The Rundown: Jan. 26, 2009

Thanks GL - me too. Today on The Rundown we have news on DC Universe Online, the release of the Resident Evil 5 demo, the rumored return of Hellgate London, TIGA’s gift to UK developers looking to go to GDC in March and a ton of other news. Jump in after the break.

Hellgate Returns?
According to a story on Blue’s News, Hellgate London could be making a comeback… as a free-to-play game. According to some comments from owner HanbitSoft, they have not given up on the game and have plans to release a patch to combine the game’s two play modes, tweak classes and more. we’ll watch this as it develops but the Korean publisher may have to unravel a number of legalities before it can do what it wants with Flagship Studios’ creation.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Released
The wait is over. Now players can stop listening to all the critics and try out Capcom’s cooperative horror survival game for themselves via Xbox Live. Now would be a good time to read the rest of this article, enjoy it and then head straight to Xbox Live to give the demo a try.

New Weapons for Golemizer
Indie developer Dave Toulouse announced a new weapon system in the free web MMORPG Golemizer. the free 2D steampunk MMORPG now offers a weapon system that allows players to enter combat side by side with the golems they have created. the new weapons include a shotgun that shoots junk, a steam thrower, a slime gun, a raygun and a time warper that freezes enemies in their tracks.

CABAL Online Gives Perks
OGPlanet announced the launch of the Nevareth Arcade System for its MMORPG, CABAL Online. This system, referred to as NAS, acts like a capsule machine and is activated by buying silver or bronze tickets and redeeming them for special medals. Each spin costs 10 Cabal Medals and is guaranteed to result in a useful in-game item, but some winners will receive each month’s special items. At launch, grand-prize winners can receive the dark Epaulette of Night Walkers, the Hip Hop Spirit costume, or even a Little Gry pet.

Rumble Fighters Says ‘Yes We Can’
OGPlanet’s Rumble Fighter is commemorating special events this month with the introduction of new items. Rumble Fighter players can now outfit their characters in new “Yes We Can!” t-shirts. These in-game items feature the famous slogan on the front and President Barack Obama’s likeness on the back. Rumble Fighter is also celebrating the Chinese New Year beginning today with the new, in-game Ox Mask. This mask was specially designed to usher in the Year of the Ox. Both the Yes We Can t-shirt and the Ox Mask can be purchased with Astros, OGPlanet’s official currency, in the Rumble Fighter item shop.

M.A.N. 2 Tournament Soon
Wargaming.net announced plans for a new Massive Assault Network 2 Global Cup 2009, scheduled to start on February 27th all over the world. Registration is currently open at the official tournament page. The global tournament will use a regular cup system and to qualify for the next round, every player with a Lifetime Subscription will have to defeat his opponents in matches on 7 planets in the M.A.N. 2 universe. The winner of the finals will get the “M.A.N. 2 Global Cup 2009” title and award.

SOE Prepares for DC Universe Surprise
Sony Online entertainment announced that the third comic book luminary to join Jim Lee and Geoff Johns on DC Universe Online’s development team will be unveiled during the New York Comic-Con panel, “Bringing the DC Universe to Life Online” on Saturday, February 7 from 4:15 – 5:15pm in Room 1A24. This mystery guest will join Jim Lee, Geoff Johns and SOE developers Jens Andersen, Wes Yenagi and Jared Carr as they discuss their experiences bringing the DC universe from comic book pages to an online virtual world. Sony Online Entertainment will also give fans a fresh look at DC Universe Online at SOE’s Booth #1551. In this new demo, fans will be the first to experience instanced combat as super-villains. Immediately following the panel on Saturday, SOE will host a fan event, where they will get a chance to play the game and speak to the developers, Jim Lee and Geoff Johns.

Wonder Boy in Wii Land
This week’s Wii Shop Channel update includes a Sega classic and a new WiiWare title. Niki - Rock ‘n’ Ball (500 Wii Points), this week’s WiiWare title is an action platformer that promises old school gameplay through multiple worlds for 1 - 2 players. The Sega Master system version of Sega’s Wonder Boy in Monster Land (500 Wii Points) also makes its way to the Wii, giving players a taste of this classic game featuring Sega’s former top star.

TIGA’s GDC Travel Cash
UK trade group Tiga announced that it has secured £56,000 from UKT&I to help UK game companies attending the Game Developers Conference, which will take place March 23rd-27th 2009 in San Francisco. UK companies who wish to apply for funding will need to fill in a form to assess eligibility. Contact Steff Rickwood at Tiga (stephanie.rickwood at tiga.org) for application forms and further information.

Robinson Crusoe Game Released
MagicIndie Softworks has released Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a casual hidden object-adventure game inspired by the classic masterpiece by Daniel Defoe. Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is a story of a seventeenth century mariner who survives a terrible shipwreck and finds himself cast away on an island in the Caribbean. The game takes the player through all most important events of the book from exploring of the Wrecked ship and to saving of his man Friday. It offers two game play modes, 36 locations to explore, and lots of mini-games.

Knight Online Forever Begins
Knight Online Forever Saga begins tomorrow with Chapter 1: Vigilance, and ends on Feb. 1. Knight Online Forever is a new eight-chapter saga of storyline events starting January 27th that charges players with solving the mystery and restoring order to the world. Chapter One kicks off with reports that small dragons have appeared to wreak havoc on the countryside. As players arrive to defeat them, it becomes clear that not everyone wants them to quell the menace. Players can visit the web site for clues behind the sudden appearances and find useful information on how to put a stop to them.