There were a few semi-big announcements for an otherwise average week. Ubisoft announced the next Settlers game and Sega announced an expansion pack for Phantasy Star Universe.
Budget game developer CITY Interactive revealed The Hell in Vietnam this week, a budget FPS based during the infamous Vietnam War. The brief features list includes 8 missions, use of various US Army weaponry, and use of various military vehicles. The game is set for release in Q2 2007.
Newly formed developer Diesel Games announced its debut title today, an FPS called Deprived. The game is billed as a survival horror FPS and will be using a new audio technology called GenAudio. There’s no word on a release date but the game will be coming to the PC and Xbox 360.
A new Unreal Engine 3 MMORPG is in the works over at Hi-Rez Studios. Titled Global Agenda, the game will be espionage-themed. It takes place in the 22nd century and planned features include an extensive character customization system, planned solo, co-op and team objective based missions and player-created agencies for weaponry purposes. There’s no word on a release date.
Ubisoft announced the next entry in the long-running Settlers strategy franchise. Titled Settlers: Rise of an Empire, Blue Byte will return as the developer and the game is expected this September. A huge list of features are on the page, which includes a totally re-vamped settlers system (complete with daily chores and animations), a new single player campaign, multiplayer features, more units (entertainers and organizing fairs) and four new climatic zones for season changes.
The only new expansion revelation comes from Sega. It revealed an upcoming expansion pack for the hack-‘n-slash MMO, Phantasy Star Universe. Titled Ambition of the Illuminus, it’ll feature a new storyline (focusing on the Human Fundamentalist group), new levels (Ruins of the Old Rozenom City and Granigs Mines), expanded character customization, new lobbies (Casino Voloyal), new weapons, new combat abilities, and new enemies. The expansion will be available as a download for the Xbox 360 and in stores for PS2 and PC; it carries a fall 2007 release date.
