An FPS Server guide for developers It's not rocket science and to be honest, most if not all of these features have been around for some time. However we keep seeing new games released, with a lot of these basic features missing. Click here to view the list of features we've been asking for since 2001
Please use this thread to leave feedback or be part of the continued discussion on what admins need to run a successful game server.
Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that Valve and Epic have signed a deal bringing Valve's tools to Epics Unreal 3 engine.
Valve Software and Epic Games have inked an agreement to include Valve's Steamworks suite of tools and services to all licensees of Epic's Unreal Engine 3 middleware, free of charge.
"Valve has created a world-wide phenomenon with Steam and we’re excited to be able to have the Steamworks suite of services available to Unreal Engine 3 licensees so they can take full advantage of all that Steam has to offer," added Mark Rein, co-founder and vice president of Epic Games.
Source and full article here (subscription required)
While the core of the dev team here at DICE as well as all the back-end teams at EA are 110% focused on stabilizing the game experience we do have some other, great news to reveal. Today we’re happy to announce the release date of the second VIP map package for Battlefield: Bad Company 2! It will be made available on the 30th of March on all platforms at no extra cost to all of you who’ve got your VIP codes entered in the game. VIP Map Pack 2 contains the following:
Arica Harbor Conquest mode - US Command launches a break through action directly at the Russian base. Collateral damage is of no consequence. Capture and secure tactical positions in Conquest Mode across the vast Arica Harbor map.
Laguna Presa Rush mode - The valley and surrounding mountains possess a strategic value in the battle for South America, and an infantry assault supported by light armor vehicles is likely by both armies as US forces defend the nearby Dam.
VIP Map Pack 2 will expand the multiplayer experience on Arica Harbor and Laguna Presa.
VIP members will be able to expand on the deep and ever changing sandbox experience, which in itself provides near endless hours of entertainment, by having new content to keep things fresh. It also plays a vital part in making sure you, the players get proper value for the money you’ve invested in Battlefield: Bad Company 2. This is why these map packs are available at no extra cost, contradicting the industry standard and what our direct competitors are doing. Of course, it also helps avoid segmenting the community, making sure everyone can play together having the same maps available. There will be future paid downloadable content as well but these packs will focus on expanding other parts of the game experience rather than the selection of maps available for the basic game modes. We’re dedicated to taking care of this product for a long time – helping you avoid “mapathy” without getting nickel-and-dimed.
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Finally, a big shout-out to all the fans that are playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 at the moment. We can see from the logs that you’re spending some crazy hours on the Battlefield – in only the last 24 hours you all logged more than 2.5 million game hours. Impressive!
Best regards, KM Troedsson
This references the Mapathy campaign by IW to promote the latest maps for MW2.
EA Chief financial officer Eric Brown, who spoke at the Wedbush Securities 8th Annual New York MAC Conference, revealed an extensive DLC plan over the next half year for BC2
EA chief financial officer Eric Brown has revealed an extensive DLC plan over the next half year for DICE's shooter Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
Brown made an address today at the Wedbush Securities 8th Annual New York MAC Conference stating that BFBC2 will receive an "extensive paid digital content plan with players receiving multiple packs of $5, $10 and $15" over the following six months.
EA has already released two maps for free upon the game's launch, with plans for two more free maps by the end of the month. Guess that means we'll be looking for much more from the paid content when it arrives.
Not exactly a first-person SHOOTER, but a hell of a game nontheless, and about time this happened. Now, all we have to wait for is HalfLife3 and Duke Nukem Forever ...
Razer known for their PC gaming peripherals, released a press release reaffirming their support for Mac users.
It's seems kind of weird or twilight zone-ish, with all the Mac support from Valve, Gas Powered Games, Dice and now Razer supporting the Mac platform.
RAZER™ REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT MAC® USERS
Game Developers Conference, San Francisco, Calif. – March 10, 2010 – Today at the Game Developers Conference, Razer, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals, announced an effort to increase support for Mac users by issuing driver support for all upcoming Razer products, including the Razer StarCraft® II peripheral suite.
Source and the full press release over at Razerzone.com the official site for Razer
Gamesindustry.biz is reporting on a PCGA report that states PC game sales rose in 2009, thanks to the Asia Pacific region.
Software revenues for the PC games market rose by 3 per cent last year to a total of $13.1 billion, according to the new 2009 Horizons Report from the PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA).
The increasing popularity of free-to-play games and social network sites such as Facebook did result in a decline in overall revenues in established Western markets though. The lack of major new subscription-based games also contributed at a fall in revenues in North America and Europe of 10 to 15 per cent.
The most significant decline though was in boxed retail sales, which now accounts for just 20 per cent of total PC game revenues worldwide.
