The Gothic series of fantasy RPGs has a big following in Europe but has never quite gotten as munch attention here in the US. The game's publisher Jowood has apparently decided to do something about that. Gamespot reports that working with their US subsidiary Dreamcatcher, Jowood has decided to rename the next game in the series. Previously known as Gothic 4, the game is now known as Arcania: A Gothic Tale.

The name change isn't the only thing the publisher is doing to attract US gamers. The article reports that the game will have a colorful and bright art style for the US version versus a dark and gritty look for the European release. The game is still a ways away from release (its due out in late 2009) but the article has some brief impressions based on checking an early build. The game will take place 10 years after the events of Gothic 3 and there will be improvements made to the combat in Arcania as well as more of an emphasis on magic.

Uwe Boll's movie adaptation of Running With Scissors' Postal action game series seemed to be a marriage made in heaven. Both Boll and Running With Scissors have generated tons of controversy with their previous products and both have been slammed by most mainstream critics. However the clips we have seen of the Postal movie definitely have a dark humor appeal.

After a number of delays, the Postal movie finally got scheduled for a wide release in theaters on May 23 via the distributor Freestyle Releasing. But according to a press release from Boll's production company and sent to Kotaku, the major theater chains in the US are "boycotting Postal because of its political content." Thus a planned opening of the movie on 1500 screens has been reduced to just four theaters. Of course, another reason for theater owners not wanting Postal may be Boll's awful box office record; his last theatrical movie (In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale) made just under $3 million in its opening weekend last January.

Valve continues to add games to its popular Steam download service and this weekend Steam users can check out and purchase a number of new titles. The highlight this weekend is the the addition of Season 2 of Sam and Max, the acclaimed episodic adventure game from developer Telltale Games (and based on the comic book series created by Steve Purcell). All five episodes are now available for download and for one week both season one and two of Sam and Max are available on Steam for 10 percent off their normal price.

Other new additions include four budget priced Activision games (Soldier of Fortune: Payback, Monster Jam, Historic Channel: Battle for the Pacific, and Cabala's Trophy Bucks) and Sega's Iron Man movie game. Also, for this weekend only, the price for Ubisoft's best selling PC port of Assassin's Creed is available for $10 off its regular price.

We love gold . . .announcements. The latest is for GRID, the new racing sim game from developer-publisher Codemasters. On the game's official message boards, the official word from the game's executive producter is, " We got Games For Windows approval yesterday and went gold today."

The US version of the game is due for release on June 3 (Europeans get it a few days earlier on May 30) and it promises to live up to the high standards of previous Codemasters racing titles as high powered sports cars race each other in a variety of tracks set around the world. If you want a taste of what's to come, why not check out the demo of the game that Big Download just happens to have available?

[Via Blue's News]

Last month, Electronic Arts decided to extend their deadline for their $2 billion buy out offer for Take Two interactive until 11:59 pm on May 16. In case you weren't sure, that was yesterday. Yep, the deadline has come and gone without any comment at all from either party as of the posting of this article.So the big question is, "Now what?"

Take Two's stock ended trading on Friday at $27.10 a share, much higher than EA's offer of $25.74. Just a few days ago, EA revealed in a financial filing that it had secured a $1 billion loan they could use in such a buy out deal. So what happened? Is EA going to walk away? Will they prepare a new offer? Will Take Two consider other offers as the company's management hinted they might do after the release their Rockstar Games branded title Grand Theft Auto IV? The ball is in EA's court.

Electronic Arts announced today that the PC version of BioWare's Sci-Fi RPG Mass Effect has gone gold. The game will reach store shelves in North America on May 28th. The European release date is June 6th.

The press release notes that customers who pre-order the game from EA's online store will get some free Dead Space merchandise -- "the first issue of the Dead Space comic book and a Dead Space poster while supplies last." It's probably a safe bet that the two sci-fi themed, third-person games appeal to a similar crowd.

Mass Effect, originally released on Microsoft's Xbox 360 console, will include some new features in its PC incarnation -- a revamped user interface, more customizable and powerful combat controls, and 90 minutes of additional storyline content available to 360 users only as a pay-to-play download, called Bring Down the Sky.

Despite sporting a name that you would not show to your mother, Retromaster 5's new arena shooter is quite excellent and doesn't actually contain any inappropriate content. Much like Geometry Wars clone Vector Infector, it (we shall only refer to this game by a pronoun) is a simple, pixelated retro arena shooter with epilepsy-inducing graphics and a delightfully easy scoring scheme. Mixed with the retro feel about it all, it's very fun for freeware fans or shooter fans in general, and worth playing at least once. The name just happens to by NSFW. You have been warned.

[Via IndieGames]

BioWare head honcho and EA VP Ray Muzyka spoke with IGN in a video interview about the PC gaming industry and his company's upcoming projects for the platform. He had positive things to say about the state of PC gaming.

"I think the PC market right now is a very strong place. It's stronger than it's ever been," he said. He talked a bit about microtransactions, digital downloads, and other new developments, but added: "You know at the end of the day it all comes down to can you make a really great game really fun for your fans? And if you can do that and you understand who your fans really are, I think it's an incredibly great opportunity to develop for PC."

He also commented briefly on BioWare's mysterious new Dragon Age IP, saying it's the next generation of and the spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights tradition. There's some discussion of Mass Effect in the interview, as well -- reassurance about the DRM controversy, talk of the PC version's interface enhancements, and speculation about future games in the franchise.

Today via press release, it was announced that famed BioShock lead designer Kev Levine would be keynoting the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo (PAX). Levine, head of 2K Boston (formerly Irrational Games), has been tapped for his contributing role in the gaming industry and his unique story telling abilities to kick-start the event.

Apparently one other reason was a driving force behind the decision for the organizers of PAX, his pimpage. "Obviously, Ken is pimp supreme," said Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo, "We're super excited to have him open up the show."

Joined by Levine is a gaggle of musical guests, including: FreezePop, the MiniBosses, Jonathan Coulton of Portal's 'Still Alive' fame and many more.

The event also gives 20 lucky pre-registrants the opportunity to compete in a wide-range of games for a chance to win a trip for two to the Tokyo Game Show, $5000 dollars spending money and a new home theater system.

The fifth annual Penny Arcade Expo lands at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle, Washington on August 29-31.

According to FireFly Studios co-founder Simon Bradbury, new installments in the Stronghold and Crusader franchises will eventually see the light of day.

Bradbury said FireFly's current focus is the Xbox 360 and PC action game Dungeon Hero, which is set for a Spring 09 release, but would revisit the studio's other franchises eventually. "Certainly we'll be looking at Dungeon Hero first," he told Videogamer at the Stronghold Crusader Extreme/Dungeon Hero event in London, "I would think if we were to start off work in earnest on Stronghold, the next iteration, it would be after that. "

Bradbury mentions that while the studio feels it isn't time for a new Crusaders installment, fans have been asking for it and Firefly would eventually deliver.

It appears the speculation has been confirmed. Less than an hour ago Joystiq received confirmation from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) that LucasArts is no longer a member of the organization.

According to Rich Taylor, Senior VP of Communications and Research for the ESA, LucasArts has decided to allow their ESA membership expire and will not be renewing. "We value each member of our association, but respect the unique factors that led to LucasArts' decision," Taylor said in a statement released by the ESA.

Director of public relations at LucasArts Margaret Grohne responded to the announcement saying it was business as usual now that LucasArts has branched away from the ESA. "As a company we are still committed to bringing consumers the best interactive experience possible and support the ESA's mission in the industry. LucasArts will be participating in E3."

Recently the ESA was faced with a similar issue when Activision and Vivendi Games announced they had decided to depart the organization over unnamed "business" issues.

ESA's Rich Taylor and LucasArts Margaret Grohne's full statements are available after the jump.

Big robots are a staple science fiction, ranging from the mecha of Gundam to the more realistic Battletech series. Naturally, the PC have seen their fair share of mech games, mostly from the Battletech property (Mechwarrior 2, anyone?). In this same vein, a freeware mech combat game called Young's Modulus has been released to continue the robot-killing legacy. Featuring simple (but not bad) graphics, an interesting interface, and a more detail-oriented focus than most robot combat games, it's worth a try for any mecha combat fans. Plus, it even has a conquest mode, which is a nice change from most mech games.

A note to those who want to play it: To unlock the demo, input any 6-digit code. You can't use the numpad to insert the numbers.

[Via IndieGames]

It's been over three years since Blizzard first launched their massively successful fantasy MMO World of Warcraft. One of the reasons for its popularity is the fact that the game has relatively light system requirements. Of course this comes at the expense of leaving out some advanced in-game graphics and effects. But a new chat with a Blizzard team member at Eurogamer indicates that the game could someday get a graphical overall.

In fact when the upcoming expansion pack Wrath of the Lich King is released it will add some optional high-end graphical effects to the game. But according to Blizzard producer J. Allen Brack a complete graphical overhaul of the game was considered as well for this expansion and could be considered for a future expansion pack. However, Brack points out that some players might still play the original World of Warcraft client for a variety of reasons and as he states, " . . .the idea that we would spend so much time and energy on something and have people go, 'meh, that's not really for me,' that's not very exciting." So don't hold your breath for any DirectX10.1 upgrade anytime soon.

No doubt the cousin of Professor Science, the Jetpack Brontosaurus has been eagerly awaiting to explore the stars with his trusty thruster. The much anticipated browser game of his adventures has finally entered alpha, allowing anyone to step into his over-sized dinosaur boots. Featuring a few missions, there's not much to it at the moment, but it is an alpha. Check it out at the official Flashbang Studios site. You'll need the Unity Player installed on your browser to play, and remember to fill out the feedback form!

[Via IndieGames]