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Sonic Adventure, Nights headline Humble Sega Bundle
Sega peeks into its storied past this week with the Humble Sega Bundle, a pay-what-you-want collection featuring a handful of classics adapted from the Saturn and Dreamcast eras. Pay any amount for the bundle and you'll get the surreal score-attack action game Nights Into Dreams, kart racer Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, and the Dreamcast Collection, which includes PC versions of Sonic Adventure, Sega Bass Fishing, Crazy Taxi, and Space Channel 5 Part 2. The package also offers Total War: Rome II's "Caesar in Gaul" expansion and the Miles' Tactic DLC for Football Manager 2015. Beat the bundle's average purchase price (currently $3.68) and you'll unlock Empire: Total War, Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies: Oberkommando West, and additional games that will be revealed as the bundle enters its final week. Total War: Shogun 2 - Fall of the Samurai is up for grabs as a $12 incentive, and you can also get an exclusive Dreamcast-themed t-shirt with a purchase of $50 or more. The Humble Sega Bundle will be available through December 9. [Video: Humble Bundle / Sega]
Sonic: Lost World tails off at 710,000 units shipped
Sonic: Lost World sales dried up in 2014; as of March 31, the Wii U and 3DS game shipped 710,000 units total since its launch in October 2013. The figures come from Sega Sammy's fiscal year report, and the company doesn't note if they include download sales or not. Total War: Rome 2 was the company's best-performing game in the fiscal year, shifting 1.13 million copies by the end of March 2014. Football Manager 2014 placed second at 790,000 units, with Company of Heroes 2 not too far behind with 680,000 shipments. In roughly its first month on sale in Japan, PS4 and PS3 entry Yakuza Restoration shipped 390,000 units. Sega Sammy's consumer business posted year-on-year decline for packaged software, with the company blaming low sales on the "harsh market environment." The division shipped 8.73 million packaged games across April 2013 to March 2014, down 18 percent from the previous fiscal year. Sega Sammy expects that figure to rise substantially to 12.78 million for the fiscal year ending March 2015.
Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies rolls out on June 24
Would-be generals will soon have a less expensive route to joining the virtual World War 2 battlefields of Company of Heroes 2, thanks to the June 24 release of The Western Front Armies. As we explained last month, The Western Front Armies is a standalone addition to Company of Heroes 2 that both introduces new content and allows those without a copy of Company of Heroes 2 to enjoy its multiplayer component. Along with transporting players to the titular Western Front, the addition introduces two new armies: the US Forces and the German Oberkommando West. Additionally, The Western Front Armies includes eight new multiplayer maps, as well as an "extended progression system" that should introduce a few new tricks to the existing Company of Heroes 2 factions. The Western Front Armies is currently available for pre-order at a price of $20. Those who already own Company of Heroes 2 will be pleased to hear that both the US Forces and German Oberkommando West will be available for purchase as individual DLC additions. [Image: Sega]
Standalone Company of Heroes 2 add-on welcomes new troops in June
Hoping to draw more virtual commanders to the online battlefields of World War 2 strategy hit Company of Heroes 2, publisher Sega has announced a standalone multiplayer version of the game that will make it easier than ever to join the fight. Slated for release in June, Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies will bear a $20 price tag. For that entry fee, players will be granted access to two new factions, the German Oberkommando West and US forces. As its name suggests, The Western Front Armies takes place on the heavily-contested Western Front, and offers players a new campaign, progression system and "other unique content." Best of all, this $20 standalone release will grant players access to the Company of Heroes 2 multiplayer servers. Though The Western Front Armies lacks the singleplayer content found in its predecessor, it does include a full complement of multiplayer options as well as all 31 official multiplayer maps released for Company of Heroes 2 to date. [Image: Sega]
Total War: Rome 2, Company of Heroes 2 brawl for free DLC this weekend
In defiance of this weekend's imminent corporate-sponsored romance, Sega has decided to push strategy gamers toward corporate-sponsored violence with the aptly titled "Make War Not Love" promotion. The rules are simple: During the course of the weekend, Sega will tally all victories earned by players in Total War: Rome 2 and Company of Heroes 2. Whichever game has the more active, successful community will receive free downloadable content. In the case of Total War: Rome 2, players will be awarded the Beasts of War add-on, while those playing Company of Heroes 2 will find two new multiplayer Commanders available at no additional charge. To further sweeten the temptation toward virtual bloodshed, Sega is also discounting both strategy games by 50 percent from now until Monday, February 17 at 10AM PT. Would-be virtual generals can now purchase Total War: Rome 2 for $30 while Company of Heroes 2 can be had for $20. [Image: Sega]
Assassin's Creed 4, Puppeteer among nominees for music awards
The International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) announced the nominees for composers demonstrating "excellence in musical scoring" in 2013. The annual awards ceremony includes a gaming category, Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media, in which five games and their respective composers are nominated this year: Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag by Ubisoft, music by Brian Tyler Beyond: Two Souls by Quantic Dream, music by Lorne Balfe Company of Heroes 2 by Relic Entertainment, music by Cris Velasco Puppeteer by SCE Japan Studio, music by Patrick Doyle Remember Me by Dontnod, music by Olivier Deriviere Assassin's Creed 4 composer Brian Tyler is also among four others nominated for the Composer of the Year award, in addition to a nomination for Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film for his work on Iron Man 3. Tyler also composed the soundtrack for Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel. Previous winners of the Best Original Score for a Video Game award include Austin Wintory's music for Journey (2012), Joe Hisaishi's composition for Ni No Kuni (2011) and the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow music composed by Oscar Araujo (2010). The IFMCA will announce this year's winners on February 20. [Image: Ubisoft]
Steam delivers free weekend for Saints Row 4, Company of Heroes 2
Sega's military strategy game Company of Heroes 2 and Volition's open-world fever dream simulator Saints Row 4 are next in line to get the Free Steam Weekend treatment. Both games are free to download and play via Steam starting today and extending through Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Company of Heroes 2 additionally drops its price by 66 percent over the weekend, while Saints Row 4 is currently 50 percent off. The Saints Row Franchise Pack is also up for grabs at a steep discount, offering Saints Row 2, Saints Row: The Third, Saints Row 4, and a fairly ridiculous collection of DLC for $29.99. If a dual-game free weekend hasn't yet quenched your thirst for sweet deals, Digital Extremes' The Darkness 2 is currently priced at $7.49 as part of today's Steam Daily Deal.
Company of Heroes 2 bombarded by DLC on Two Fronts
New content has rolled in for Company of Heroes 2, in both free and paid varieties. Those who spend nothing will receive two new multiplayer maps, "Hill 331" and "Don River," alongside an unspecified list of "several improvements to the game." Further, the update also adds Steam Workshop integration to the recently-launched Company of Heroes 2 World Builder construction suite. As always in life, those who spend a bit of cash will be receiving more stuff. This "Two Fronts" DLC promotion includes all of the above content, as well the "Southern Fronts" Theater of War pack, which you can see in the above trailer. The Southern Fronts pack adds 10 new scenarios to the game that drop players into the boots of either German or Soviet soldiers as they slowly grind toward victory through a number of battles that feature new tweaks to the Company of Heroes 2 formula. For example, deep mud may inhibit vehicle movement in these maps while also exposing their soft flanks to explosives. The Southern Fronts DLC will set you back $5. Owners of the original Company of Heroes aren't left out of today's announcement. According to Sega, the original tactical strategy game will be adding improved "Steam functionality, such as secure leaderboards, battle and arbitration servers." This update, like the first we mentioned, is utterly free, and should be downloaded automatically the next time you fire up Company of Heroes.
Company of Heroes 2 free DLC includes World Builder, community-created Commanders
Company of Heroes 2 will receive a new content addition next week said to add "a host of free content," alongside numerous items created by the game's devoted community. Dubbed "World Builder," the crux of the addition is a feature that allows players to build their own World War II-era battlefields. Additionally, the update brings with it the new "Rails And Metal" and "Lazur Factory" maps - no, that's not a typo. Finally, four new Commanders are being added to Company of Heroes 2, two of which were designed by the game's community. "We are excited to provide such a large content update to Company Heroes 2 players," stated executive producer Greg Wilson. "We are particularly proud to offer our community the much sought-after World Builder and are hoping to provide Steam Workshop integration and other mod features in the near future." Turning Point is currently slated for release on PC on November 12.
Russia to produce 'patriotic' games, may ban those that 'distort history'
The Russian government will begin producing "patriotic" video games that present a positive image of the country's armed forces, with the first project headed by the Russian Military History Society, THR reports. The game chronicles the development of Russian flight during World War I, and it's due out in 2014. "The main thing we expect from the producers of video games is the realistic and historically truthful representation of events," said Arseny Mironov, an aide to Russia's culture minister. Mironov added that it was inadmissible to present a "negative image of the Russian warrior." This patriotic push is partly a response to foreign games that the culture ministry says "discredit the Russian soldier" and "distort historic facts." The Russian government previously halted sales of Relic Entertainment's Company of Heroes 2, claiming it misrepresented Russian soldiers in World War II. Russia may begin banning games that "distort history," the ministry said. Russia will also provide grants to developers that produce acceptably patriotic games. This takes a page out of the UK's book – in December, the UK established a tax relief system based on how "cultural" a game or development team was. These breaks are under investigation from the European Union and haven't yet been enacted.
Company of Heroes 2 summer multi map out today, winter on Sept. 10
Company of Heroes 2 developer Relic has added new graphics, fresh design and extra letters to the series' classic multiplayer map, Semois, now named Semoskiy. The upgraded map comes in two free variants, summer and winter, with summer available in today's patch, and winter due on September 10.
Company of Heroes 2 sales halted in Russia
The sale of real-time strategy game Company of Heroes 2 has ceased in Russia, a Sega spokesman told VideoGamer. The decision to halt sales followed complaints about the game's depiction of the Soviet military, which were directed to 1C-SoftKlab, a Russian retailer that recently opted to stop selling the game. "Sega and Relic are aware of the press stories circulating concerning Company of Heroes 2 and the historical context of the game from a Russian perspective," Sega said in a statement. "At this time we cannot offer any further comment, however we are taking this issue very seriously and are investigating these concerns thoroughly with all relevant partners." Controversy surrounding Company of Heroes 2 stemmed from its portrayal of the Soviet army during World War 2, which depicts "the best of the USSR as an instantly evil thing," according to vocal detractors. A petition demanding Valve remove the game from Steam has amassed 17,160 supporters, who claim the game is an inaccurate representation of events from the war, as it shows Russian soldiers fighting without being properly equipped for battle.
Company of Heroes 2 shipped 380K in five days
Sega's consumer division, which handles its video game business, reported a small operating profit of ¥39 million, or just under $400,000, thanks in part to Company of Heroes 2, which shipped 380,000 copies in five days. MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2 chipped in, reaching the 500,000 mark on Vita three months after coming to the portable in Japan, taking into account both physical and downloaded copies. The division saw a year-on-year decline in packaged software shipments across the period, despite the launches of Phantasy Star Online 2 on Vita and Company of Heroes 2, although the strategy sequel only had five days at retail to contribute. Sega Sammy announced a net profit of ¥12.9 billion for its first fiscal quarter ending June 30, which converts to around $132 million. The company's net profits reflected a sizable 409 percent year-on-year growth, which it partly attributed to sales of noncurrent assets.
Sega wants money from bankrupt THQ
Sega has filed a claim against bankrupt publisher THQ for $941,710.93, the amount the defunct company received in pre-orders (after Valve's cut) for Company of Heroes 2. Eurogamer reports payments totaling $508,877.85 were made after THQ filed for bankruptcy. Sega isn't the only one checking the abandoned sofa that is THQ for lost change between the cushions. Double Fine, Codemasters and former THQ executives like Jason Kay and Jason Rubin are also looking for what they're owed. Sega may not get anything out of the deal, but the suit puts it in line with other creditors just in case there is a resolution of some kind. Sega won developer Relic and the Company of Heroes intellectual property for $26.6 million as part of the THQ asset auction earlier this year.
Company of Heroes 2 review: Cold front
It hasn't been easy to wait for with Company of Heroes 2. First, it's been seven years since the original was released and achieved instant-classic status. It was a sharp change from almost everything else in real-time strategy, and cemented developer Relic's reputation as one of the best strategy studios in PC gaming. An Eastern Front expansion or sequel seemed like a no-brainer, but Relic never got around to it, and Company of Heroes was set aside as Relic became a Warhammer 40K studio. With Relic finally returning to Company of Heroes in a sequel set against the bloody grandeur and brutality of the Eastern Front, greatness seemed preordained. Which is probably why simple goodness feels slightly disappointing. Company of Heroes 2 just feels like More Company of Heroes. It's still a great design, but most of its sequel's innovations are fairly conservative, and along the way it's also borrowing some dubious features from modern mainstream shooters, like a grindy progression system filled with perks and unlocks. Even the Eastern Front never quite comes alive. RTS games are partly powered by how well they communicate their theme, how well they connect the game you're playing to the story it's telling, and Company of Heroes 2 sometimes seems a little more like an Eastern Front skin than a fresh take on an old design.%Gallery-192671%
Keeping your eyes open in the cold of Company of Heroes 2
After navigating a troubled road alongside former owner and publisher THQ, developer Relic Entertainment has found a new home for its library of titles with Sega. Though shifting to a new company with different policies and directives could hurt a studio's progress, a recent mission playthrough at E3 tells us that Company of Heroes 2 has not suffered in the transition. Last December, Relic previewed the seasonal combat on show in the multiplayer mode (which has been in open beta for most of June), its E3 demo for Company of Heroes 2 focused on a single-player mission, one based on the historic Battle of Leningrad between the Russians and Germans in World War 2. In addition to Relic's RTS design expertise in action, the mission had a new technology on display: a feature known as "TrueSight." Using this new system, darkened areas of a map only become visible based on the realistic line of sight a soldier has on the battlefield, with terrain and objects able to obstruct their views to the dangers that lie in wait.%Gallery-191374%
Company of Heroes 2 open beta extended through June 23
The Company of Heroes 2 open beta, originally scheduled to conclude yesterday, has been extended through this Sunday, June 23, until midnight Pacific. In this latest phase of testing, beta recruits will have access to new multiplayer maps in the rotation. Players will also receive double XP this weekend in auto match multiplayer modes. A general reminder that all that major wartime experience will transfer over to the full game if players pick up CoH 2 within 60 days of launch (and use the same steam account as the beta). Company of Heroes 2 storms the Stalingrad of retail next Tuesday, June 25.
Company of Heroes 2 open to beta recruits
Relic Entertainment's open beta for Company of Heroes 2 rolled out today on Steam and will last until June 18. The open beta features competitive and cooperative modes, as well as six of the game's map. Players can earn up to level 45 rank, and their progress will be retained into the final retail copy – if they purchase the full game within 60 days of launch. "We have been working hard since the closed beta balancing and improving all areas of the game as well as adding new matchmaking servers," said Greg Wilson, the game's producer. "COH2 has had one of the most successful beta programs we've ever run at Relic and the support of the fans has been a critical factor in making the game more balanced and stable for launch." Company of Heroes 2 will launch June 25, so that's two full weeks of open beta testing for field commander tactics.
Company of Heroes 2 attacks with battlefield trailer
At the complete opposite end from the cinematic trailer recently released for Company of Heroes 2, here's a clip full of explosions, scenery and flashy praise on screen. COH2 survives the cold, harsh Russian winter on June 25... don't think about that line too hard.
Company of Heroes 2 cinematic trailer keeps good company
This cinematic trailer for Company of Heroes 2 shows soldiers discussing the price of victory in war. The game will launch June 25 on PC.
