Thanks, Eurogamer. [image]

Thanks, CVG.

The Mac version of RAGE goes for $39.99 and includes both the first-purchase incentive Wasteland sewer missions and the Anarchy Edition content. It’s available via the Mac App Store as well as some other retailers, but has not yet appeared on Steam and the rest of the digital distribution massive.

What has appeared on Steam – and elsewhere – is a patch for RAGE, bringing the game to version 1.2. The substantial update fixes a number of bugs, but most importantly, addresses the much-derided texture issues which have been a source of annoyance since launch.

For those with high-performance rigs, a texture detail option has been enabled to improve the look of assets, while a new transcode benchmark has been added to help players discover how quickly their PCs can decipher encoded graphics information and adjust settings accordingly. Additionally, new error messaging and “safe” fallback settings have been implemented, so identifying and dealing with errors should be easier than in the past.

RAGE was id’s first new IP since Quake, released in October last year, and maintains an 81 Metacritic average on both consoles, with a 79 on PC.

Thanks, CVG. [image]

Ubisoft’s latest Kill Count Community Unlock Challenge resulted in combined platform assassinations reaching a whopping 15 million.

The Ippokratous Night map variant was already available on PC, but has now been made available to all platforms.

In other AsscReeRev news, a new patch for the PC versions has been released. Version 1.02 resolves a number of bugs and crashes in both single- and multiplayer.

Thanks, Blue, Shack.

Thanks, GameInformer.

“Game Update 2 is much bigger in scope [than Game Update 1],” game director James Ohlen told CVG.

“It’s further out from launch, so we can have much more of the team focussed on it. There’s Part 2 of Rise of the Rakghouls, a brand new planet called Denova which has an 8-16 man Operation and a new Warzone. So that’s three big pieces of content.

“We might also be able to get some new space game missions into it. In addition to that we have single player content that you’ll be able to go through as well.”

Additionally, BioWare has teams working on implementing the Legacy system of alt management, guilds, and PvP gameplay.

But that’s just the next content dump – Ohlen revealed BioWare isn’t thinking small.

“We have people working on content that won’t be showing up in the game until 2013,” he said.

“We have writers already finishing off content for that, so I can already play through stuff from 2013 content – just not with voiceovers.

“We’re planning really far ahead, and we have to do that because our content is more complex than your typical MMO content. It requires voiceovers, cinematics and all that.”

Thanks, Gamefront.

Thanks, Joystiq.

The latest patch has been described as free DLC, as it also includes Heroes and Heralds, a new mode exclusive to the Ultimate version of Marvel vs Capcom 3, in which players can join the heroes or villains of the combined universes. You can collect and equip special Ability cards which enhance character’s abilities, and you can take your customised builds into online play to give them a real test.

Shoryuken reports the patch also corrects a number of glitches, from the notorious Reverse World to Vergil’s hovering to infinite tech throws. Hit the link for a run down of patched glitches discovered so far.

The next piece of premium DLC, on the other hand, has suffered a delay. Capcom Unity reports the Anicent Warrior costume pack has been pushed back to March 6, in order to remove Magneto’s alternate costume – likely due to complaints from the Spanish royal family.

Finally, below you’ll find a trailer for the Vita version of the game, which releases alongside the console in February. The trailer takes in Vita-specific functions, namely touch controls; using your Vita as a PS3 controller to utilise the touch controls there; Heroes and Heralds and Spectator modes; online play; replays; content sharing through Near; and DLC sharing with your PlayStation 3.

Thanks, GameInformer

The patch will fix a number of issues including general stability and animation issues including the dreaded backwards-flying dragon.

Via Joystiq.

“While the 1.2 update fixed the long-term play issues for most PS3 users, we are aware that is not the case for some,” the developer wrote on its blog.

“We’ve been reaching out to a number of those users to collect save games, so we can take a look at their specific issues. Right now we know it’s not one thing, but a combination of smaller ones that some folks are seeing, but others are not.”

The optional background autosave seems to be one cause of ongoing PS3 issues, and can be disabled in the game’s menu, but Bethesda also mentioned “SPU AI updates” and “dynamic system memory allocation”.

Unfortunately, even knowing the cause, the fix isn’t due in the next patch:

“These fixes are not in the current 1.3 update that is in final testing, but will be in future ones,” Bethesda promised.

“We understand how frustrating it can be when your game is having issues, and we thank all of you for your continued feedback and patience. Rest assured we take your gameplay experience seriously and will continue working on this until it’s resolved.”

PlayStation 3 users have reported stuttering and lag-like symptoms as their save files age, which Fallout: New Vegas developer Josh Sawyer has attributed to the way Bethesda’s engine interacts with the console’s unique memory system.

Thanks, IGN.

The trailer below gives a very brief summary, but you can download a more detailed list of changes in PDF format from Capcom Unity.

In short: every single member of the roster has been rebalanced, with recent characters like Codey, Evil Ryu, Fei Long, Gen, Gouken, Hakan, Makoto, Oni, Yun and Yang seeing huge overhauls, while classic, fine-tuned brawlers like Sagat get the merest brush up.

That patch releases on December 13 as a title update for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360; no ETA on the PC version beyond “soon”.

Thanks, GameInformer.

Thanks, 1UP.

An update on the Bethesda Blog reveals the developer is planning to implement full support for Valve’s Steam Workshop, which acts as a marketplace for user-generated content.

For those who prefer existing communities, mods will still be available for sharing on indie sites like ModDB.

Facilitating all this, the Creation Kit, Bethesda’s latest suite of mod tools which are said to be nearly as robust as those used by the developers themselves, will arrive in January.

Regarding patches, Bethesda also promised a new incremental update next week, following on from 1.2′s release on all platforms over the last few days, and to resume releasing regular updates after the holidays.

The developer warned that stand-alone PC and Steam patches will arrive faster than consoles, due to faster certification turn around, and acknowledged problems introduced with past patches.

“We all know this is a huge game, and everyone has a different experience. We’ll continue to do everything we can to make the game better and better for as many people as possible every day,” the post commented.

“We’ve also realized that with the millions upon millions of people playing Skyrim, we need to treat our updates with greater care. If we get too aggressive trying to fix a minor issue, we run a risk of breaking something larger in a game like this.

“To be safe, we are prioritizing code side fixes right now over data fixes. Quest and balance issues are usually data, and those will start rolling in a large way with the January updates.”

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is out now on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Check out the full patch notes for more information. Age of Conan: Unchained is a free to play MMORPG from the creators of The Secret World.

Thanks, TenTonHammer. [image]

The new aiming option was listed in the 1.02 patch notes on the Naughty Dog blog, but apparently does not apply to multiplayer.

Uncharted 3 has been the subject of much complaint thanks to changes to the aiming used in the previous game. Naughty Dog went so far as to invite a pair of fans into the office to demonstrate and explain the problem, describing the feedback obtained as “super helpful“.

Fan reaction to the patch is likely to be mixed, as competitive players will be disappointed at being unable to use the new aiming options in multiplayer.

Several other adjustments to multiplayer have already drawn community ire, with tweaks to player speed nerfing the Fleet Foot ability considerably to great discontent – except from those on the receiving end.

As detailed on the game’s blog, the update brings 39 monsters including four bosses, three new NPCs, and 222 new items including four sets of armour and 21 accessories.

The update also adds a hard mode, overhauls lighting, rejigs the inventory system, adds a mechanic system fro crafting traps and other devices – and will be compatible with existing worlds.

Check out the trailer below. Terrarria is currently priced at $4.99 on Steam, down from $9.99.

Thanks, Evil Avatar.

A post on the on the Arkham City forums acknowledges the performance issues plaguing the brand new PC release of Batman: Arkham City.

“We’re working on a title update to address this matter and expect to make it available in the near future,” it promises, along with the usual sincere apologies for inconvenience caused.

If you just can’t wait, you can manually switch from DirectX 11 down to DirectX 9. Instructions, courtesy of Warner Bros., follow.

The PC version of the game hit Australia and the US yesterday and arrives in the UK on Friday.

Instructions for changing DX 11 to DX 9
The Launcher can be accessed on Games for Windows LIVE and Steam to change DX 11 to DX 9 in the Settings menu. Change both DirectX 11 Features and DirectX 11 Tessellation to OFF.
• Games for Windows LIVE
  Start > All Programs > Games > Right click on Batman: Arkham City and select Launcher > Settings
  1. Open the Start Menu
  2. Select All Programs and then the Games folder
  3. Right click on Batman: Arkham City and select Launcher
  4. Choose Settings then click on the arrow next to DX options to change
• Steam
  Launch Steam Client > Library > Right click on Batman: Arkham City > Configure PC Options
  1. Open Steam
  2. Select Library
  3. Right click on Batman: Arkham City and select Configure PC Options
  4. Choose Settings then click on the arrow next to DX options to change

Thanks, CVG.

Eurogamer reports the patch is available on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the US, and at least on the Xbox 360 in the UK. Other territories are expected to receive the patch shortly.

A Pastebin user has translated From Software’s patch notes from Japanese along with a number of observations from Japanese gamers.

Of greatest note, resonance signs are now visible – meaning one aspect of the game’s multiplayer largely invisible since launch is up and running.

The Pyromancer’s glove damage has been reduced from 270 to 230, making this class less of a powerhouse. Sorcery has been buffed a little, too, evening things out between magic users.

Slow spells have been reigned in a little, and shield spells have been overhauled. Iron Flesh is no longer as powerful.

Humanity has been fiddled with, increasing the drop rate from 10 to 210, making farming a much less frustrating experience. Sadly, your defence bonus has been lowered in compensation – but item discovery rate from gathered humanity is up.

You can see the full run down here.

Upping its tournament support, Epic has added an optional spectator mode to private versus matches. The spectator mode applied to 4v4 matches, with one player from each team nominated as spectator.

Another community-friendly tweak allows players to disable the HUD – perfect for making videos.

On the multiplayer side, fans will be either delighted or devastated to learn of the following exploit fixes, depending on whether they’ve been handing it out or taking it:

• The Onyx Field Engineer medal can no longer be prestiged.
• In Capture the Leader, the overhead Beams on DryDock are no longer accessible.
• While affected by the Smoke Grenade stun, players will no longer be able to take hostages, pick up weapons or revive teammates.

Check out the full patch notes for more details.

Thanks, Joystiq.

“We are continuing to work on an update for all platforms to address issues any bugs and [performance] issues we can,” Bethesda PR boss Pete Hines tweeted.

“We will fix as much as we can for your platform. I don’t know if it will fix ‘your’ bug. Takes a while to test/fix/regress. Hang in there,” he added, and in response to one particularly vocal fan:

“Patches/updates take a little time. We can’t turn it around quite that fast. It’s been three days. Calm down. We’re working on it.”

In the meantime, Hines requests players communicate feedback and report bugs directly with Bethesda support using this form.

Skyrim released last week on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and has pretty much consumed everyone’s life since then. Glitch videos have become a YouTube staple, and “horse physics” is well on its way to meme status. All part of the charm of massive open worlds – at least, during launch week.

Thanks, IGN.

After discussing the problem in a podcast, gameplay designer Alan Kertz tweeted a couple of images showing the proposed change to the lights; the blinding effect remains in place, but won’t be effective at a distance.

Other proposed changes include rebalancing of mobile AA guns to be less likely to send airborne vehicles careening wildly off into the middle of nowhere, and some method of repairing jets.

Not date has been set for the patch. Battlefield 3 is available now on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Thanks, CVG.

“We’re not going to be doing a lot of it. Our high-level thinking is that there’ll be not as many [pieces of DLC], but they’ll be bigger and more substantial,” Bethesda’s Todd Howard told Wired.

“Very quick DLC might sell well, but that’s not our priority. The goal overall is not necessarily to put out more content, but to make the game better.”

The first two bits of DLC will also be released on Xbox 360 first, followed by PC and PS3 30 days later, just like with Fallout: New Vegas.

Howard also indicated that Bethesda hasn’t ruled out delivering significant overhauls to gameplay mechanics via DLC.

The game will also receive an all-platforms day-one patch to version 1.1, as revealed by community manager Nick Breckon on Neogaf.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim releases on three major platforms on November 11. Dohvakiin!

Thanks, IGN, Kotaku.

According to Siliconera‘s translation of the Japanese patch notes, the patch will resolve problems with multiplayer matchmaking, which often left players unable to summon assistance.

Many of the game’s freezing issues have been countered, as has the duplication exploit, several bugs which could trap the player’s character, and a nasty attack delay. Defeating bosses will now award the correct amount of souls, and some bosses will also now also drop humanity or Homeward Bone items.

A number of specific abilities and equipment pieces have been tweaked, including magic shield, great magical shield, Iron Flesh, Pyromancy Flame, Tranquil Walk of Peace, and Ring of Fog; this last has been heavily criticised in the multiplayer community, as it reduces visibility and prevents lock on.

Balancing fixes include drop rates, equipment weight, and souls earned. Cracked Red Eye Orbs have been modified so they won’t be consumed if an invasion fails for any reason.

Shopkeepers have been given a once over, giving players access to useful items like the Bottomless Box and Smithboxes in multiple locations. More merchants will carry arrows of various types including the cheap standard arrows.

The patch brings the PlayStation 3 version of the game to 1.04, and is expected any moment now.

Battlefield 3 unlocks at midnight for US residents, while Europeans and Australians have a few days left to wait.

Thanks, Gamefront.

PastaPadre reports a patch nominally to fix NBA 2K12′s online issues has added nine new trophies to the PlayStation 3 version of the game.

The trophies have been associated with a promised Legends mode, bringing together the NBA’s best, which suggests it may be due soon.

The DLC is expected to add online gameplay modes for players in the core games NBA’s Greatest mode, who otherwise can’t be used in multiplayer.

2K has kept a resolute silence on when the content will release and whether it will be free or premium.

NBA 2K12 released earlier this month on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It holds a 91 percent Metacritic average, and an iOS version is on the way.

Thanks, Kotaku.

The patch details, posted on the developer’s website, have been translated on Neogaf, but apparently list just a few examples of changes planned, with more details to come soon.

• Fixes to certain spells and effects:
  - Magic Shield, Strong Magic Shield
  - Tranquil Walk of Peace
  - Ring of Fog, etc.
• Unlimited uses of magic and items
• Regular weapons rebalanced against reinforced weapons
• Adjustments to the player matching conditions
• Loading problems when switching between maps

Of particular note is the matchmaking fix, as there have been reports of problems for those trying to find co-op buddies or invade other players, and a change to the Ring of Fog, which has rapidly become notorious for its overpowered use in PvP situations.

No date on the patch yet, which is listed only for PlayStation 3 at present, and will bring the game to version 1.04. From apologises for the inconvenience and promises an update soon.

This is at least the third patch the PS3 version has seen so far; online functions were disabled completely shortly after Japanese launch to fix multiplayer problems, and a second patch resolved a number of system freeze problems.

Thanks, John.

As well as the character and item specific fiddling, Riot also intend to change up the newly-released Dominion mode a little.

Ambient XP gain will be cut by ten percent, to delay the end-game play currently almost inevitable in every match, and personal score will reflect efforts at defence and minion management as well as kills.

League of Legends is a PC exclusive, and one of the fastest growing eSports titles.

Thanks, Evil Avatar.

Previously, players could only tweak VSync, Texture Cache and Anisotropic Filter to get the visuals they were after. The new patch adds a bicubic-upsample option as well as a texture detail option.

This information comes from a tweet John Carmack sent out yesterday, “We have a bicubic-upsample+detail texture option for the next PC patch that will help alleviate the blurry textures in Rage.”

Thanks, DSOgaming!