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Sunday Comics: Dead Island Wait, so let me get this straight. Not only is the GameTraders in Carillon, WA having a midnight launch for Metal Gear Solid 4 (yes, it’s available tomorrow folks), but the store is currently selling brand-new copies of Devil May Cry 4 and Frontlines: Fuel of War on Xbox 360 for $20. $20! That’s damn cheap.
As for MGS4, the midnight launch will be held at the Reading Cinema in Belmont Forum. The event kicks off at 9PM, and GT will be selling the game for $99.95 (RRP $119.95). Maybe not as cheap as an import, but probably among the cheapest prices in Australia.
[Thanks Raze35]
Last October, THQ decided to block Oz and NZ users from purchasing it games via Valve’s Steam. Although the publisher was unwilling to provide a reason for the block, the working theory was that local users could purchase the company’s games via the service for significantly less than their price at brick and mortar stores, thanks to the weak US dollar.
Rather than increase the price and face our collective wrath, THQ decided to remove its catalogue instead. But like I said, it’s just a theory.
It looks like the recently released Frontlines: Fuel of War slipped through the block – at least for a while. It was briefly available for $US 50 on Steam for Australian and New Zealand users, but it looks like it’s been taken down as of today. THQ’s local presence couldn’t really comment as this sort of thing is out of its hands.
If I had to guess, I’d say that Frontlines was never meant to be available to us from Steam. THQ/Valve has just corrected the error… much to our chagrin. Good news is that if you did purchase it while it was up, it’s still playable.
Uhh..I live in Australia, where did Frontlines go? [Steam Powered forums, thanks Lev Arris]
While Frontlines: Fuel of War for PS3 has been left to rot on a developer’s hard drive somewhere, the Xbox 360 and PC version are still very much underway.
Yesterday, the game, along with a few THQ representatives, made their up from their HQ in Melbourne to show off the latest build to us Sydney-based games journos in the best fashion possible – a multiplayer shoot-out.
I managed to get a solid four hours of gaming in (busy day at work, I know), and if you don’t mind a bit of reading, I’d like to share my impressions, and later, some cake.
THQ was kind enough to show off the goods to the Frontlines PC Collector’s Edition last year, which we were told was specially put together for Australian gamers.
Now we have shots and info on the Asia-Pacific Xbox 360 CE. Here’s what you can expect: • The game (you’d hope so!); • “Drone to Kill” T-shirt (Large); • Poster; • Frontlines art book; • Bonus disc containing the soundtrack, behind the scenes and “more”.
It’s a healthy CE, to be sure, but I think I’d prefer to go with the PC one, seeing as it also comes with playing cards, iron-on patch and strategy guide. In defence of the Xbox 360 CE, it will only set you back $99.95, instead of the PC CE’s $109.95. Note that the $99.95 price tag is the same as the standard edition, so it might be an idea to pre-order the game.
If you’d like to see the contents disgorged from their box and nicely arranged, there’s another photo after the jump.
Kaos Studios’ open world FPS Frontlines: Fuel of War sure is taking its time getting out the developer’s door and onto retail shelves. It’s enough to make anyone a little narky.
It’s all good though, and here’s why.
THQ has just sent us the news that Australia – a region usually abused by the publishers of the world – is going to get its very own collector’s edition of the PC game.
Well, it’s for Asia Pacific, but it’s a nice treat nonetheless. A shot of the pack can be seen above, and details of the contents can be found after the jump. Sufficed to say, it’s packed with jam, and includes a soundtrack disc, poster, strategy guide and playing cards. According to THQ, only 10,000 will be made. Not a bad deal for $109.95.
Also included with all this is news of the Frontlines PC beta, which is starting this weekend. The specifics can be found at the game’s website.
As an aside, the PS3 version of Frontlines is being developed locally by THQ Studio Australia, otherwise known as Studio Oz. Stay tuned for our Q&A!
When publisher THQ announced a series of delays, pushing three of its marquee titles—Frontlines: Fuel of War, de Blob and Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon—one title stood out curiously, as only the PlayStation 3 version of Frontlines was coming later than its PC and Xbox 360 counterparts. Gamespot’s recent Q&A with the game’s senior producer, Joe Halper, reveals that “the Unreal Engine has some challenges with the PS3–you’ll see with other developers–it’s kind of a little late in the game with Epic, which is unfortunate.” His comments were made before the announcement of the PS3 delay, but he later illustrates that every platform has its challenges.
He tells Gamespot that development on the Xbox 360 was harder due to the 32-person multiplayer goal and that the PS3′s smaller available memory makes it challenging to develop for. Plus, SIXAXIS controls are still being balanced, adding an extra layer of development difficulty.
Halper discusses how the PS3 controller will be used in greater detail later in the interview.
Frontlines‘ delay is just another reminder that Epic and Sony Computer Entertainment had better be making good on their intentions to make the Unreal Engine a better fit for the PlayStation 3.
Q&A: Joe Halper on Frontlines: Fuel of War [Gamespot]
