2k-marin posts

The X-Com game franchise remains one of the most loved in all of PC gaming history. The original X-Com UFO Defense from the now defunct publisher Microprose is still a very good example of addictive turn-based strategy gameplay. The X-Com trademark is now owned by Take Two Interactive via their 2K Games brand and after several years of waiting the franchise is now coming back to life but in a very different version.

Yep, there's a reason why the new game is called XCOM (with no hyphen). The title, which is being made from developer 2K Marin's Australian offices, has shifted its focus from a strategy title to a first person shooter. Many fans of the original X-Com games have already cried foul claiming that this is not their idea of a new X-Com game. And we agree with them up to a point. This is definitely not what we pictured a new entry in the series would be like. At the same time, that doesn't mean this new title has to be a bad game. We got a chance to see a live demo of XCOM in action during E3 2010 and at the moment we think it could be a solid game title in its own right.

So you have been waiting to see what the new first person shooter-based XCOM game is supposed to be like in motion? Well IGN has managed to get the first trailer for the 2K Marin-developed game that's supposed to be a (sort of) successor to the terrific X-Com 1990s turn based strategy titles from the now defunct Microprose.

We will say this about this revamped XCOM; the aliens are a bit more frightening than those slightly goofy gray aliens from the original games. They are all black and liquid like a BP oil slick (and how ironic is that?). Hopefully we will see more of this quasi-1950's world when we see the game in action at E3 2010. In the meantime the IGN trailer can be seen after the jump.

Download HD XCOM Trailer (247MB)
Check out all XCOM downloads

This patch for BioShock 2 addresses a list of gameplay issues, fixes bugs and improves overall game stability. Continue reading after the jump for a full list of changes.

Download BioShock 2 Patch #3 (174 MB)
Check out all BioShock 2 downloads

Even with this crappy economy, the tickets for the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con have all been sold out for months. If you are lucky enough to get a ticket you will be able to have a change to purchase some exclusive comics, toys and other items at the July show.

Many action figure companies have exclusive products at Comic-Con and this week Toy News International reports that one of them, NECA, has revealed that their Comic-Con exclusives will include an Eleanor (with Saved Little Sister) figure from their BioShock 2 line up. This is likely just the first of what will be many game-oriented Comic-Con exclusives for 2010.

[Via Kotaku]

PC owners of BioShock 2 have been waiting patiently for their version of the downloadable Metro Pack that was released for the console ports a couple of weeks ago. Now the recent first person shooter's official community site has now posted word that the pack will finally be available for download via Games for Windows Live Marketplace on Tuesday for 800 Microsoft points (about $10).

Just a reminder: The Metro Pack will add six new multiplayer maps to the game along with three new achievements and the "Rebirth" feature for players at level 50. In addition there will be two new multiplayer characters that will be made available for 160 Microsoft points (about $2). Finally, all BioShock 2 players will gain access to the new and free Kill'Em'Kindly multiplayer mode where players pummel one another with golf clubs. Good times

[Via Blue's News]

The Rapture Metro Pack is expected to go live tomorrow, giving BioShock 2 players a chance purchase all-new maps to explore, shoot up and burn with plasmid abilities. Also releasing tomorrow it is a free multiplayer game mode called Kill'em Kindly, where players jump into melee action using golf clubs, inspired by a pivotal scene from the original BioShock. Apparently, bludgeoning each other with golf clubs represents some sort of ultimate expression of free will... or is it actually slavery? Players will have a chance to figure that out for themselves when the content goes live.

Download HD BioShock 2 'Kill'em Kindly' DLC Trailer (135 MB)
Check out all BioShock 2 downloads

It looks like there will be even more downloadable content coming for BioShock 2. Publisher 2K Games just sent over word that besides the previously announced Rapture Metro Pack the recent first person shooter will get a new, and free, multiplayer mode call Kill'Em'Kindly. As you can see from the above screenshots, players in this mode are armed with golf clubs and are not afraid to use them.

In addition there will be a new character pack that will add two more multiplayer characters to the game for 160 Microsoft points (about $2). This is in addition to the Rapture Metro Pack that will add six multiplayer maps, three new achievements and the Rebirth Feature to take players down to level one to get a new mask. The PC version of the game will be getting all of this DLC "soon".

Gallery: BioShock 2 Screenshots

The PC Gamer magazine article on the newly announced XCOM game has now been posted up on GamesRadar for everyone to check out, effectively making this the first lengthy preview of the upcoming first person shooter revival from 2K Marin's Australia offices. It also has a number of new screenshots for this reboot of the X-Com franchise.

The new screenshots show that the game takes place in 2K Marin's version of the 1950s with the appropriate amount of paranoia and suspicion that was the product of the time. Don't expect the aliens of the original X-Com to show up either; these new enemies seem to be unlike any that have been made for a game before. It's clear that this new game will get a lot of attention at E3 this June.

A few weeks ago we got news that the X-Com game franchise was getting a reboot with XCOM, a first person shooter that's being developed by the Australian branch of 2K Marin. Now the new June 2010 dated issue of the Official Xbox Magazine has a new cover story on the game with some of the first details of the title. In fact the mag has two XCOM covers; one for subscribers (shown to the right) and the other for newsstands.

The NeoGAF message boards have posted up an extensive look at some of the info revealed in the OXM preview. We won't reveal too much here for anyone who wants not to be spoiled but here are a few tidbits. One is that the X-Com world map has been changed to one of the US but you can still choose which missions to take on in the game. You also get some fellow agents to help you out in the field against the aliens but you have no direct control of them. Finally it's still not know if the game will have a multiplayer mode.

As we await the release of the second mini-expansion for BioShock 2, the game's publishers at 2K Games are giving fans of the recent first person shooter a chance to win $5,000 in a new contest. All you have to do is create a video using in-game footage and make it "outrageous".

Of course, "outrageous" for some people might mean watching Supernatural live instead of later on the DVR but to each its own. If you want to make a BioShock 2 video you have until June 7 to submit it. Oh, and did we mention that you also get a Big Daddy suit if you win along with the cash? Yep, its a chance for you to get a new Halloween costume.