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Facebook donates £1 million to WWII code-breaking site Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park was the site where Alan Turing and his World War II team of code-breakers cracked Germany’s Enigma machine and helped save the world from Nazi tyranny. The site is now a popular museum, but it’s facing a £2 million ($2.6 million) revenue shortfall due to the loss of tourism caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Facebook has announced that it will donate £1 million to the Bletchley Park Trust charity that runs the site.
Amazon snags Jordan Peele-produced Nazi hunter series
Amazon has ordered a Jordan Peele-produced series about Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City, Deadline reports. In The Hunt, a group known as The Hunters find out that hundreds of Nazi officials are living in the US, plotting the creation of a Fourth Reich. They then decide to stop the Nazis and their plans for genocide. "Our biggest priority is attracting exceptional writing and producing talent to bring addictive, groundbreaking projects to Prime Video," Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said in a statement. "The Hunt is edge-of-your seat entertainment that is not only culturally relevant but deliciously original."
The first 'Wolfenstein II' add-on pack is available now
Killing Nazis and protesting are two of the most American things you can do. And if you need another avenue for (virtually) doing the former, that's where the first expansion for Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus comes in. "The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe" changes up the base game's formula with a new protagonist who, thanks to his football skills, can run through walls and Nazis alike. Sounds good? There are two more packs incoming, and you can pick them up as part of the $25 season pass.
'Wolfenstein II' DLC adds three new Nazi-punching characters
You'll be playing as more than just the broken-schmeckled B.J. Blazkowicz in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. That's because the game's three expansions will feature a different protagonist fighting for America by punching and murdering the Nazis standing in their way.
'Wolfenstein' parody explores whether hurting Nazis is OK
Game developer Ramsey Nasser put a timely spin on classic MS-DOS game Wolfenstein 3D. "People have been asking if punching fascists is OK, " he wrote on Twitter, "so I made a game exploring that question." The result of his little project is Dialogue 3D -- it's still Wolfenstein, but every time you're about to shoot a Nazi, a dialogue box pops up. Before you can pull the trigger, you'll have to answer questions like "Is it OK to shoot Nazis?" or "Is it okay to deny fascists a platform?" or "Wouldn't peaceful protest be more effective?"
VR model of Auschwitz helps convict Nazi war criminal
German police have used VR forensics tech to prosecute a Nazi war criminal who worked at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The team from the Bavarian state crime office (LKA), led by investigator Ralf Breker, created highly detailed digital models of the facility using maps from a Warsaw surveyor's office and over a thousand period photos. Using an HTC Vive headset, they were then able to see exactly what the accused would have seen at the time.
Zombie Army Trilogy announced for PC, PS4, Xbox One
British developer Rebellion revealed a revamped third-person shooter bundle for PC, PS4 and Xbox One today, Zombie Army Trilogy. As the studio hinted in February 2014, the collection features both Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army and its sequel, stand-alone expansions of the developer's tactical shooter, Sniper Elite V2. The package also includes "the never-seen-before third installment in the series and a brand new horde mode." Both Nazi Zombie Army and the second expansion launched in 2013 for PC. Zombie Army Trilogy will include 15 missions that span three campaigns and five horde maps with up to four-player cooperative multiplayer options. The trilogy is available for pre-order on Steam for $45, and Rebellion is "offering an exclusive loyalty discount to owners of the first two Nazi Zombie Army games via Steam before launch," though it did not specify how sizable the discount will be. According to the bundle's Steam page, the trilogy is expected to launch on March 6, though Rebellion only noted that the game will launch in "early 2015." Head past the break to see Zombie Army Trilogy's first gruesome trailer. [Image: Rebellion]
Battle the undead Reich in standalone Nazi Zombie Army 2
No longer an amusing diversion attached to the Sniper Elite series, Nazi Zombie Army 2 is now available for purchase on Steam all by its lonesome. Nazi Zombie Army 2 pits teams of up to four players against ambulatory corpses that were once members of the Third Reich. That's at least two solid reasons to blow their heads off, which is fortunate as the game maintains much of the "kill people at range in spectacular fashion"-appeal that made the Sniper Elite series a cult classic. However, don't expect to be able to find a comfy ledge from which to carefully pick off zombies unable to reach you. Close quarters combat is a clear focus of Nazi Zombie Army 2, as a distant zombie is about as dangerous as a somnambulist kitten with a busted paw. Can't wait to re-kill those unfortunates already killed by the horrors of war? Nazi Zombie Army 2 is available right now via Steam for $15. There is currently no word on when or if Nazi Zombie Army 2 might infect home consoles.
GDC Europe 2011: Freelance designer identifies key problem with MMOs
Sometimes we don't stop and think about just how strange our games are from a logical standpoint, but freelance designer Ernest Adams has, and he's not that pleased. Speaking to a crowd at GDC Europe, Adams said that the biggest problem in MMOs is that there's a disconnect between what the game tells us it's doing and what is actually happening. Mobs can never truly be "killed" since they respawn; NPCs don't perform any promised actions after you complete their tasks; and quests can be abandoned without any consequences. Adams feels that player actions should be able to change the world in a real, significant way and be permanent (including the possibility of, yes, permadeath). Player choice should trump developer intentions, he says, quests should be unique to each player, and the game should ultimately have an ending. Using the concept of a fictitious MMO called The Blitz Online, Adams hypothesizes how this might be accomplished. The game would take place during the attacks on London during World War II, and players would have to take action to shore up the city's infrastructure and defenses lest the situation grow worse. If enough players pitched in using their various skills, morale in the area would increase and the Nazis would eventually give up the attacks, causing the "win" condition for all. By focusing on player choice and a dynamic game world, Adams hopes that the experience would become much more real and personal for players. However, he admits that such a project might be a long shot: "I realize this game breaks almost all the rules."
Editorial: Waiter, there's a Nazi theme in my Android Market (updated)
Earlier tonight our friend Michael Gartenberg tweeted that when he went to the Android Market to search for the word "Jewish," a number of Nazi and Hitler themes turned up. Of course, we had to take a look for ourselves, and sure enough, the search for a fairly innocuous word related to a religion and culture turns up skins which are disgustingly, hatefully pro-Nazism and pro-Hitler. That's a problem, no matter how you look at this. In the past, we've railed against Apple for its confusing, unfair, and often absurd App Store policies, particularly when it comes to the policing of applications based on content, not code. Steve Jobs has made a point during press conferences to say that the Android Market allows porn apps -- which of course set off a furious debate. Sadly, what Jobs should have pointed out was that the Market allows something far more insidious and damaging than even the hardest-core pornography -- apps that spread hate and propagate the views of a movement that is pretty much universally reviled.
Mr. T and Will Wright team up against Nazis in ZootFly game
Seriously, guys and gals: Brace your asses for this one. ZootFly (which made its name with a now-halted Ghostbusters project) is making a game based on tough-talking, chain-wearing icon Mr.T.But that's not even the good part. Here are some actual words from the actual press release we got, with liberal underlining and bolding: "The first game will see Mr. T take on Nazis and their gigantic machines in the varied universe of South American rain forests, lost ancient cities, industrial complexes and contemporary military installations. Along with Mr. T and other characters from the graphic novel, the game will feature none other than Will Wright. In this universe, Will Wright is not a top-notch game designer but a top-notch American geneticist who was kidnapped and coerced to work on a diabolic plan. Mr. T and Will Wright will join forces to annihilate the Nazis and their hardware."We think we speak for the entire internet when we say nothing, and urinate on ourselves.
New Wolfenstein trailer and info exclusively from GameTrailers TV
Geoff Keighley and co. got the scoop on the newest trailer and a ton of info for the upcoming Wolfenstein game from Raven Software on last night's GameTrailers TV. The game, unsurprisingly, seeks to bring back most of what we remember from the classic id Software title, from main character B.J. Blazkowicz to the gauntlet of Third Reich baddies taking aim at B.J. along the way. This may or may not be a good thing, considering when we last saw Wolfenstein at the NY Comic Con, we were less than impressed.Additionally, the next-gen current-gen update to Wolfenstein brings with it some new weapons (a particle gun that vaporizes enemies, for instance) as well as a twist on the gameplay called "the veil," which the game's creative director, Eric Beissman, describes as, "An alternative reality that sits on top of where we live." From what we can glean from the gameplay in the video, this "veil" business seems to be Wolfenstein's version of bullet-time, as well as a means to employ various powers. To find out everything Mr. Keighley discovered, peep the interview with Beissman after the break. Oh, and yeah, no mech Hitler! Seriously?!%Gallery-27817%
See the Call of Duty: World at War 'Nazi Zombie' mode
The only thing worse than Nazis: undead Nazis. It's with this in mind that Treyarch has seen fit to include a frightful "Nazi Zombie" co-op multiplayer game type in Call of Duty: World at War.As you can see for yourself in the video after the break, these re-animated soldiers of the Third Reich may shamble in place of goose-stepping, but their relentlessness is unmatched. From what we've seen of it, the mode most reminds us of the wave-based Horde co-op in Gears of War 2. If we had to choose between Locust and Nazi Zombies (or is that Zombie Nazis?) we'd have to go with the latter.[Via X3F]
All the World's a Stage: So you want to be an orc
This installment of All the World's a Stage is the second in a series of roleplaying guides in which we find out all the background information you need to roleplay a particular race or class well, without embarrassing yourself.If you've seen Lord of the Rings, or read any other fantasy story in which orcs are portrayed, you probably think orcs are hideous humanoid monsters charging mindlessly forward to slaughter helpless innocents. Azerothian orcs are significantly different, however, with a shamanistic culture that prides honor above all other virtues.But unless you've played World of Warcraft or Warcraft 3, you probably wouldn't know that. The orcs of Warcraft 1 and 2 were pretty squarely in "bad guy" territory, and it is only with the story of Thrall's rise to power and return to shamanism that we find out what the orcs' true history is.Ironically, the story of the orcs is a bit like that of the horrors of modern Nazis and the lore of the ancient Jews mixed together. Imagine that the vast majority of your species came under the sway of a terrible and evil leader, utterly determined to commit genocide against your peaceful neighbors. After carrying out this deplorable task, your people sought a new enemy, and found a new world to destroy. In the midst of this conquest, however, your people's political leadership failed, the way back home was cut off, and you all ended up as slaves in exile, lethargic and utterly without hope. Suddenly, a hero appeared to unite your people, overcome your former masters, restore your ancient faith, reclaim your dignity, and establish a new homeland. What follows is a brief account of the events most orcs know about or lived through, and a glimpse of the effects they would have had on your character.
Wolfenstein trailer and images are occult-tastic
Straight from QuakeCon 2008 come some piping hot Wolfenstein goodies from the upcoming game, namely the trailer and a gallery of images. It might look like The Ghostbusters Meet Hitler, or the opening scene of the first Hellboy movie, but we're excited about the supernatural side of World War II. Thank you for that, Raiders of the Lost Ark.This is a lot more footage than what we saw at Activision's "Not An E3 Event" event earlier this month, and it looks like it has some potential. The paranormal parts look decent, but why does some of it make us think of Call of Duty... 1? Hopefully we'll get some better looks in the coming months ahead, culminating in some Halloweenalicious spooky soldiers.%Gallery-28821%
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty demo goes Live
They may not admit it aloud, but the one secret wish of most game designers is that the Nazis could have perfected time travel. Think of it: Splinter cells of the Third Reich that could be at any point or any place in history! Game design would be a simple as "Copy All Nazis", "Load 'Woodstock'", "Paste All Nazis". Instant game! Without the crutch of Nazi time travel to lean on, Codemasters has done then next best thing and created an alternate history where the Nazis won World War II in Turning Point: Fall of Liberty. Now, you can see for yourself how easy game developers could have it if the Nazis were still kicking around with a demo for the game that just arrived on Xbox Live. Hopefully it can scratch the itch that Woodshock: Reich and Roll never will.
BioShock started as a 'tropical island with Nazis'
CVG has released another morsel of information from their talks with BioShock senior designer Joe McDonagh. In addition to the game being turned down by countless publishers, McDonagh also talked about the game's origins, providing the interesting note that "BioShock for instance started out on a tropical island with Nazis."We're trying to imagine our surviving protagonist facing off against countless evil soldiers hell-bent on creating superhumans enemies. We envision something of an amalgam between Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Gilligan's Island. The Little Buddy collects life essence while Big Daddy Skipper keeps him protected with coconut-fueled weaponry.
'Next-gen' Wolfenstein resurfaces with 2008 release
After falling off radar for a little over a year, the "next-gen" version of Wolfenstein continues development with a 2008 release date attached to it. Announced back in 2005, the game was expected last year and just sorta disappeared. Now a random story by a Wisconsin television station about motion capture technology brings news that the game isn't complete vaporware and developer Raven Software (Marvel Ultimate Alliance) is still working on it.The focus of the news piece is the actress Raven Software hired to play "an elite force assassin" in the game. The actress, Carrie Coon, will have her face scanned for use in the game. Femme fatales always make a game better, just ask Ada Wong (Resident Evil) or Mona Sax (Max Payne). Well, we hope that the game will get a real name soon and some screens to go with the official announcement. With any luck the title won't disappear for another year -- we need more WWII based, Nazi killin', first-person shooters!
Game designers stuck being "Romantic"
Our readers amaze us. In responding to our post about the "perfect" game enemy, reader Brad Lee diagnosed the ailment that afflicts game designers who insist on using the same old slobbering, ugly Zombie-Alien-Nazi enemies. Here's Brad's post, edited for brevity: The problem is that games are still stuck in the 'Romantic' era. Too many video game developers look to romanticism for inspiration. (Romanticism was an artistic movement that emphasized exaggeration, emotion, nature, tradition, etc.) In Romanticism, an artist who wants to convey an emotion such as sadness uses dark colors. If he wants to convey evil, he makes the subject ugly. And so on.Games use this art style simply because it's easier. There are a lot of costs to produce a video game -- graphics and game engine being the most expensive -- and I'm sure story and characters are probably a lower priority than other aspects of video games. Keep in mind that most games' stories are not produced by professional writers (or good writers anyway), so it is simply easier to use romanticism than try and craft a realistic story with [realistic] characters.It is much easier to make a story about demons rampaging through the world (and only one guy -- you! -- can stop them) than to create a story about real people just struggling to do the right thing. Many game developers just don't know any better because they don't bother to take creative writing classes or to learn how to craft a good story. Many think they shouldn't have to [learn these things] simply because they are focused on the game and not the story or the characters.Game developers are likely game developers because they love games, not because they love great stories. When those developers aren't working they are likely spending their time playing other games. If developers took some time to read [and analyze] good literature and watch classic movies we would probably have better stories and characters in our games. Until that happens, I'll be expecting to slaughter many more hordes of zombies, nazis, demons, and aliens in the years to come. Any game designers out there care to post a rebuttal or confirmation? Are Brad's charges accurate? From where we sit, it seems he's nailed it.
Call of Duty 3 announced; leak confirmed [update 1]
Call of Duty 3's just been confirmed, and it looks like we were right on the money with our early leak of the WWII-related game.Back in early March, we printed the following information (and a whole lot more) on the focus of an upcoming sequel: "'CoD 3' ... is being produced by Big Red One dev Treyarch. ... The next Call of Duty World War II-based title will return gamers to the battlefields of Normandy as the Allies take on Nazi Germany to drive them out of France once and for all. This time around, American and British forces are joined by Canadian troops, Polish tanks, and French freedom fighters in a reenactment of the bloody Normandy Breakout campaign spearheaded during the summer of 1944. In the push to Paris, you'll get to choose how you approach each mission, free of menu screens and jarring non-interactive cut-scenes."Here's what IGN quoted from Activision for the announcement yesterday: "Through the eyes of four Allied soldiers, Call of Duty 3 brings players closer to the fury of combat as they fight through the Normandy Breakout, the harrowing offensive that liberated Paris and changed the fate of the world. Developed by Treyarch, Call of Duty 3 is the follow up to the #1 next-generation game and is scheduled for a 2006 release." Fingering the developer and the setting? Not too shabby -- while Joystiq pats itself on the back.Check out the IGN trailer below for a first-person look somewhat reminiscent of the FPS sequence in the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer from TGS. At the end of the "official E3 teaser" trailer, a number of platforms are listed, with the major manufacturers (including a small "Nintendo Revolution" in text) and publisher/developer combo listed. We suspect that versions for the PC and possibly the current-gen consoles will be covered with ports as well. Now all we have to do is wait for the word on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. (Infinity Ward, we're looking at you!) More info obviously hitting at E3.[Thanks, icemorebutts, jason, & Hiro Protagonist][Update 1: Had to fix a verb. Thanks, Hiro Protagonist, John Q, & Jiiiiihad!]See also: Official E3 teaser trailer for Call of Duty 3 Next Call of Duty leaked: Modern Warfare tackles terrorists Rumor: Call of Duty joining the Revolution Kojima interacts in real-time with MGS4 trailer at TGS
