Del Rey Books announced today it will publish Deus Ex: The Icarus Effect, a novel set in the universe of the upcoming video game Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The Icarus Effect currently has a launch date of "2011" for North America and Europe, which is roughly the same window the video game is launching under. The book will be written by James Swallow, who has penned several sci-fi books, including those set in the Warhammer 40K and Stargate 'verses. More information on the novel will be provided on the official Deus Ex: Human Revolution site as it self-upgrades to become an A.I. that'll kill us all ... but not before sharing details on the book first. %Gallery-96232%
Preview: Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
Having spent a fair amount of time with the first Kane & Lynch game, I was intrigued by the "exclusive" Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days demo that showed up (albeit somewhat hidden) on Xbox Live Marketplace late last week. Weighing in at 1.6GB, the demo is pretty massive and includes a mixture of single-player campaign and multiplayer gameplay. Surprisingly, the demo shows signs of a game that looks to be not that bad! Check out my complete analysis, with video coverage, after the break. %Gallery-80516%
Xbox 360 Kane & Lynch 2 demo out today, requires code
An Xbox 360 demo for Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days should be available today in North America and the UK -- though access requires a code. Previously presented as a UK and Ireland promotion, there are apparently ways to obtain demo codes even if you live on the other side of the pond. Options include: Visiting KaneandLynch.com Checking the Xbox Live Dashboard "soon" for a chance to get an unlock code. Update: Text 725-79 with the words "dog days" Sending a message to the 1UP "KaneLynch2" profile Up-to-the-minute info is available at the "Exclusive Demo Forum" on the Kane & Lynch 2 site. Does this whole thing seem a bit chaotic to you, too? It's Kane and Lynch -- nothing ever seems to go according to the plan. %Gallery-96707%
Kane & Lynch 2 Xbox 360 demo for UK residents on July 1; PS3 and PC demo coming later
Ah, but there is a catch: in order to gain access to the Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days demo, you'll have to send a message to the Kane & Lynch YouTube channel before 11am GMT on June 30 -- and obviously you'll need a YouTube account to do this. Simply put "Token Request" in the subject field and include your date of birth (another catch: gotta be 18 years or older!) and Xbox Live Gamertag in the message body and you're good to go! This is open to residents of the UK and northern Ireland only -- sorry, everybody else! Come July 1, keep an eye on your YouTube inbox for your unlock code. Oh, and take note that those who are already "friends" of the YouTube channel will get first dibs on the demo codes. Don't have an Xbox 360? Don't fret, because Destructoid spoke with an Eidos rep who confirmed that a "consumer demo" would be available on the PS3 and PC sometime in the future. The Xbox 360 demo is only exclusive to that platform for a limited time. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days terrorizes Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on August 24 in North America and August 27 in Europe.
Just Cause 2 gets free rocket-launching Tuk Tuk DLC
Ah, the Tuk Tuk. Almost universally recognized as the most useless vehicle of all time in regards to its implementation in video games. (You ever try to rack up a huge crash score while driving a Tuk Tuk in Burnout 3? It is impossible.) Avalanche, however, recently gave the poor, pod-shaped vehicle a facelift with a new piece of free DLC for Just Cause 2: Introducing the "Tuk Tuk Boom Boom" (pictured right), available today through Xbox Live, PSN and Steam. You'll notice that Avalanche has peeled the roof off of this particular model of the vehicle, leaving just enough room for a massive, powerful cannon. It's also faster and handles better than the rollover-friendly standard version, meaning the Tuk Tuk Boom Boom might just become your new mode of transportation of choice when it's time to raid that enemy base -- or, you know, that impoverished civilian village.
Video Interview: Eidos Montreal producers talk Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Eidos Montreal producer and lead game designer David Anfossi and Jean-François Dugas may have difficult-to-pronounce names (see the beginning of our video) but they've got an even more difficult job, convincing gamers that the Deus Ex franchise can work without designer Warren Spector. The duo chatted with us about that challenge, plus how Deus Ex: Human Revolution differentiates itself, in the video interview you'll find just after the break.
