By Alex Connolly @ The Wargamer

The Drinking Glass. The Crocodile. The Flying Tank. Whatever you call this iconic Russian gunship, the Mi-24 HIND looms in the imagination as a brutal piece of Cold War engineering. As arresting as it grotesque, Moscow’s answer to the Huey went beyond its role as a robust troop carrier in becoming a bristling carnivore, stalking the Mujahideen during the ill-fated Soviet invasion.

I’m happy to say, bellowing from the rotor wash and feeling Bagram grit collect in my gum line, the chopper love seen in Heliborne continues with Air Missions: HIND. Unlike Jetcat Games’ multi-era celebration of Cold War rotorcraft, the armoured bully is the sole focus of 3DIVISION’s simucade project. On higher difficulty, Air Missions: HIND flies much closer to a Gaijin Entertainment level of control fidelity and feedback, sidling alongside the forgotten Apache Air Assault in laying an acceptable level of realism atop slightly more forgiving flight physics.

Read on…

Source: TechPowerUp!

NVIDIA released its latest “Game Ready” driver in wake of the latest AAA game launches. Version 364.72 WHQL comes “game ready” for Dark Souls III, Killer Instinct, Quantum Break, and Paragon. It also comes with optimizations for VR headsets such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive; for some of the earliest big VR-ready titles, such as EVE: Valkyrie, Elite Dangerous, and Chronos.

You can download the new GeForce 364.72 WHQL drivers from GeForce Experience and GeForce.com.

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• Logitech Announces The Ambidextrous G900 Chaos Spectrum Gaming Mouse
• Razer Expands BlackWidow Line With New Budget Friendly Option
• GIGABYTE Launches GeForce GTX 960 Xtreme with RGB Lighting
• Thermaltake Launches the Latest Riing Silent 12 CPU Cooler
• KINGMAX Launches Stylish ZEUS DDR4 Gaming Memory
• GIGABYTE Launches the X170-Extreme ECC Motherboard
• 8Pack Asteroid SFF Gaming Desktop Now Available
• SilentiumPC Announces the Regnum RG1 Pure Black Chassis
• ADATA Releases Durable Micro USB Cable with Reversible Type-A Connector

Source: The Wargamer

Last year’s Vietnam ’65 was a fantastic game, a wargame in which controlling the hearts and minds of the local population is just as important as which hexes your units occupy. Developer Every Single Soldier isn’t done delving into wargames with a slightly political bent, as their next game will delve into the Middle East, specifically Afghanistan ’11.

There was a time when war was fought by two regular armies on battlefields. That time is over. The year is 2011, you are commanding the US army operations in Afghanistan. But contrary to the previous generations of military officers in your family, killing the enemy is only a secondary mission. Most of your efforts and resources are spent elsewhere. Providing security to the civilians, persuading local tribes to reject the Taliban and isolating insurgent leaders are your main focus.

Counter-Insurgency will have better results in the long run than conventional tactics but a simple incident during a routine patrol can ruin your relationship with the locals and damage your image in the Western newspapers.

Afghanistan ’11 will include:

• A full nation building module, whereby player can affect the hearts and minds of the local population via non-military means (constructing infrastructure and delivering UNICEF aid)
• An intense 19 battle campaign covering the iconic Afghan war operations from establishing Camp Rhino to the Bin Laden Raid (Neptune Spear)
• Command the American and the Afghanistan National Army during ground and air operations
• Drones, multirole fighters and ground-attack aircraft are available to help you to spot and eliminate enemy units
• Upgrade your bases with specific buildings to offer a better support to your soldiers and military vehicles
• Random social and political events – like Afghanistan National elections – affecting the balance of power in the Afghan theatre
• Taliban operations are financed from the growing and harvesting of opium crops. Locate and destroy these fields to cripple the opponent’s resources
• Full range of modern military units including artillery, mechanized and infantry units, engineers, helicopters, etc
• Special forces including sniper and forward air controller actions, offering you plenty of tactical options.

Aside from Afghanistan ’11, Every Single Soldier is working on another game right now that puts you in control of the USS Ronald Reagan supercarrier in the middle of a warzone. It’s called Carrier Deck, and sounds more like a management sim than a straight-up wargame. That’s not a bad thing.

No clue on when either of these two new games are hitting the shelves, but we do know that Afghanistan ’11 is slated for both PC and iPad. Not sure what platforms Carrier Deck is coming to, but we should be talking with Every Single Soldier soon and have a lot more info to pass along.

New Maps, Special Edition Vehicles And More!

Developer Obsidian Entertainment and global publisher My.com present the newest addition to Armored Warfare – Update 0.14. Today, players can compete or co-operate on new maps, share, and relive their battles through the added replays feature and lead the pack with the bloodthirsty Wolf edition vehicles.

Watch the Armored Warfare video introducing the Wolf Pack here.

Other features introduced with update 0.14:

• Playing a recording of a match will allow players to view everything from the perspective of the replay creator. Players can pause, play or stop their recording, as well as increase or decrease the speed at which they want the match to replay. Additionally, players can spectate specific vehicles or seamlessly switch into a free-cam observer mode.
• A brand new PvP map, literally raising the stakes of modern conflict.
• Operations Albatross and Cerberus will pose new threats for players teaming up in Armored Warfare’s co-operative gameplay mode.
• Based upon player feedback, a number of unpopular elements of high-tier gameplay will be addressed.

Find more details on the new content in Armored Warfare here.

You can download the game for free and get more information at the official Armored Warfare website.

Developer Ace Maddox Games has announced the “Rocket Lightning Spin” Steam Update for its air-combat action game Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China. A new P-38L video and Hurricane Mk. IIB video are now available for your viewing pleasure!

Here’s the rundown for”Rocket Lightning Spin” Steam Update:

• Improved flightstick support. For example, Saitek’s “dual device” X-55 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. system is now fully configurable.
• “HVAR” rocket weapons system implemented via P-38L Lightning, try the new ROCKET LIGHTNING Single Player Challenge for some explosive fun (P-38L with rockets also available in FREE FLIGHT/DOGFIGHT modes).
• Added “city light” rendering feature; take-off for a test-flight over Akyab or Rangoon in the middle of the night to sample a myriad of shiny, digital light-bulbs.
• HUD/GUI updated so controls and hint messages are now more visual, dynamic icons for improved gamepad, keyboard and flight stick control instructions.
• Adjusted the Campaign mode’s difficulty so that it (should) take more skill and less luck to complete missions (note: work in progress).
• New aircraft: C-46A “Commando” replaces the DC-2 transport for FREE FLIGHT and “OVER THE HUMP” Campaign mission.
• New aircraft: Upgraded the Hurricane Mk. II fighter so it looks a little sleeker, now comes with five selectable skins — including the famous England-China “Nightflyer”!
• New aircraft: P-38L Lightning fighter aircraft added with HVAR weapons system for firing rockets. Four skins available including a ROCAF (Nationalist China) camouflage.

Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Dev Video Outlines Coming Changes

Paradox Development Studio has decided that Mare Nostrum, the newest naval themed expansion to their best-selling historical strategy game Europa Universalis IV, will leave port on April 5, 2016.

Mare Nostrum adds new depth to many parts of the classic empire builder, including new options for the merchant republics. These tiny financially motivated states can now form Trade Leagues, uniting their commercial might in a military and a mercantile alliance that makes everyone richer and stronger.

The expansion also introduces new mercenary options with greater control over your naval missions, the chance to rent your armies as condottieri, and the ability to share maps with your neighbors.

A new developer video with Creative Director Johan Andersson outlines some of the coming changes.

And, even if you pass on buying Mare Nostrum, April 5 will also be the occasion for a substantial free update for all Europa Universalis players. This massive patch will add new features, which will enhance the player experience. The update will include:

• Map Expansion: Greater detail to Ireland and sub-Saharan African, especially in the Congo and East Central Africa, and new “States and Territories” system
• Espionage Reworking: Your diplomats can now build spy networks in enemy nations, from where you can fabricate claims on enemy holdings or undermine them from within.
• Interface improvements: Better tooltips overall, and naval blockades are now more obvious on the map
• Naval Combat Changes: better morale system and increased chance to capture enemy vessels

And even more changes to game balance, AI and modding triggers.

Watch the new Developer Diary here.

For more information, visit the official Europa Universalis IV website.

Source: Blue’s News

M2H and Blackmill Games announce the release of Horrors of War, a new free expansion for Verdun 1914-1918, their first-person shooter set in the trenches of World War I. This trailer shows off some of the content (and the gore) in the expansion, which they describe as “massive,” as it includes new units, a new region, new weapons and animations, and a new co-op game mode. This post has the details, and here is a bit:

With this expansion we offer more diverse historical battles in an immersive environment. Soldiers are confronted with more WW1 situations such as fighting during the night, offensive battles, more varied squads and a host of new weaponry that calls for careful tactical maneuvering. The realistic WW1 atmosphere has been strengthened with a new animation blending system, dismemberment, more blood, more corpses and a whole new region; Champagne.

Find out more about Verdun 1914-1918 at the games official website.

A World War 2 themed Metal Gear Solid. Who doesn’t want to play that?

By Martin Robinson @ Eurogamer

Sniper Elite, Rebellion’s stealth action hybrid, is back, and it’s looking more handsome than ever. Cut free from the last generation of hardware – unlike Sniper Elite 3, this one’s exclusive to Xbox One, PS4 and PC – it’s looking mighty fine, even, all the rough edges that marked the series before smoothed out. Sniper Elite’s evolved from guilty pleasure to reliably enjoyable entertainment. This one could be a seriously good video game.

Watch the new First Look Gameplay trailer here.

The setting’s switched up from the North Africa of Sniper Elite 3 to Italy just before its invasion in September 1943. It’s afforded Rebellion some gorgeous locales – in a brief hands-off demo we’re shown the bay, alongside a level set in sumptuous countryside under the imposing shadow of a grand viaduct – as well as a little more breathing space. Sandbox games such as this love throwing around grand statistics, so try this one on for size: the smallest level in Sniper Elite 4 is three times the size of the biggest one seen in its predecessor.

Read on…

In Automatron, the mysterious Mechanist has unleashed a horde of evil robots into the Commonwealth, including the devious Robobrain. Hunt them down and harvest their parts to build and mod your own custom robot companions. Choose from hundreds of mods; mixing limbs, armour, abilities, and weapons such as the all-new lightning chain gun. Even customise their paint schemes and choose their voices! (For characters level 15 or higher.)

Automatron marks the first add-on release for Fallout 4. In April, we’re expanding the capabilities of settlements with Wasteland Workshop, and in May, travel beyond the Commonwealth to Maine for Far Harbor – the largest landmass Bethesda Game Studios has ever created for post-release content. And, that’s just the beginning, with even more add-ons to be released in 2016. Stay tuned for more details on free updates like Survival Mode and the Creation Kit, which will allow you to create mods on the PC and then share and play them across all platforms, including consoles.

For more information, visit the official Fallout 4 website.