If you’re one of the 6 people that were actually dumb enough to go out and buy Games for Windows LIVE subscription, fear not, you can finally return the borrowed money as Microsoft is refunding the GFW LIVE subscriptions.

But that’s not all. To reward those gamers who have been with the service from the beginning, Microsoft will be giving refunds to gamers who have been subscribing to the Games for Windows Live service specifically. “Yes, there will be a benefit for customers who purchased gold subscriptions on Windows,” said Unangst. “Proactively, we will be offering refunds for those with Windows-specific Gold subscriptions. Customer service has already begun to get communications prepared.” 

Don’t blame us, with a name like Gamecock, it’s incredibly hard writing a title without introducing sexual innuendos…Anyway, Gamecock, after partnering with Steam, is now giving some love (god damn it, again!) to GameTap.

Press Release:

Video game publisher Gamecock Media Group announced today that it has finalized a new partnership with GameTap, the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) network that is a leader in digital game distribution and broadband entertainment. The partnership includes the rights for the publisher’s titles to be available for digital download in GameTap’s online store, as well as for subscription and ad-supported play. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest issue of PC Gamer Malaysia has GTA IV on the cover alongside the tag line: “Now on console, soon on PC”

The picture is taken from Lingaoyi.com, you can read a google translation here.

Sam Fisher will be late on his latest assignment as Ubisoft’s latest quarterly report has confirmed the rumored (now final) delay of Splinter Cell: Conviction. The game will now be sneaking into your PCs/consoles in 2009/2010. Bad luck, Sam.

− Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, whose release was previously scheduled for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008-09, will now bolster the line-up for fiscal 2009-10.

Vimeo.com, the site that most us go to check out frag videos and/or speedruns, is banning uploads of any and every video game related media.The company officially announced it via a blogpost on July 21st.

The Vimeo staff has decided that we are no longer going to allow gaming videos on Vimeo. Specifically, we are no longer going to allow game walk-throughs, game strategy videos, depictions of player vs player battles, raids, fraps, or any other video gaming videos that simply depict individuals playing a video game. Videos falling into this category will be subject to deletion as of September 1st; new videos of this type will be removed.

Ofcourse, it’s rather irreverent that most people visit the site just to view the game related videos. But it’s okay, shooting yourself in the foot is always a good idea.

If you’re looking for some alternatives, point your browsers to:

WeGame.com
VReel
NoobFlicks

Press Release:

Outspark today announced the newest addition to its virtual playground: Blackshot. A militaristic first-person shooter loaded with powerful weapons, lifelike characters and gritty environments, Blackshot’s intense multiplayer action will appeal to gamers of all skill levels. Outspark continues to aggressively build out its rich portfolio of free-to-play games, and is bringing its community of nearly three million gamers yet another exciting and immersive title with Blackshot. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone’s favorite fuzzy detectives to get the special edition treatment!

Press Release: 

Interactive entertainment pioneer Telltale, Inc. is announcing that the Collector’s DVD for the acclaimed game series Sam & Max Season Two is available for ordering today. Telltale has given the second season of “gaming’s first sitcom” the premium boxed-set treatment that has become common for television favorites, with behind-the-scenes extras and loads of special features. Telltale is also introducing new merchandise today to celebrate the release, including a signed commemorative print, a 2-CD Season Two soundtrack, and several special bundle offers. Read the rest of this entry »

Another update for the famous indie title; Audiosurf.
Audiosurf

• Players can now easily experiment with custom game modes by
  combining special tags in song names. More info is available on the
  forums
  • [as-4lane] Play with 4 lanes
  • [as-monoonly] Mono characters required
  • [as-everybodymono] All characters have only 2 block colors
  • [as-lessgrey] Mono characters have less grey blocks
  • [as-allgrey] Mono characters have all grey blocks
  • [as-nogrey] Mono characters have no grey blocks
  • [as-monoptX] Base points for Mono characters (default 3)
  • [as-nostlth] Remove Stealth and cumulative hit bonuses
  • [as-swind] Sidewinder camera mode
  • [as-bankcam] Banking camera mode
  • [as-first] First-person camera mode
  • [as-caterp] Block caterpillars
  • [as-mszX] Minimimum match size (number for X)
  • [as-wbX] Percentage of white/black blocks
  • [as-mtX] Match collection ticks (default 10-25)
  • [as-prowsX] Puzzle row count (0-8)
  • [as-hidepuz] Play with an invisible puzzle grid
• Fixed bug finding CD tracks in drives beyond the first

Get them from Steam.

If you’re tired of EA’s never ending franchises, wait till you hear that they’ll soon be coming to life as movies. That’s right, EA has partnered with UTV (United Talent Agency) to milk the games even further by releasing movies based on them. Yay!

UTA is an ideal partner for us to bring the richness and story telling nuance of our popular games into other forms of media that give consumers more ways to experience these creative concepts,” said Patrick O’Brien, Vice President of EA Entertainment. “Some of our teams have already made steps to expand our games into other forms of media like online, social networks and print publication. This partnership will help us take these efforts to the next level and match each of our titles with the right artists, producers and financiers.

Flagship may have lost the IP, but their overhyped MMO is still very much alive. Namco Bandai games have made an “official” annoucement by the means of a forum post:

Hello Hellgaters,

I know everyone is looking for an announcement, and we’d love to make one — but right now, many things are in flux and we don’t have all the information yet. As soon as we do, we’ll post here on the forums, on the website, and anywhere else we can find you.

In the short term, please do not worry. The game is up, the servers are not going away in the short term and any major changes to status will be communicated in advance.

I’d like to ask for your patience as we try to figure it all out and chart a new course. We value your community, your commitment, and your passion for Hellgate and we will make sure that any solution that we architect will support all of you as best as we are able.

Thanks again. We hope to have a real announcement shortly.

__________________
Zack “Ozuri” Karlsson
Sr. Director, Business Development
NAMCO BANDAI Games America, Inc.

Hellgate: London - the game itself, continues to live along. For how long, that’s anybody’s guess. But with salty responses like these, it looks as if Hellgate: London already has one foot in the grave.