Which games pop in mind if you look at that comic?

Yesterday, the New York City musician confirmed his involvement in Valve’s sequel through a tweet: “Closing the doors. If this plane goes down, the Portal 2 song goes with it. It is in my pocket…”

Since we’ve yet to hear about any Jonathan Coulton candlelight vigils, we can safely assume that his plane landed, and he’s alive and well and months away from debuting a follow-up to this extremely catchy tune:

Far from a one hit wonder, Coulton was dabbling in geek culture well before his Portal track, and has released numerous CDs and downloadable tracks since. His full discography and calendar of upcoming performances can be found at his personal site. The next (great?) Portal song will debut with Portal 2 on April 21st.

Source: Gamesradar

Also very good remixes of this song by Victims of Science.

Victims of Science – The Device has been Modified

Victims of Science – The Device has been Modified v2.0

And the winner is

….

…

Top #1 – Valve to release Duke Nukem Forever?

Rumors of Valve releasing Duke Nukem 3D Forever

Top #2 - First Kinect sex game tech demo arrived (NSFW!)

The “unhackable controller” Kinect by Microsoft totally hacked by adult gaming software giant.

Top #3 - GOG.com is not shutting down, the end of beta is here!

Good Old Games announcement was taken as shutdown notice, but it was only a total remake.

Top #4 – G2Play.net selling stolen CD-Keys?

G2Play.net was accused to sell stolen CD-keys.

Top #5 – How to get Medal of Honor beta key? Do this!

And who doesn’t love free stuff?

Top #6 – Thanksgiving sales in Steam and other places

Top #7 – CD-Key stores don’t give a fuck about privacy!

Top #8 – Free games sponsored by The US Air Force!

Top #9 – VAC banned by a Valve employee?

Top #10 – Zero Gear get a beta Steam key!

It took some time, but here it is. The first Kinect sex game from the developer of game like 3D Sexvilla 2 (sex-MMO). Currently it is only in tech demo, but soon there will be a fully interactive game. And then you can get your fleshlight and feel the game like the real thing. Or maybe even better?

More info:  http://kinecthacks.net/kinect-sex/

Source: G4TV

Also available in Youtube

Who is Kirsten Price?
Wikipedia gives a hint

New digital distributor emerges: Atomblock

Distributor Atomblock is to launch a new download site in UK with 450 titles ready to download from clients including EA, Codemasters, Ubisoft and 2K Games. Atomblock plans to have over 1000 titles by the end of the year.

Atomblock is the latest player to join the increasingly competitive world of digital games distribution. The firm says it will open digital game shops for retailers and media, and its platform has already been picked up by MSN Benelux.

Much like many of its rivals, Atomblock’s service includes DRM, content delivery, payment, customer service and also reporting. Its clients will be able to launch digital download stores in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain and other territories by 2011.

Atomblock was founded in 1995 and distributes software and hardware in Benelux.

The more the merrier?
At this stage their website http://www.atomblock.com/ does not contain much info as of yet so I have no clue what games they will have available at launch, prices, if they’ll have any launch specials or if they’ll kick Steam where it hurts. But I might be a bit blind.

Source: MCV

To get the early access simply click here and login to Gamespot to receive your key!

Mine is already downloading :-)

STRATEGY

Shogun II: Total War

Might & Magic Heroes VI
New entry in one of the most beloved turn based strategy series of all time.

Age of Empires Online
The rebirth of one of the biggest RTS franchises of all time.

Tropico 4
Another entry in this great city building series. Tropico 3 scored 8.4 from IGN

Cities in Motion
Spiritial successor to Transport Tycoon from Paradox Interactive.

Jagged Alliance 2: Reloaded
Remake of a classic tactical TBS.

Jagged Alliance 3

Sword of the Stars II
Sequel to a great 4X game.

End of Nations
MMORTS from Petroglyph. Their last RTS was Universe at War, which scored 8.0 at IGN.

Dungeons
Spiritual successor to Dungeon Keeper.

The Sims Medieval

Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades
Continuaton of XIII Century: Death or Glory, which scored 7.2 at IGN.

A Game of Thrones: Genesis
Epic strategy game based on legendary novel series. It’s being designed Cyanide, which is the studio that made Blood Bowl videogame adaptation.

Project MyWorld
A virtual recreation of the real world combined with 3D gaming and social media.

Stronghold 3

Blight Of The Immortals
Web based strategy game set in fantasy universe. It’s being made by Iron Helmet, a small australian company formed by ex-Irrational Games people who already made Neptune’s Pride.

Six Gun Saga
A primarly singleplayer card strategy game from Cryptic Comet, creators of Armageddon Empires and Solium Infernum.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution
Second add-on to this great RTS.

ROLEPLAYING

Diablo 3

Dead State
Indie zombie RPG from ex-Troika and Obsidian designers.

Grim Dawn
Action RPG from ex Iron Lore staff (where they worked on Titan Quest)

Darkspore
Hack and Slash from Maxix (makers of Sim City, Sims and of course Spore)

Starport Gemini
Space based indie RPG.

Avadon: The Black Fortress
New RPG from makers of Geneforge and Avernum series. This time Spiderweb finally has completely redesigned their graphics system.

Torchlight II
Sequel to a hack and slash RPG that scored 8.6 at IGN.

Drakensang Online
Cooperative online RPG.

Neverwinter
Online cooperative RPG with powerful adventure building tools, from Cryptic (makers of City of Heroes and Champions)

Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars MMORPG from Bioware.

Guild Wars 2
Original Guild Wars scored 9.0 at IGN

Tera
Beautiful MMORPG with action-game like combat, by ex-Lineage devs.

Stellar Dawn
Sci-Fi MMO from makers of Runescape

Rift: Planes of Telara

Untitled Carbine Studios MMORPG
Carbine is a team composed of RPG veterans(including Blizzard ones) like Tim Cain
(one of creators of Fallout and Arcanum) and Jeremy Gaffney (founder of Turbine)

ADVENTURE

Black Mirror 3

Asylum
New horror adventure game from people who created Scratches, which scored 8.0 at Adventuregamers.

Saturated Dreamers
Indie exploration game from makers or Immortal Defense

ACTION

Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad
Sequel to 8.5 WWII tactical shooter. What’s more, RO2 will singleplayer campaigns for both Russian and German sides.

CHIVALRY: Battle for Agatha
First-person medieval online combat game running on Unreal Engine 3.0. It’s being developed by a team behind Age of Chivalry mods.

Depth
Indie aquatic stealth game running on Unreal Engine 3. The team is filed with people who created the first version of Killing Floor.

Contagion
Single and multiplayer horror FPS from makers of Zombie Panic! Source mod.

Bounty Arms
Indie platformer running on Unreal Engine 3.0.

Rising Storm
First add-on to Red Orchestra: Heroes of Stalingrad, made as colaboration with mod teams.

E.Y.E
Indie FPS/RPG hybrid running on Source engine. People who work on it previously made great Half-Life mod called Syndicate Black Ops

Minecraft
Indie retro action and sandbox construction game.

Ground Branch
Tactical shooter from Blackfoot( which is composed of RainbowSix, Rogue Spear and Ghost Recon leads)

SIMULATION

Microsoft Flight
Finally, a new flight sim from Microsoft.

Steel Armor:Blaze of War
Mew tank sim from the makers of Steel Fury (which was one of the best tank games of all time)

BlackStar Chronicles
An action MMO described as a mix of the single-player traditions of Wing Commander with the multiplayer feel of Descent. It’s being developed by a team of people who previously worked on sadly canceled Privateer Online as well as on Star Wars Galaxies

Infinity: The Quest for Earth
MMO space simulator with huge procedurally generated universe

PUZZLE/CASUAL

Subversion
Fourth Introversion game (after Uplink, Darwinia and Defcon)

MULTIPLATFORM

XCOM

Bulletstorm
SF FPS from People Can Fly, makers of Painkiller.

Crysis 2

RAGE
New shooter from id Software

Brink
FPS from Splash Damage, makers of Quake Wars (8.5 from IGN)

Beyond Good & Evil 2

Deus Ex 3

Portal 2

American McGee’s Alice II
The first one got 9.4 from IGN

Max Payne 3
Max Payne got 9.3 from IGN, while it’s sequel scored 9.4

Dead Space 2
The first one got from IGN

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine PC
Action game from Relic.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Fantasy RPG from Big Huge Games (makers of Rise of Nations) and lead designer of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Trine 2
Sequel to 8.2 platformer.

Rock of Ages
A head-to-head, real-time tower defense game in which two players alternate between defending and attacking. When attacking you control a big-huge boulder that’s rolling towards your opponent’s gates. If you’re the one on the defense your attempt to slow and divert your boulder by placing towers, fans and units in boulder’s path. It’s being made by ACE Team, makers of Zeno Clash (which got 8.4 from IGN).

Dust
Spiritual successor to Populour created by Eric Chahi, the designer who made Another World (known as Out of this World in USA).

Red Faction: Armageddon
The previous entry in this franchise (Red Faction: Guerrilla) scored 8.0 at IGN.

Dungeon Siege III
THird entry in the popular hack and slash franchise. This time it’s being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, known for creating RPGs like Knights of the Old Republic 2 or Neverwinter Nights 2.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Cargo
New puzzle game from makers of Void and Pathologic.

Orion: Prelude
Commercial follow up to a popular mod.

Top Spin 4
New entry in the best tennis series of all time.

Section 8: Prejudice

Bastion
Inie action RPG from ex-EALA team members.

Captain Morgane
Semi sequel to adventure game So Blonde, which scored 8.0 from Adventuregamers.

The Haunted: Hell’s Reach
Multiplayer horror action game that’s a commercial follow-up to a mod that won Make Something Unreal competition.

Kings and Castles
Fantasy RTS from Gas Powered Games, makers of Supreme Commander series (on IGN first one scored 8.9, while the sequel 8.4 got).

The First Templar
Co-op centric action-adventure from Haemimont Games, makers of games like Tropico 3 (8.4 from IGN) or Celtic Kings: Rage of War (8.2 on the same site) and The Punic Wars: A Clash of Two Empires (8.0 from IGN).

Vessel
Indie platformer which gameplay based on manipulating fluids.

Dungeon Hero
From Firefly studios (makers of great Stronghold series and medicore Stronghold: Legends and CivCity, we’ll see how they do here)

Agency
Spy-themed action MMO from SOE

The Secret World
A MMO from makers of Age of Conan and Longest Journey franchise

Batman: Arkham Asylum 2
Sequel to action-adventure game that scored 9.3 on IGN

Spec Ops: The Line

Metal Gear Solid: Rising

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Driver: San Francisco

Super Meat Boy
Commercial revamp of great freeware game

Afterfall
A post apocalyptic roleplaying game following the good old school principles of the genre: non-linearity, turn-based combat, lots of roleplaying and decisions having real effect on the game world

Mechwarrior
The classic series returns.

I’ve stumbled upon this great article (and rehosted the images) while browsing reddit and copy pasted it, hope he doesn’t mind. It looks like 2011 is going to be a great year for both PC and console gaming (if they won’t fuck the games up…).

Source: http://adrianwerner.wordpress.com/2011-games/

Here’s a gameplay video:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Portal 2 - Out 9 February 2011

Valve has finally confirmed a release date for the upcoming Portal sequel known as Portal 2. While we knew that it would be arriving in 2011, many might be surprised to learn that it will in fact arrive on February 9th, 2011, which is a bit sooner than expected.

The news of the release date also came with the information that Portal 2 would be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC platforms on the same day. It is expected that a Mac release for Portal 2 is also likely, but so far Valve has not confirmed a release of a Mac version; but sources tell us that it is likely that they will do so after the February 9th release on the other platforms.

The big news about the Portal 2 release by Valve perhaps isn’t in the game itself, but the fact that Portal 2 will be released for the PlayStation 3. Valve has been closely aligned with the Xbox 360 for console releases and the PC where it uses its Steam platform to distribute and market its titles.

The PlayStation 3 release was announced at E3 earlier this year and effectively put an end to the exclusivity that the Xbox 360 enjoyed for Valve titles. While Portal 2 is the first of the current Valve titles to come to the PlayStation 3, sources tell us that if sales are as good as expected, it will not be the last.

Some footage of Portal 2:

Now all we can hope for is that Valve Time does not come into play …

Source: Fudzilla

Apple has got the message and has provided a graphics update for OS X Snow Leopard which will go some way towards closing the gap between the two platforms.

“When we launched Steam on Mac OS X back in May, there was a lot of buzz about performance, particularly relative to Windows running on the same machine,” says a statement from Steam bosses.

“While we met our goal of making sure all of our customers had an acceptable gaming experience at launch, we have spent a large chunk of effort in the intervening months working with Apple and their GPU vendors to close the performance gap with Windows.”

Steam reckons a combination of changes to its own code and the latest graphics update available from Apple today removes a variety of software bottlenecks, resulting in significant graphics performance enhancements for Mac gamers.

In addition to low-level implementation changes which have improved performance across the board, Apple has also removed some implementation inefficiencies which allow Steam games to improve visual quality, most notably in the area of GPU occlusion queries.

Since the latest update to 10.6.4, Steam has been able to properly implement ‘occlusion query’ which is a GPU-based mechanism which allows OpenGL to draw convincing lighting effects, particularly when a light source is obscured by in-game objects.

“A given light source may be partly or wholly occluded by other geometry in the scene and we use the occlusion query to determine how occluded it is. The percentage of a given light source’s screen area which is actually visible is used to scale the intensity of an additive glow sprite which is drawn over the frame without any z-buffering,” – Steam developer said.

“We have been able to measure performance improvements with the latest software update, but we are anticipating even more speedups if Apple implements the uniform_buffer_object extension and GLSL 1.3 in a future update. With these additional features, we will be able to sidestep this particular CPU bottleneck, allowing us to win back a bunch of CPU time and, ultimately, performance.”

The gaming community is reporting dramatic performance improvements on iMac (Late 2009 and Mid 2010), Mac mini (Early 2009 and Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Early 2009), MacBook (Early 2009 and Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) models. Older systems are generally already operating at the limits of the hardware, and Valve Software says it’s unlikely that any significant performance improvements can be achieved in the future.

In conclusion, Steam employees said, “We’re very excited about the performance improvements that Apple and the GPU vendors have been able to deliver this summer and we are working with them to further improve performance.”

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