jowood posts

Publishers JoWood and its subsidiary Dreamcatcher Games have been promoting their just released first person shooter Painkiller Resurrection as having co-op support for the single player game. But is that totally true? A post on the game's official message boards by a JoWood community manager reveals that the "co-op support" isn't quite as advertised.

The message states, "To play a coop game you have to start a dedicated server with the tool provided together with your game. Pull in the campaign maps from C9L01 to C9L06, choose FFA and start the game. You can also add / remove bots accompanying you there." Obviously most people think of setting up a co-op mode in a game via other means. The message adds, "We will add a more convenient ingame coop menu with the next update " So if you were expecting a normal co-op mode out of the box, this is just a heads-up.

Other people on the message boards have complained about other aspects of the game (filled with bugs, only six levels, price differences between Steam version and retail version) but those issues are really for reviewers to pounce on. However we felt the issue with the advertised co-op support should be addressed in a news article as an FYI to consumers.

[Thanks Matthew D]

Download the updated Painkiller: Resurrection Demo

JoWood has released an updated demo for Painkiller: Resurrection, which fixes gameplay issues found in the previous demo. System requirements are shown after the jump.

The Demo contains the complete intro, told in the style of a graphic novel; the tutorial, and the "Cathedral" - the first level of the game's intense campaign. The Painkiller: Resurrection Demo offers around 5% of the full version playtime. In addition to various powerful weapons (which include The Painkiller as well as the fans' favorite weapon, the Stake Gun) the Demo also showcases some of the new enemies.
Download Painkiller: Resurrection Demo #2 (1.21 GB)
Check out all Painkiller: Resurrection downloads

GoG.com's regular Tuesday update to its DRM-free classic PC game download line-up is a little different than most; a first person adventure game called Dark Fall: The Journal. First released back in 2002 by publisher JoWood, the game is now available from GoG.com for $5.99.

Developed by XXv Productions, the game has a horror bent (appropriate for Halloween week) as your character is summonded via an answering machine by your brother. He's been working to restore an old hotel and train station and needs your help for . . . something. You naturally want to help him and get on board a train to his location. However it appears that there's something very evil at his location and it's up to you to solve the mystery before it managed to get a hold of you. The game comes with a free downloadable game soundtrack.

Looks like the rush to get a demo out for Painkiller Resurrection has caused some issues. While the game's publisher JoWood (and its US subsidiary Dreamcatcher Games) are not recalling the single player demo to the upcoming first person shooter, they are admitting that the current demo is not up to their standards.

A JoWood spokesperson states on their message boards that, " . . . we accidentally released an old demo version. We really feel sorry for that." Never fear, however, as the publisher plans to release a new demo for the game next week that will mirror the quality of the final shipping version of the title. In the meantime Painkiller Resurrection is scheduled to be released on October 27.

Download Painkiller: Resurrection Demo (1.3 GB)

This is the playable demo for Painkiller: Resurrection. System requirements are shown after the jump.

"Developed by Homegrown Games with former developers and modders from the previous Painkiller games in collaboration with Studio Med-Art and with a Catholic priest advising, Painkiller Resurrection combines rock-hard, no-frills action and an exciting story with painstakingly researched details. In a bizarre world influenced by medieval ideas about hell and purgatory and Dante's Inferno, the mixture of fast, straightforward levels and enormous, explorable regions containing the worst scum of any hell provides a unique gaming experience."
Download Painkiller: Resurrection Demo (1.3 GB)

The DRM-free PC gaming download site GoG.com has now added the first two games in the historical strategy series The Patrician to its line-up. Both games, developed by the now defunct developer Ascaron Entertainment, have the player control a trader as he tries to expand his territory in medieval Europe. Both games are now available in a bundle for just $5.99.

GoG.com has also put all of their games from publisher JoWood on sale this week for 30 percent off until Monday at 11:50 pm Eastern Time. Also the fantasy RPG Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator is on sale at GoG.com for $1 off its normal price until Sunday.

The third stand alone game in the Painkiller first person shooter series is supposedly ready for your enjoyment. JoWood's subsidiary publisher Dreamcatcher has announced that Painkiller: Resurrection has now gone gold and will ship to stores and via download on October 27.

As we mentioned earlier this month, Steam is offering all of the previous Painkiller games for free when you pre-order the Homegrown Games' developed Painkiller Resurrection title. Dreamcatcher has also mentioned that a demo of the game should be released "shortly". The full game will feature a co-op mode through the game's all new single player campaign (a first for the series) along with improvements to the Painkiller graphics engine, new items and monstes and more.

[Via email press release]

What's October without taking at least one trip to Hell? Or at least Purgatory? In Painkiller: Resurrection, the latest addition to the Painkiller series, players will be able to step foot into the nightmarish underworld with all-new insane weapons to destroy everything that gets in the way. This time around, co-op play will be included to double up the destruction. Painkiller: Resurrection is scheduled to release on October 27th.

"William "Bill" Sherman has a problem - he's dead. Blown to pieces by his own C4 payload, which he wanted to eliminate a South American druglord with on behalf of some shady secret service people. The fact that he accidentally blew a bus full of innocent civilians into the Great Beyond has given rise to an all new problem - Hell doesn't exactly have any problems with claiming his soul. But now Bill's in purgatory and he's caught the eye of heaven's warriors. He's been offered a chance to make good the havoc he wrought using his quite special skills. And with weapons of course. Bizarre weapons. Crazy weapons..."

Download HD Painkiller: Resurrection Trailer (37 MB)

JoWood's upcoming first person shooter Painkiller Resurrection is now available for pre-order via Steam. Pre-orders get 10 percent off the game's already low $29.99 price tag. But that may not be the only reason to consider paying some money up front for the game from developer Homegrown Games.

In addition to the discount pre-orders get not one but two games for free and for immediate download. The Painkiller Black Edition (the original 2004 game from developer People Can Fly and the 2005 expansion pack) and Painkiller Overdose (the 2007 stand alone game from Mindware Studios) are actually quite fun to play, especially the first game in the series, and will give you a leg up on Painkiller Resurrection when it comes out in late October.

If you have been playing "2009 Game Release Fantasy League" at home you can go ahead and check off yet another title that was supposed to be out this year. Arcania - A Gothic Tale, the upcoming next game in the long running Gothic RPG series, won't make it out this year as previously announced.

In a new press release today, publisher JoWood stated they have "committed substantial extra development budget" for the Spellbound Entertainment-developed game so they have decided to give the title a little more production time. in the meantime, Piranha Bytes, the makers of the first three Gothic RPGs, will release their new title, Risen, this October.