Dear Steam Users and Steam Forum Users

We continue our investigation of last year's intrusion with the help of
outside security experts.  In my last note about this, I described how
intruders had accessed our Steam database but we found no evidence that
the intruders took information from that database.  That is still the
case.  

Recently we learned that it is probable that the intruders obtained a
copy of a backup file with information about Steam transactions between
2004 and 2008.  This backup file contained user names, email addresses,
encrypted billing addresses and encrypted credit card information. It
did not include Steam passwords.    

We do not have any evidence that the encrypted credit card numbers or
billing addresses have been compromised.  However as I said in November
it's a good idea to watch your credit card activity and statements.
And of course keeping Steam Guard on is a good idea as well. 

We are still investigating and working with law enforcement
authorities.  Some state laws require a more formal notice of this
incident so some of you will get that notice, but we wanted to update
everyone with this new information now.

Gabe

Seems like hackers may have seen Gabe’s comments about Steam Guard as a competition. Just keep checking those bank statements just to be sure.

Taking up the role of either The Resistance or The Government you can expect to battle across maps set within the future city of Tokyo, or its new slums where the poor reside. Just one look at this trailer will show you how polished the shooter looks, it’s certainly one we’re looking forward to!

We’ve already heard of Remedy’s deal with the Origin platform, so we can be sure it’ll hit the service in due time.

The PC release has been a long time coming, and Remedy are going to do it right. The company has announced stereoscopic surround display compatability for both AMD and nVidia graphics cards. Meaning you’ll be able to experience Alan Wake in some crazy resolutions with the right kit. It’ll also put some quad core proccessors to use, have native Xbox 360 controller support and of course, offer tweakable graphics options.

Markus Mäki, Remedy CTO had this to say:

We're very proud of what we've done so far with Wake - but for gamers
who've always wanted the "every setting maxed out" experience, the modern
PC hardware takes Alan Wake to new heights... and we bring the high
definition goods. Believe it: You've never seen Alan Wake looking like
this.

Alan Wake releases February 15 for PCs via Steam.

Those of you who have been itching to try out Frogster and Blue House’s localisation of the revolutionary Fantasy-MMO, TERA, finally have a shot to do so before the closed beta test even starts!

This weekend, those with Sneak Peek keys can download and play TERA all weekend, and we’re giving them away on our Twitter page. You can grab one by simply rewteeting the appropriate tweet and making sure to follow us!

Starting from Midnight March 15th you can sign up for one of the 50,000 spots available for players of Pokémon Black or White. It should be noted half of these places are reserved for Japanese players, but 25,000 are still up for grabs if you manage to sneak your application ahead of the others.

The Pokemon International Challenge will cease registrations come March 22, and will begin that same day lasting until March 26.

[Source: Serebii]

“The project has been making progress, but slow progress. So that’s tough, but we haven’t changed any focus. It’s still a really important project and a vision we want to see realized, and Fumito’s vision is really causing a very difficult challenge for the developers, so there’s some scrapping and rebuilding — iteration in the process. That’s why [it's taking so long].”

Speaking at Cologne’s Gamescom event in August, Yoshida said that the game was “still making progress” and saying that Sony would still “continue to support” it.

Yoshida also commented on Ueda leaving the project full time, stating that it was actually a way for him to do more creative work on the project, and that he still comes in and works the hardest on the game.

“Well it’s confirmed in terms of the status of his relation to the company — he was an employee, and now he’s working on a contract basis,’ said Yoshida.

“You know, we discussed an arrangement so he could focus on the creative side. But his work and his presence on that team never changed, so it was just more a contractual rearrangement, and that was taken as ‘he left’.”

“He comes in every day, and he’s probably one of the people who works the longest hours.”

It seems that The Last Guardian is still alive, which was many peoples worry, however we probably wont be seeing much of it (again) in 2012.

Source: VG24/7

Today via the new information exchange that is Twitter Sony came out to say that the racer “is in fact in development” and that they  ”look forward to sharing more on the game soon!”

The title itself is being made for PS3, there has been no announcement officially made about the game and a Vita version of the title.

Rumours have been circulating that Mod Nation Racers developer United Front Games will be producing the title, however that is still yet to be confirmed.

Image Courtesy of CVG

Source: CVG

The game takes place in the fictional country of Arulco, where a dictator has taken power of the people and only a hand-full of rebels are fighting back. These are some key elements the player will come across whilst playing the game:

• Unrivaled mix of combat (tactics), role-playing, business and strategy
• Innovative “Plan & Go” combat system combines RTS gameplay with turn-based elements
• Realistic battlefield settings with authentic firearms
• Laptop/computer menu as a central anchor point for the player
• Assemble squads from numerous individual mercenaries, each with their own personalities
• Simultaneous control of multiple squads using a strategic map
• Convincing characters who interact with and comment on game events
• Acquire resources by capturing mines and encampments

Jagged Alliance: Back in Action is available from today on PC. We shall see you in battle soldier.