Today Blizzard has removed the Ice Splash from their website and revealed Diablo 3!

So what can we look forward to in the newest Diablo series sequel?  Here’s what wikipedia has to say:

Diablo III is an action role-playing game similar in style to its predecessor, Diablo II. The proprietary engine will incorporate Havok physics and feature destructible environments with an in-game damage effect. The developers are aiming to make the game run on a wide range of systems, and have stated that DirectX 10 will not be required.^[3] Diablo III will use a custom 3D game engine^[4] in order to present an overhead view to the player, in a somewhat similar way to the isometric view used in previous games in the series.^[3] Enemies will utilize the 3D environment as well, in ways such as crawling up the side of a wall from the depths into the combat area.^[5]

Diablo III will retain a feel similar to that found in earlier games in the series, including the familiar Isometric Projection style camera.^[3]

As in Diablo II, multiplayer games will be possible using Blizzard’s Battle.net service,^[6] with many of the new features being developed for StarCraft II also available in Diablo III.^[3] Players will be able to drop in and out of sessions of co-operative play with others. Blizzard has stated that Diablo III is first and foremost a multi-player game, implying that players may still play solo, but will be better off playing with others in group situations.^[7]

An enhanced quest system, a random level generator, and a random encounter generator are slated for use in order to ensure the game provides different experiences when replayed.^[2] Overall, the game will include both static and randomly generated levels.^[7] Additionally, there will be class-specific quests to go along with the main storyline quests.

Looks like Diablo 3 has some great potential.  Check out Diablo Junkie (http://www.diablojunkie.com) for all of the latest news and information for Diablo 3.

Filed under: New Game Announcements | No Comments »

Today EA announced the development of the next game in the Command and Conquer Series, “Red Alert 3.”

Here’s what EA (and Wikipedia) have to say about the newest game in the Red Alert series:

In the Red Alert games, it is asserted that Adolf Hitler was prevented from rising to power, which prevented Nazi Germany from forming and prevented World War II as we know from taking place (Joseph Stalin is the main aggressor against Europe in that timeline).

After the events of Red Alert 2 the leadership of the doomed Soviet Union devises a plan to travel back in time and assassinate Albert Einstein^[7] (whose own time travels led to the events of the previous two games) in order to change history and restore the Soviet Union as a world power. However, during the mission, something goes quickly and horribly wrong and an “alternate timeline” is inadvertently created, erasing the events of the previous two games, which alters the technological evolution and creates a new, technologically advanced superpower in the East, known as the Empire of the Rising Sun. And thus, World War III breaks out among the Soviets, the Allies and the Empire and is fought with exotic weaponry such as “Tesla coils, heavily armed War Blimps, teleportation, armored bears, intelligent dolphins, floating island fortresses, and transforming tanks“.^[5]

Looks like Red Alert 3 has some great potential.  Check out Command and Conquer Junkie (http://www.commandandconquerjunkie.com) for all of the latest news and information for Red Alert 3.

Filed under: New Game Announcements | No Comments »

Today Blizzard unveiled the next World of Warcraft expansion, “The Wrath of the Lich King,” at Blizzcon.

Here’s what Blizzard (and Wikipedia) has to say about the new expansion:

Some of the features announced at BlizzCon 2007 include:

• Level cap raised to 80
• Battle with the Lich King at the Frozen Throne
• One new playable class: Death Knight
• A new continent: Northrend
• The creation of a new profession: Inscription
• Profession level cap raised to 450
• Hundreds of new items, quests, dungeons, creatures, spells and weapons
• Siege weapons and destructible buildings (for PvP)
• Transform your hero’s look with new character-customization options, including new hairstyles and dances.
• A non-instanced Battleground.
• Improved Graphics Engine (applied to shaders, flame effects and detailed shadows)
• New factions including the Speartusk and the Taunka, a racial cousin to the Tauren.

Subsequent features announced or confirmed by Blizzard include :

• Achievements for both the expansion and existing content
• New Mount, Vanity Pet and Token Storage

Find out more about the Wrath of the Lich King at WoW Junkie (http://www.wowjunkie.com).

Filed under: New Game Announcements | No Comments »