Update: we now also know that this will indeed be free to play, and that the beta kicks off tomorrow.

Oho, looks as though we’re actually getting two new Command & Conquer games. We know about the Frostbyte-powered, militaristic Generals 2, but the Tiberium universe yet lives too. Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances is a browser-based, HTML 5-powered “epic strategy MMO” which “allows players to experience C&C in a brand new way.” Primarily by being able to access it from most any browser – they seem to be thinking about mobile devices here too. The MMO bit revolves around playing with or against your friends and forming alliances on a “dynamically updating map”. Despite all this new-fangled newness, the brief website maintains this is “hardcore strategy.” On dev duties are Battleforge chaps Phenomic.

There’ll be a closed beta soon, though the URL for it is deaded. Now working. Gogogo!

Update: now with capsule thoughts on all the games in the bundle.

[Bites tongue to prevent another 'too many bundles' whinge] There is another bundle! But this is one entirely free if you wish it to be (you can lob the devs a donation if you want to show your appreciation), and it’s full of mad little stuff as opposed to big-ish indie games you’ve perhaps already heard of. The 99 Percent Bundle is arranged by the fine folk at Indievania, and contains 13 unknown freeware pleasures from assorted devs. Most of them have excellent names: – Super Bogus World, Lone Boss and Cub, Pixel Slaughter, Next Time I Won’t Trust The Man In The White Van…

A few comments on each of the 13 games here below – including a decision on which one is my favourite. And my least favourite too, to be honest. (more…)

The delayed Nuclear Dawn free weekend will be upon us from tomorrow! Igor from InterWave sent us this message about the FPS-RTS hybrid’s exciting promotional event: “In preparation for the Free Weekend on Steam, running Thursday 15th through Monday 19th, InterWave has released their biggest update for Nuclear Dawn since its release in September. The patch brings the début of all-new features and a host of improvements, including new weapons and interactive single-player training.” He also says the game will be 40% off at $12.

Have a read of Dan’s take on the game from just after launch if you want to know a bit more about what you’d be getting yourself into.

The next MMO making its inevitable way to being free-to-play is NCsoft’s Aion, the flying game that does its best to never let you fly. Come next February and you’ll not need to pay to get into the game, via the powers of Gameforge. This is, say Eurogamer, NCsoft’s plan to “boost player numbers in Europe”. In other words, people aren’t playing the disappointing Western incarnation of the MMO, and they want to reawaken the servers. And this is a long-proven method.

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It’s going to be Mass Effect trailers from here until March I reckon, at which point we can finally play the game and enjoy the conversation as well as the guns. This new’un resolutely focuses on the latter, or more specifically giant space beasts at war as tiny ManShep legs it around a collapsing cityscape in their wake. Spectacular stuff, but scripted from here to eternity and all a bit Gears of Warsy. (more…)

First there was an indie game development conference event called World Of Love and now there is one called Bit Of Alright. Secretly, they are the same thing! So that means talks by indies, for indies, about the art, business, and overall satisfaction (or lack thereof) in making indie games for a living. Bit Of Alright is taking place on 3rd February in London. Tickets cost £20 for the early birds, which is here. Fragments of the Hivemind will be there, so do say hello if you come along.

Moderately-entertaining free multiplayer-only browser-based Diablo ‘em up Drakensang Online is going to expand before Christmas. Bigpoint have told us that “The NORLANDE expansion update is bringing several new quests, more than a dozen new levels, numerous monsters and champions, new bosses, and new character items and equipment to the game.” More importantly, there’s now some additional class variety with Rangers. These chaps are “agile archers, but also pack a punch.” According to the info “The Rangers will be accompanied by a whole new skill system that makes skills easier and better to use”. This is, apparently, part of increasing the currently limited skill sets for all characters, and making the game’s customisation have a bit more depth. So that’s good!

As previously leaked, the latest Humble Indie Bundle‘s pay what you wantness contains: Super Meat Boy, Shank, Jamestown, Bit.Trip Runner, and NightSky. For people who pay over the average there’s also Cave Story and Gratuitous Space Battles. The cash split has changed a bit this time, because the EFF is no longer one of the charities, and you can choose how your donation gets split between the developers, Child’s Play, and the American Red Cross.

Trailer thing belowwww. (more…)

Ubisoft have just dolloped out a dose of paid-for DLC for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, and by my grandmothers long dead knees, they’ve released the PC version at the same time as the 360! The Ancestors Character Pack is out even before the PS3, which gets it tomorrow. This explains those cracks that have been appearing in the streets, and the low, dreadful rumbling of rising beasts. It is indeed, as foretold in the ancient prophecies, the end of days. Enjoy it while it lasts. Or, perhaps, don’t.

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I’ve been playing The Wreckless on and off throughout the day, and during that time there have been moments when I’ve thought – “holy crap, this is the answer to my TIE Fighter cravings”. Hopefully that’s enough to send plenty of people scurrying off to download the demo immediately. I’ll move onto my reservations later but I’ll leave them to one side for now because this is an honest-to-goodness space combat simulator, with simple controls, physics that allow for drifty dogfights and lasers that light up the dark void with their scorching fury. YES.

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