HORIZONS: EMPIRE OF ISTARIA EXPANSION ANNOUNCED

Tulga Games has announced the first expansion for their mmog Horizons: Empire of Istaria. The expansion, tentatively titled “Horizons: Settlements” will be provided free via download to those who already have the game, as well as in a bundle with the original game for $19.99. I both beta tested Horizons and played it at launch, and I’ve got to say that I loved the game. To date, there still isn’t a game featuring as deep of a crafting system or a character class system as flexible as Horizons in my opinion.

I left the game because unfortunately, the folks behind it (Artifact Entertainment at the time) just didn’t have the cash on hand to properly maintain the game, and after awhile there was just a complete lack of content. A man can only kill “cursed wolves” for so long, you know? Anyway, it’s very nice to hear that there’s some hope for the game yet, and who knows, they may even get my subscription money again someday. Big thanks to drkphreakx for the tip. Click here for the press release.

EIDOS REMAKING THE FIRST TOMB RAIDER?

Kotaku is reporting that they’ve been tipped by an insider at Eidos Interactive that the company is working on a re-make of the original Tomb Raider for the PSP and perhaps the PS2. According to a quote attributed to the source over at Kotaku;

“Eidos/SCi are planning on celebrating Lara’s 10th birthday by releasing a remake of her original adventure. We are talking improved graphics, new moves, the lot. If there is time, the “new” game will feature a remake of both Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider II: The Dagger of Xian, but right now the developers are focusing on Lara Crofts first adventure.” – un-named source as per the Kotaku article

I was just thinking the other day that they really ought to update the original game as it’s certainly been long enough that it would in essence feel “new”. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the rumor is true and that they do make a PS2 port, as the odds of me having a PSP anytime soon are pretty remote. Click here to head over to the Kotaku article.

INDIANA JONES AND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH DEMO

No, it’s not the action game coming from LucasArts. The good folks of Screen7 are building a prequel to LucasArts graphic adventure game Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis using Adventure Game Studio. Screen7 describes the demo for Fountain of Youth as follows;

“Join our hero in this 10 room playable demo, featuring beautiful & original artwork in an exotic new location! Using a new separate storyline to the full game but including some relevant facts, you discover the paths to the mysterious Fountain! Don’t forget – this is just a sample of what is to come. Look out for future demo updates!

EXPLORE the island of Bimini, MEET and INTERACT with friends and foes! Find out who’s there and exactly what they are up to!

The DEMO also includes original MIDI music, animated characters and a demonstration of the fighting engine. The full game will boast many further features. There are several puzzles to solve in the DEMO, but none of these will feature in the full game.” -Indiana Jones & the Fountain of Youth Website

Huge kudos to another company looking to keep the graphic adventure genre alive, though I’m a bit surprised LucasArts hasn’t come down on them with a 10 ton hammer yet. Click here to head over to the Indiana Jones & the Fountain of Youth website, here to check out Adventure Game Studio (Freeware) and take a look at some of the other games people have made using it. For those wondering, this was also the tool used by the now defunct LucasFan Games to create Maniac Mansion Deluxe.