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Spec Ops: The Line narrative lead, Evolve writer leaves 2K
Walt Williams, a writer at 2K Games and lead narrative designer on Spec Ops: The Line, has left the studio. Williams revealed his departure via Twitter, saying he was "sad to announce" that September 5 would be his last day. Williams clarified that he'll still be working in the games industry, but "in the background." As for his final projects with 2K, both Evolve and Civilization: Beyond Earth will have Williams' name stamped on them, under the title Senior Writer/Designer. [Image: 2K Games]
Humble 2K Bundle offers up BioShock trilogy, The Darkness 2
Publisher 2K Games headlines today's newly launched Humble Bundle, offering Steam-redeemable versions of BioShock, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified and other featured games for a price of your choosing. All bundle buyers receive copies of 2K's undersea FPS BioShock, comic book-based action game The Darkness 2, and alternate-history shooter The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. Purchases that exceed the bundle's average purchase price will also receive BioShock 2, Mafia 2 and Spec Ops: The Line, and customers who pay $20 or more will get bonus copies of BioShock Infinite and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. A buyer-chosen portion of proceeds benefits the American Red Cross and Action Against Hunger charities. The Humble 2K Bundle will be available through July 22. [Image: 2K Games]
Joystiq's Four in February is upon us, behold our staff picks
February is a forbidding land, full of winter darkness and noisome Valentine's Day traditions that are only slightly balanced out by a steady trickle of new games. That's why Joystiq's very own Mike Suszek created Four in February, a gaming event to unify the world against the month's doldrums. Here's how it works: Pick four games to finish in February and then try to finish them. That's it. No crazy rules, no limits on what you play. Just choose four games and take them on with gusto. That's the 4iF way. The best part of 4iF is how we all get to share the struggle, though. We want you to go to the 4iF Facebook community page and tell us everything. Show us pics of what games you're playing, tell us why you're playing them, let us know when you're streaming them, and most importantly, proclaim your victories or failures. Meanwhile, over on Joystiq's Facebook page, we'll be running 4iF giveaways every four days throughout the month starting Tuesday, Feb. 4. On Twitter, we'll be tracking the action to those who shout @joystiq using the hashtag #4iF. This is war on our gaming libraries, and this is our solid battle plan. What's the staff playing? Read on.
2K offering three-game Holiday Bundles for $30 each
If you want to surprise your loved ones with a generous and value-conscious bouquet of shooters and strategy games on Christmas morning, 2K Games has you covered with its newly announced lineup of $29.99 Holiday Bundles for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Players who missed out on some of this generation's best first-person shooters (and who aren't averse to the occasional tactical strategy game) may enjoy 2K's Essentials Collection, which includes the original BioShock, Borderlands, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The Rogues and Outlaws Collection is an obvious choice for any rogues and outlaws in your immediate family, serving up copies of Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line and Mafia 2. Finally, those who enjoy games with the number "2" in the title will love the 2K Power Pack, which offers BioShock 2, Mafia 2, and The Darkness 2. 2K is also offering a Definitive Strategy Collection, which includes the PC versions of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Sid Meier's Civilization V. All bundles (except for the Rogues and Outlaws Collection, which is a Walmart exclusive) are available at Amazon, GameStop, Walmart, and Best Buy.
Weekend deals choose Bioshock, XCOM: Declassified and more [Update]
If you've somehow avoided accumulating a backlog over the year or just enjoy the act of spending money, Steam and Amazon have some weekend gaming deals to help you burn cash. Steam enthusiasts can splurge on the service's 2K Games Weekend, which includes Bioshock Infinite for $13.59 $26.79 and Civilization 5, Spec Ops: The Line and Borderlands 2 for $14.99 apiece. PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate is $9.99, or if you say to hell with the past decade, 1998's Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is an even $5. Amazon has blacked out $30 from The Bureau: XCOM Declassified's price on Xbox 360 and PS3 while knocking the PC version down to $19.99. Splinter Cell: Blacklist has crept its way to $39.99 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Wii U, but you can gear up for a special mission with its Aircraft Edition for $99.99 on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. If you'd rather get ready for the PlayStation 4, Amazon is also offering $30 of bonus credit towards a DualShock 4 if you trade in $30 worth of qualifying video games. You can check to see if anything you're willing to part with is eligible through the search function on the promotion's page. Update: The 66 percent off deal for Bioshock Infinite has passed. The game is now available for $26.79, 33 percent off of the initial price.
PS Plus in Europe to get NFS: Most Wanted, Spec Ops, Mafia 2
The August delivery of PlayStation Plus games in Europe is almost here, designed to further entice the continent to stay in front of its PS3s and Vitas and away from the ever-relentless sun. July 31 sees three more PS3 games join the Instant Game Collection, with a tough choice for headliner between Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Spec Ops: The Line, and Mafia 2. The same day brings two Vita entries to the Collection, namely the Nordic madness of When Vikings Attack, and the one block to rule them all that is Lego: Lord of the Rings. There's only so much space in the IGC inventory, and no amount of clever Tetris swappery will prevent the departure of five games in turn. That means you have until July 31 to grab Catherine, Battlefield 3, Malicious, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, and Unit 13.
Spec Ops: The Line free on PS Plus this week, The Cave, Joe Danger 2 upcoming
Sony announced all of March's free PlayStation Plus games at once, with a twist. We don't know which week will offer which game. They're just ... sometime in March, on a Tuesday. We do know which game goes free tomorrow: Spec Ops: The Line, the game that makes you feel sad about war.Other freebies offered this month to Plus members include The Cave and Joe Danger 2 on PS3, and Disgaea 3 and Tekken 6 for Vita. Well, technically Tekken 6 is for PSP, but you can download it on your Vita. And while you're downloading free PSP games, don't forget the anniversary deals!
Spec Ops: The Line dev brands game's multiplayer a 'waste of money'
Spec Ops: The Line lead designer Cory Davis slammed his game's multiplayer in a recent interview, describing it as a "low-quality Call of Duty clone in third-person" and a "waste of money." Davis told The Verge the outsourced mode was just a financially motivated "checkbox" for publisher 2K Games, and that the low number of multiplayer users, coupled with the mode's distinct tone and feel, casts "cancerous" aspersions on the whole game.Davis revealed 2K insisted on the shooter having multiplayer, but the mode was far from a priority for developer Yager, and went against Davis' vision for the game. Nonetheless, the mode was greenlighted and then outsourced to Darkside Studios. Darkside is a small developer most notable for designing Borderlands' fourth add-on, "Claptrap's New Robot Revolution." Davis is clearly furious with the results."It sheds a negative light on all of the meaningful things we did in the single-player experience," Davis said. "The multiplayer game's tone is entirely different, the game mechanics were raped to make it happen, and it was a waste of money. No one is playing it, and I don't even feel like it's part of the overall package. It's another game rammed onto the disk like a cancerous growth, threatening to destroy the best things about the experience that the team at Yager put their heart and souls into creating."We've reached out to 2K for comment.
Spec Ops: The Line updated with co (spec)-op
Today, you and a friend can confront the grim reality of war together! 2K Games announced a free update for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of Spec Ops: The Line that adds a cooperative multiplayer game mode for two players. As usual, expect the PS3 version to be available sometime today, whenever the PlayStation Store updates.The new co-op mode consists of four objective-based missions, "each with its own unique objectives, environments, and playable characters."
Spec Ops dev working on a big project, probably isn't another Spec Ops
Yager, the developer of Spec Ops: The Line, has a large project in the works, design lead Jorg Friedrich told us at GDC Europe. Friedrich wouldn't say what the project was or whether Spec Ops: The Line publisher 2K Games would be involved, but he gave a hint as to the company's future in terms of game sales.Without divulging official numbers for Spec Ops: The Line, Friedrich said, "To be honest, it doesn't look too great."Friedrich hosted a discussion on the emotional impact of player decisions within interactive narratives, differentiating the writing in games from other forms of media, such as film. Having a player make decisions based on deep, moral values can hold more impact than passively watching a cast of characters do the same thing, he argued.In a few instances Friedrich wanted to have Spec Ops: The Line players make difficult decisions without receiving any in-game rewards or punishments, keeping the focus solely on the moral implications. Unfortunately, the game had achievements, effectively negating any purely emotional impact each choice could have. That was a mistake and a failure, Friedrich said."I really regret that we had achievements on moral choices," he said.
Steam Summer Sale, Day 6: Black Ops, Spec Ops, Limbo (and other stuff too!)
Another day passed, and your bank account is that much lighter, but Valve's annual Steam Summer Sale is back with a whole mess of new discounts. For instance, that copy of Train Simulator 2012 you've been holding out on? It's seeing a massive 90 percent discount, and will cost you just $3.49 if you snap it up soon.Or how about that Wargame: European Escalation game you've had your eye on, eh? That's ... oh who're we kidding? You want Grand Theft Auto IV for your PC and you want it for like $5. Done. The same could be said for RTS classic Company of Heroes (just $2.50!) and recently released third-person shooter Spec Ops: The Line ($33.50). Head on over to the Steam Store for the full listings of sales, which expire tomorrow afternoon.
Stiq Flicks: Spec Ops The Line and Apocalypse Now
Stiq Flicks – from film and video game industry freelance writer Kevin Kelly – examines video games and attempts to pair them with matching films. It's like wine and cheese, but with more aliens. Spec Ops: The Line is one of those rare video games where the story often outshines the gameplay. Even though you might have tired of pumping bullets into sand-covered foes, it's the story in Spec Ops that will undoubtedly push many players forward.With a story inspired by Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, our film pairing recommendation for the game is obvious: Francis Ford Coppola's iconic Apocalypse Now – a film that has also heavily influenced the Yager-developed video game.%Gallery-157400%
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes secures UK top spot for second week
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes "comfortably" kept The Amazing Spider-Man away from the highest spot on Chart-Track's UK sales chart. There were three new entries in the top five last week: the web-slinger swung into second, and Spec Ops: The Line and London 2012: The Official Video Game (about... London??) landed in third and fourth place, respectively.The launch of Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC helped propel sales of the game up 121 percent. The launch of Metal Gear Solid HD Collection on PS Vita had a similar impact, shooting the game into tenth place on the charts and sales of the game up 532 percent - making it the top selling Vita game last week "by a large margin."
Spec Ops: The Line review - Dissonance in Dubai
Spec Ops: The Line is explicit about its intentions and inspirations, sometimes to a fault. It's truly a gritty shooter, and not because you're steering a bipedal meat chunk with a scraggly soul patch. The conflict feels isolated and inescapable, with a sand-drowned Dubai hemming in soldiers who only hope to survive and follow orders as best they can. You have permission to take this game seriously.That's why it's disappointing, and often baffling, when Spec Ops underlines its themes with an orange crayon. The discovery of a strung-up, mutilated corpse is meant to shock, but the scene feels deflated alongside an Achievement notification that essentially says, "War is terrible. Have 10 points!"%Gallery-157400%
Super Joystiq Podcast Special: 'Spec Ops - The Line' lead designer Cory Davis
In a special edition of the Super Joystiq Podcast, editor-in-chief Ludwig Kietzmann speaks with Cory Davis, lead designer of the Yager-developed shooter Spec Ops: The Line.After being seemingly stuck in development for years following its 2009 announcement, the team at Yager Development has finally shipped the third-person shooter. Taking place in a sandstorm ravaged Dubai, the game centers on a Delta Force team sent into the region to locate their own missing personnel.Spec Ops: The Line is available today for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.Listen to the Super Joystiq Podcast: Subscribe to the Super Joystiq Podcast in iTunes Super Joystiq Podcast is also available in the Zune Marketplace Add the Super Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator Download the MP3 directlyA stream of the show and details on the episode are available after the break.
Dubai looks kinda rough in this Spec Ops: The Line launch trailer
We always thought it'd be interesting to visit Dubai at some point in the future, what with its indoor skiing and BMW 5 series police cars and everything, but if it's anything like the Dubai portrayed in this Spec Ops: The Line launch trailer, we'll probably pass. That haboob looks gross.
Spec Ops: The Line demo breaches today
Spec Ops: The Line's demo is available now on Xbox 360 for Gold subscribers and later today, following the PSN update, on PlayStation 3. It will be available to all Xbox Live members on May 15.The sampler will feature a snippet of the single-player campaign, covering two early chapters in the game, as players search for a target through the sand-ravaged streets of Dubai and add more destruction. You'll have plenty of time to play the demo and practice, Spec Ops: The Line won't storm retail shelves until June 26.Update: Removed mention of multiplayer as being part of demo. It's not.%Gallery-154878%
Learn how to curb stomp from Spec Ops: The Line's multiplayer
These special operatives in Dubai sure are mad at each other! Spec Ops: The Line's latest trailer, focusing on multiplayer, showcases the various brutal, assuredly anti-Geneva Convention-approved ways to end the lives of your opponents.
Spec Ops: The Line narrative trailer ripped from the headlines
In fairness, the trailer above for Spec Ops: The Line was likely cut and produced over the course of a few months. As such, its "ripped from current headlines" nature isn't really 2K Games or Yager's fault, but it does make for an awkward juxtaposition against recent news.
Spec Ops: The Line drawn into retail on June 26
Spec Ops: The Line has been pushed back and previewed across several years, but now we finally know it'll cross the finish line come June 26. Take-Two revealed as much this morning in a PR missive which also detailed the "Premium Edition" of the third-person shooter. It will feature a variety of multiplayer bonus content to folks who pre-order the game from "participating retailers" (none are listed, but we're thinking places like GameStop and Amazon are fair bets).Perhaps "Premium Edition" doesn't sound militaristic enough for you? Thankfully, Take-Two totally thought of that, which is why part the premium edition gives access to the "FUBAR pack," containing various multiplayer customization options ("unique and visually distinct items). Additionally, premium content includes an AK-47 unlock and an Officer Class promotion (which confers "several team-based advantages") at rank one, as well as double XP for the first week of online play.2K Games producer Denby Grace openly calls out the unbalance in this pre-order scheme, saying "People who pre-order the game are going to have an immediate advantage in the multiplayer mode." G ... great?
