Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition opens to the world on November 15 g21

Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition, an updated version of the classic BioWare RPG, is set to release November 15, according to the game's official website. Just like the reworked edition of the first Baldur's Gate, the sequel is set to include new characters, another Black Pits arena combat mode, and lots of work under the surface of the venerable game's interface and coding. As in the original Baldur's Gate 2, you're placed in a world that depends on the choices you make and the path you choose for yourself, some lawfully good and others perhaps chaotically evil. But there should be one or two new ways to uncover your character's true destiny, after hearing back in May that more than 350,000 new words of content had already been added to the enhanced version being completed by Overhaul Games and Beamdog. Our review of the first Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition ultimately came down to a balancing act between paying a higher price for the new version or downloading the original from a site like GOG.com and installing a variety of existing mods yourself for a similar experience. It's encouraging to hear that so much more new content is apparently planned for the updated version, which includes both the Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal segments of the game. Baldur's Gate 2: EE will launch at $25. The post Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition opens to the world on November 15 appeared first on PC Gamer.

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Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut gets Steam release on October 31 g21

Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut, or the update to what I like to call "Twin Peaks: The Video Game," is bringing its coffee fortunes, raincoat killers, and other survival horror nonsense to your PC this Halloween. For those who've only heard of the game through whispers or the much less accurate tea fortunes, Deadly Premonition is a survival horror game that tasks you, FBI special agent York, with solving a series of murders that has led you to the small, "everyone knows everyone" town called Greenvale. The game received a director's cut on consoles back in April, which added new controls, updated visuals and some extra story threads. The PC version will include all of that, plus some exclusive DLC goodies, the details of which have been rather vague. The PC version also gets Steam achievements and trading cards, if you're into that sort of thing. The original Deadly Premonition is known for having some rather rough edges, but its story and characters garnered a dedicated fan base (it passed Steam Greenlight after all). How the survival horror title will perform on PC is still a mystery, but it's nothing a few good ol' coffee fortunes can't predict. The post Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut gets Steam release on October 31 appeared first on PC Gamer.

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Square Enix reverses policy on Final Fantasy XIV video monetization g21

A decision by Square Enix to prohibit the monetization of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn content on YouTube and other video streaming sites has been reversed, according to updated policy language on the game's website. Previously, as Penny Arcade Report points out, Square didn't want to allow ads to be run alongside commentaries and Let's Play videos on sites like Twitch.tv and YouTube. This would have kept YouTubers, many of whom run ads and get paid for their work, from reviewing games like FFXIV, out of fear that they would get a strike against their channel and risk termination from the site. Square Enix today updated its policy, though as of this writing, the stance may seem contradictory. The applicable new language in the game's Materials Usage License reads as follows: "You may not use the Materials for any sales or commercial use, meaning you cannot receive license fees or advertising revenue, except as part of the partner programs operated by YouTube.com, Twitch.tv, Ustream.tv, or similar programs. If the operator of a partner program seeks to confirm our policy, please point them to this page as we do not have the resources to respond to all requests." But just below that statement, under "Guidelines for Videos," the license seems to contradict itself: "You may not monetize your video via the YouTube partner program or any similar programs on other video sharing sites." A comment provided to PC Gamer by Square Enix appears to acknowledge the confusion surrounding its policies: "Our revised stance is reflected in the first part of the statement. The second part unfortunately was not updated to reflect these changes but we are working to rectify this and apologize for any confusion we have have caused." The new decision should free up suitably-partnered streamers to use Final Fantasy XIV, which went live this week, to their heart's content.   The post Square Enix reverses policy on Final Fantasy XIV video monetization appeared first on PC Gamer.

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Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon’s Keep gets a prologue video g21

Gearbox has released a short film called "+5 to Punching: A Bunkers & Badasses Prologue," which acts as a prologue of sorts for Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon's Keep DLC you might remember falling into your digital lap last June. Apparently, everything began with Brick and Tiny Tina being captured and interrogated in a Hyperion stronghold, with Tina using her deranged imagination to give Brick the inspiration needed to break free of his chains and incapacitate the "sorcerer" holding them captive. It just goes to show how powerful a colorful imagination can be, though I suppose having biceps larger than your skull helps too. Borderlands 2′s next piece of DLC, the Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 2: Digistruct Peak Challenge, comes out September 3 and raises the level cap from 61 to 72. The more story-focused DLC T.K. Baha's Bloody Harvest, comes out sometime this Fall, though we're guessing it'll be around Halloween considering the main boss is named Jaques O'Lantern. Pumpkins tend to be a little more frightening in October, when they haven't transitioned to their delicious pie form. The post Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon's Keep gets a prologue video appeared first on PC Gamer.

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New Saints Row 4 DLC drops presidents, plunger gun on Steelport. g21

Feeling presidential today? Or maybe you're more in the mood for a relaxing trip to the country, plunger gun in hand. Saints Row 4 developer Volition dropped two new DLC packs this week, each with its own flamboyant take on wildly different aspects of American culture: historic presidents and hillbilly fashion. A game like Saints Row 4 doesn't seem to settle for any half-measures, and as we saw in our review, this kind of honesty leads to moments that are both ridiculous and incredibly satisfying.Tongue planted firmly in cheek, the game's new Presidential Pack DLC works to bring some reassuringly bizarre flair to Steelport with its focus on presidential costuming. Not satisfied with a George W. Bush or Barack Obama mask, you say? Volition's other DLC release this week, the Grass Roots Pack, is decidedly less interested in any kind of Oval Office refinement with its emphasis on double-barreled shotguns and sweat-stained overalls. As we see in the video above, the new DLC packs give you some new sartorial options that blend nicely with Saints Row 4′s extensive character customization. In addition to its costumes, the Grass Roots Pack includes a few new weapons as well as a truck right out of the Beverly Hillbillies, a part of history surely as revered as George Washington or Abraham Lincoln in the world of Saints Row. But I think that's exactly the point. The DLC packs are available for $2.99 each on Steam but unfortunately don't account for the resulting flashbacks to one of Keanu Reeves' finest films. The post New Saints Row 4 DLC drops presidents, plunger gun on Steelport. appeared first on PC Gamer.

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Always Sometimes Monsters explores the most terrifying setting—the real world g21

Always Sometimes Monsters is a new experimental game from publisher Devolver Digital that features no aliens, monsters or spaceships. It's a horror game of sorts, but only because the human condition is pretty horrible, if you think about it. A real-life roleplaying game, Always Sometimes Monsters features a character whose life is in the dumps. Their love life isn't going so hot, they're out of money, and things are getting a bit desperate. Retro art style and some nice music combine to make this one intriguing, off-beat little game. "Always Sometimes Monsters aims to explore themes and issues of the modern world where decisions you make affect your life and the lives of those around you," a release on Devolver Digital's site reads. "Start and end relationships with a colorful cast of characters, make an honest buck or lie for a few more dollars and deal with friendship and prejudice as you make your way through the modern grind." Devolver Digital is showing Always Sometimes Monsters off at PAX, so while you're waiting for the PC Gamer panels to start, be sure to stop by booth 871 and take a look. Any game that defies genre conventions and pushes gaming in a new direction is worth trying out. Always Sometimes Monsters is due out on PC sometime in 2014. The post Always Sometimes Monsters explores the most terrifying setting—the real world appeared first on PC Gamer.

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