Larian Studios
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Divinity: Original Sin is a prequel to Divine Divinity, due 2013
Belgium-based Larian Studios has announced that it will release a new title in the popular Divinity RPG series, called Divinity: Original Sin. Due out in the first quarter of 2013, Original Sin will serve as a prequel to Divine Divinity, feature two main playable characters in turn-based combat, and come with co-op multiplayer and an adventure building kit that players can use to create and share content online. The game will arrive on PC and Mac. You can see more about the title on the official site, or browse through the gallery of screenshots below. Larian will be showing off Original Sin and Dragon Commander (another upcoming Divinity-based title) at E3 this year, so we'll see them up close in about a week.%Gallery-156396%
Atlus reveals pre-order goodies, new trailer for Divinity 2: The Dragon Knight Saga [update]
Atlus has added a 52-page art book pre-order bonus to its considerably hefty version of Divinity 2, dubbed The Dragon Knight Saga, in addition to the soundtrack CD that comes with all first run copies of this re-release. The pre-order promotion is listed on GameStop and Amazon, though Atlus tells Joystiq that the offer should be available at most major retailers. You can check out a sample of the art book's content right here. A new trailer -- for this 2009 game and its bundled expansion -- has also been released, which we've posted after the break. The clip showcases both knights and dragons. Go figure.
Atlus picks up Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga for Xbox 360
Divine Divinity sequel Divinity II: Ego Draconis was released on Xbox 360 in late 2009 by CDV, but now it's getting a second release from a new publisher. Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga collects an "extensively remastered" version of Ego Draconis, the expansion, Flames of Vengeance, and all DLC to date in one bundle that new publisher Atlus estimates at 100 hours of content. Now that it's an Atlus game, Divinity fans will be able to get some "Spoils." Each copy of the game printed for the April 12 launch will include a soundtrack CD. If you're not a fan of the open-world action RPG series, perhaps it would interest you to know that the "Dragon Knight" in the title, who is the player character, is not a knight who fights dragons, but rather a knight who is also a dragon. Actually, he fights dragons too.%Gallery-115033%
Divinity II: Flames of Vengeance add-on coming this August
If you just so happen to be the square wheel that couldn't get enough of Divinity II: Ego Draconis last year, you're in luck. Publisher dtp entertainment has announced that an add-on will be released later this year, adding more than 30 brand new quests and about 15 hours of gameplay to the RPG. Divinity II: Flames of Vengeance will see release on the PC and through the Xbox Live Marketplace, and will update the game's world of Rivellon a completely revamped engine (for graphical and performance upgrades) as well as new updates on characters familiar to players of the first game. There's no price yet, but it is targeted for a release in August 2010. In the meantime, you can browse the gallery below to see early screenshots of the add-on. Commenters have been saying to us that this game suffers from more than its share of bugs and issues, so maybe an engine revamp will help smooth that out. %Gallery-87418%
Divinity 2 demo available on PC and Xbox 360
If you're a fan of fantasy RPGs and yet, somehow, are not completely sated by the gigantic Dragon Age: Origins, why not take Divinity 2: Ego Draconis for a spin? It's got Dragon in the title, sort of. A demo for the Divine Divinity sequel is now available on Xbox Live everywhere, with the exception of Japan. This is your chance to decide whether or not to shell out early for fancy armor! If you'd prefer to begin rising through the ranks of the Dragon Knights on your PC, you can do that as well! Our friends at Big Download have just the 1.77GB file you're looking for. Shortcut: Add the Divinity II Demo to your 360 download queue
GameStop offers pre-order bonus for Divinity 2: Ego Draconis
Sadly, pre-ordering a copy of Divinity II: Ego Draconis from GameStop won't net you any divinity. Or any dragons, for that matter. What you do get for putting your money down on a copy of the Xbox 360 sequel to Divine Divinity is some exclusive in-game armor and armaments, representing the Blood Echelon, "a select lodge of elite Dragon Slayers who have earned the highest of distinctions on the battlefield." Both online and in-store pre-orderers will be entitled to look like they're in the Blood Echelon when they freely roam around Divinity II's landscapes, reading minds. But only if they buy the Xbox version: the PC release does not list any bonus items. Divinity II will be available December 29.
BBC: Virtual worlds beneficial for children
The BBC recently sponsored a study on how children interact in virtual worlds, and its findings are promising. Their research reveals that virtual worlds provide a safe environment where children can try new things, largely free of real world consequences. According to the BBC, "Virtual worlds can be a powerful, engaging and interactive alternative to more passive media." The BBC tapped Belgian game maker Larian Studios to create Adventure Rock, a virtual world filled with 'creative studios' aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 12. The research was carried out by Professor David Gauntlett and Lizzie Jackson of the University of Westminster, who looked at the ways children used the world as new explorers in Adventure Rock.
