High-sci-fi MMORPG and high-fantasy JPRG join S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat expansion and Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff add-on during light release week.
After a jam-packed January, gamers' wallets get a respite at the beginning of 2010's second month, which bears only a few major releases. That said, one of those titles may be the game of the decade for Star Trek fanatics with a taste for massively multiplayer online role-playing games.
This week, Cryptic Studios is boldly going where no developer has gone before by launching an MMORPG set in the Star Trek universe, Star Trek Online. The Atari-owned studio behind last year's Champions Online took over the project after initial developer Perpetual Entertainment closed down in 2008.
Since then, the San Francisco Bay Area shop has been hard at work revamping Star Trek Online, which entered open beta for preorderers last month. The game is rated T for Teen and retails for $50 a la carte or as part of an $80 special edition. Subscription plans start at $15 per month in the US and Australia, although cheaper deals for long-term subscribers can be found on the game's official Web site.
Gamers who prefer RPGs to have a beginning, middle, and end can check out Sony's Japanese import White Knight Chronicles. Developed by Level-5 (Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box), the third-person game was unveiled at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show and released in Japan in December 2008.
The International Edition of the game contains a fully localized version of the Japanese original, which publisher Sony claims has a potential 100 hours of gameplay. It also sports a number of extras, including 50 additional on-disc online quests, with still more quests becoming available as downloadable content.
White Knight Chronicles: International Edition will also include more in-game dialogue options than the original, online voice chat, and the new Georama mode. In said mode, players will be able to build an online village, from which they can invite friends to participate in quests as well as acquire unique items.
Rounding out the week is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, a stand-alone sequel to the 2007 postapocalyptic action-RPG S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. This time, Ukrainian developer GSC Game World drops players into the role of special agent Alexander Degtyarev. As the undercover operative, players are tasked with locating several missing helicopters while also contending with rival scavenger factions and radioactive mutants. Environments presented in the game include a secret military base, an abandoned factory, and the titular city of Pripyat.
Last and arguably least is The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff. As advertised, the story-free add-on is filled with expensive items for Simlish materialists to load up on. Items in the pack include Sharper Image-like gadgets, designer furniture, haute couture fashions, and virtual video game systems, so players' sims can play simulated games within the actual game.
For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and the Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
FEBRUARY 1, 2010
Assassin's Creed II--IP--Action--Ubisoft
Mystery 5 Collection--PC--Puzzle--Dreamcatcher
FEBRUARY 2, 2010
Family Party: 30 Great Games Winter Fun--WII--Sports--D3Publisher
Imagine: Reporter--DS--Puzzle--Ubisoft
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat--PC--Action--Viva Media
Star Trek Online--PC--Role-Playing--Atari
The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff--PC--Puzzle--Electronic Arts
White Knight Chronicles: International Edition--PS3--Role-Playing--SCEA
FEBRUARY 3, 2010
Chime--X360--Puzzle--Valcon Games
FEBRUARY 4, 2010
Armored Core: Silent Line Portable--PSP--Simulation--From Software
" jam packed january" full of nothing for the PC gamer! There wasnt one decent PC game out in January and only one decent game in the last 3 months(Dragon Age)! Hopefully Feb. will be better with Mass Efect 2, Star Trek Online,Alien vs Predator,STALKER Call of Pripyat, Bioshock 2.Maybe christmas came late this year (must be global warming)...
Oh snap, I forgot to pick up my copy of White Knight Chronicles. I want to see the reviews for Star Trek online. Wish I had time to check it out myself.
Just installing S T O now Im very excited Cause its my first MMORPG that im going to play with my brother or against him depending on the side he chooses lol
@babythrasher....you can believe all you want that putting a J in front of RPG makes it a genre. It doesn't. All it does is define where the game was developed. Unfortunately, it also gives some fans the leeway to believe that where the game was developed also gives them a leg up on what should and shouldn't be in a game, like language for example. You can put the J and/or W in RPG all you want, it's still a RPG. Just don't expect people who understand gaming to buy into that BS.
@monson21502 rent it? how can you rent it? this is a ps3 exclusive how can you rent it? your ps3 died right? oh that's right you only wanted to bash the game, or maybe you dont even own one. you turds are just full of crap
I'll get White Knight depending on the reviews. I had high hopes for it when it first got announced, but the less than positive import reviews have got me a little worried.
only one game worth buying.. and that is chime... might rent white knight chronicels if i can find my blockbuster coupon for one free rental..
wow arguably least is right. id care more bout AC2 on pc and silent line coming to psp over sims 3 exp.then again i doubt anyone agrees with that. (at the end there)
Great game, would have be nicer to be able to beam down to Earth or something but still a fun game.
An exclusive PS3 RPG!? Heck yeah! I hope it'll be as fun and epic as Rogue Galaxy, Dark Cloud1/2 and Jeanne D'arc!
yes White Night!!!!!!!! i've said it before and i'll say it again, the PS2 dominated because it had THE RPG's to play! i don't why Sony and Micro$oft haven't got the point yet!
Dang. All those games and not one worth a purchase. The last STALKER game wasn't very good, and White Knight Chronicles looks kinda meh.
White Knight......not going to be so good......but I will still be picking it up tomorrow.
this list is missing Global Agenda. shame cause it is now my fav game since the beta was excellent.
WKC, very excited, but will still wait for the reviews. The story and idea of it sounds good, but i'm worried about the battle system. Anything over an average of 8.5 and I will definitely get it. I know my brother is getting Star Trek Online for sure though.
one week I don't have to worry about buying something, now the question is next week do I pick up Bioshock 2 or Dante's Inferno
i am really exited about 2010! GOW3, WNC, GT5 and even the new FF. Awesome! thats about it :P
Talk about falling off the radar. I had no idea White Knight Chronicles was coming out. I didn't even know it had a firm release date.
Uhhh Darth? Star Wars Online is a good year away still. I'll probably look at Star Trek after I'm done with Mass Effect 2.
Hey, looks like this week's another great time to keep buying up Mass Effect 2! Gonna be a tough game to beat this year.
Another expansion for Sims 3, please don't tell me some people buy every single one. Oh well, EA will do as they did for SIms 2 I guess and I know I don't have to buy it so...not my problem.
Nothing much this week, aside from "Star Trek Online", but I'd rather wait for "Star Wars: The Old Republic". I'm not saying this as "Star Wars" fan, but as a BioWare fan. They did release "KOTOR", "DA:O" & "ME2", ya know.
What about Global Agenda? Anyway STO is awesome (when the servers are up) and can only get better when their new servers are installed.
WKC might have been a possibility, if I had enough money to get it. Saving for FF13... :(
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