City Interactive has released a new update for their sneak around shooter Sniper: Ghost Warrior, now available to download via Steam for owners of the game.

The patch adds achievements exclusive to the Steam version of the game, along with an improved compass in multiplayer mode. Some other tweaks, fixes and additions as well.

You can check out the game’s Steam achievements page for all 24 listed out. From the change log:

Sniper: Ghost Warrior Update

• Exclusive achievements for STEAM added
• Compass in multiplayer mode improved
• The bullet ballistics have been tweaked for all weapons
• Players position interpolation in multiplayer bug fixed
• Keyboard configuration fix added

Unknown Worlds has released the first update for the alpha phase of its FPS/RTS game Natural Selection 2, now available for those who are participating.

The patch brings a list of technical and gameplay improvements, additions and bug fixes to the title. Some of the new items include rally points for Hives and Command Stations, dedicated server files for the Steam release and now when the Command Station closes, anyone inside besides the Commander is killed. Here’s what the developer had to say on it:

“Our priority in this patch was addressing the issues that are preventing people from connecting to servers. The next order of business is addressing any issues running or maintaining dedicated servers along with issues that make the game feel “laggy” or otherwise unplayable.”

The file can be downloaded automatically via Steam. From the change log:

Technical

• Fixed bug where a client would continue to try and connect after the server reported that it was full or the client was using the wrong protocol
• Fixed bug where clients could only connect to servers on the default port
• Fixed bug where the port was removed when connecting via console command
• Fixed bug on multi-monitor systems that resulted in a graphics reset loop
• Fixed window border when switching from fullscreen to windowed
• Fixed bug where key events outside of the game’s focus window would sometimes be processed by the game
• Fixed bug where the dedicated server could not be run without Steam running
• Fixed duplicate attack/fire key bindings that caused mismatches
• Fixed voice chat to use in-game sound volume on playback
• Fixed bug where where clients could timeout while alt-tabbed from the game in fullscreen mode
• Fixed bug where binding a game server to an IP would cause it to not be displayed in the server browser
• Added client-side timeouts when attempting to connect to a server
• Added support for closing a dedicated server by pressing ctrl+break
• Added alt-enter to toggle between fullscreen and windowed mode
• Added dedicated server files to the Steam release
• Added Toggle Console binding to UI settings

Game

• Fixed bug where MACs were free (now they cost 2 plasma)
• Fixed bug with armory playing extra sounds when players were nearby
• Added rally points for Hives and Command Stations
• Fixed many vent physics objects so they can be entered
• Fixed hitching animation problems while sprinting as marine
• Logging into a Command Station no longer freezes you but it will open again if the logging in player leaves
• When the Command Station closes, anyone inside besides the Commander is killed
• Aliens become Commander instantly when +using the hive
• Fixed bug where Extractors or Harvesters couldn’t be built on a nozzle that had one previously
• Added welding effect to MAC
• Added new marine commander icon artwork
• Improve marine running and jumping animations
• Updated shell ejection effect for the rifle, pistol, and grenade launcher
• New docking_walltech environment props

Unknown Worlds has released sci-fi FPS-RTS game Natural Selection 2′s first alpha build on Steam for those who pre-ordered the now extinct $39.95 version of the game. For those who purchased the game prior to today check your email, if you don’t have a code and some instructions waiting for you go here to fast-track the situation.

The special edition is now no longer available and pre-orders for the regular edition of the game have increased in price from $20 to $35. Though not super special anymore, pre-orders still get access to the beta, whenever it arrives. The dev also warns that there website (which I’ll spare them of linking of) is”currently under assault by rabid fans and may not be up for the next couple of days. Please bear with us!”

The alpha build of the game brings one main map plus many small test maps, the Marine playable character with several weapons, three playable aliens and more. Expect the Alpha test to go on for a while, with with new content arriving through updates in the coming weeks and months. They treatin’ the loyal right.

City Interactive has released a new update for its well received budget shooter Sniper: Ghost Warrior, now available for download via Steam. As a highly trained sniper (Ghost Warrior) in a special ops unit, it will be on you to complete a myriad of objectives and missions. Successfully accomplishing your goal will be determined by using your unique skills in the art of stalking, target detection, surveillance and shooting accuracy to your advantage.

The update itself adds fixes, tweaks and improvements to several areas of the game including AI, multiplayer, weapons and optimizations and stability. The file is available as an automatic download for owners of the game.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior is available for purchase and download, running $30 on Steam. From the change log:

Sniper: Ghost Warrior

AI

• Fixed interactions of camouflage system with plants (the player will be less vulnerable to enemy sight when hidden in vegetation)
• Adjusted AI alertness and seeing (e.g. the player will be less vulnerable to enemy sight at long distances)
• Tweaked influence of the players posture and movement speed on being spotted by the enemies
• Tweaked AI reactions, better behavior in combat situations
• Removed over 95% of the static AI scripts during stealth actions and replaced with the improved stealth system

Multiplayer

• Fixed multiplayer statistics
• Adjusted duration of breath-holding
• Fixed minor multiplayer maps geometry issues

Optimizations and Stability

• Fixed possible random crashes on multi processor systems
• Fixed minor stability problems on several hardware configurations
• General Fixes/tweaks
• Fixed registration of internet profile
• Fixed blink after exiting game to menus

Weapons

• Adjusted melee (knife) attack strength
• Adjusted damage, accuracy and range of AI weapons

Coffee Stain Studios has released a demo for its unique first-person shooter/tower defense hybrid title Sanctum, now available for download to try out.

Players are charged with two tasks to secure the area: Construct a maze of towers, which alone won’t stop the invading armies of foreign monsters, and Upgrading your firearms, getting you into the fight, cleaning up messes by picking off survivors. You become an X-factor in the gameplay and can exploit weak spots in the enemy’s attack.

Developer Coffee Stain Studios is planning on completing a “full version” of the Unreal Engine 3 powered Sanctum, which orginated as an Unreal Tournament 3 mod before switching to Epic’s free UDK that was released last year.

The file is available for download now via UDK.com as well as on FileShack weighing in at 323 MB. The developer is creating a 2D tower defense iPhone game based on Sanctum as well. We’ll be keeping our good eye on it.

Mangled Eye Studios, developer of Dark Salvation has announced Metal Savior, a fast-paced futuristic sci-fi shooter presumably coming to PC. The dev describes the FPS as “super duper fast” and  ”very arcade like” as players must run through and deal with an army of Nanotech machines who have overrun an underground facility on the planet Arcronium.

A teaser site has been launched for the title complete with a computer voice stating the protagonist’s (and presumably your) mission.

No release schedule or footage of the game has been released as of yet, but updates are promised to be on the way. We’ll be keeping our eye on this one as it’s unveiled.

French Developer Streum on Studio has released some more information about their upcoming FPS / RPG entitled E.Y.E. We’ve discussed the game before, but the more information we get, the more we want to share. The developers description of the game is as follows: “After an unending war with the metastreumonic Force, the powerful organization Secreta Secretorum you belong to is finally ready to undermine the head-strong federation, despite an intense struggle for power.”

The latest news includes an announcement about classes and skills, links to download some of the game’s music, and a batch of new screenshots. From what I’ve seen, I’m curious to see how this shapes up.

From their latest news release:

Beyond you! the news!

Citizen! Angelcorp is proud to announce you, we have intercepted this couple of pictures.

Sorry for my poor English, it’s not the Federation official language.

On one of them, you can see one of the new selectable HUD. We also offer you 3 of the musics featured in E.Y.E and hacked on a relay node from their system. And finally we have found an ancient artifact enclosing some explications about the class and occupations that will be proffered to the player depending on his skills (it’s a good news giving the unemployment rate is now exceeding 25%).

The coming day of E.Y.E in your solar system is near, meaning the shares of weapons manufacturers will surge. Another great news the Sector 14 is not anymore infected, the final body-count comes only to 7 Millions.

Soundtracks:

* qnA Soundtrack
* qnF Soundtrack
* qnN Soundtrack

Class information:

Your characteristics determine your class as well as your global level. Thus, several paths could take you to the supreme illumination, to the perfect accomplishment.
If predominates:

* Your Strength: Warrior, Weapon Master, Divine Warrior.
* Your Psi force: Adept, Psyker, Daemon’s Impious Palm.
* Your Endurance: Protector, Guardian, Divine Rampart.
* Your Medicine: Apothecary, Healer, Thaumaturge.
* Your Accuracy: Armed Arm, Marksman, Divine Lightning.
* Your Hacking: Hacker, Hack Master, Puppet Master.
* Your Agility: Scout, Shadow Strider, Death Wind.
* Your Mental balance: Ascetic, Sage, Venerable.
* Your Strength and Accuracy: Avenger, Slayer, Divine Talion.
* Your Agility and Strength or Accuracy: Tracker, Dark Hunter, Divine Assassin.
* Your Psi force and Strength or Accuracy: Warrior Adept, Warrior Psyker, Divine Destroyer.
* Your Hacking and Psi force: Cybermancer, Necrocybermancer, Cyber Demiurge.
* Your Endurance and Strength or Accuracy: Valiant Man, Champion, Divine Seal.
* Your Psi force and Medicine: Monk, Priest, Mystic.

If nothing predominates then you’re following the path of the cosmic purification octuple equilibrium: Equilibrium Fist, Equilibrium Lord, Gray Master.

Indie first-person shooters are few and far between, but have you ever seen an FPS run in your browser? Interstellar Marines is an upcoming FPS utilizing the Unity engine with incredible graphics and smooth gameplay. Developer Zero Point Software–who are simply “eight Danish developers struggling to make [their] dream come true”–are promising a AAA quality indie shooter. We have no problems with this and after playing through Bullseye would love to see more.

The playable preview was made available on January 22nd and features a sequence where the ITO AI named “SARA” tests gamers’ reflexes and skills in 21 challenges to assure their readiness in the upcoming Interstellar Marines. Bullseye will also give players the ability to unlock the red dot scope, silencer, effective range scope, and flashlight as well as leaderboards and 17 unique achievements. Instead of talking about it though, I should probably give you the opportunity to play it.

We’ll keep you up to date on when the game will be released, but for now enjoy the hell out of that preview!

The one bummer about the recently released zero gravity FPS Shattered Horizon is the development team at Futuremark Games Studio don’t have any plans to release a playable demo for the high-end title. Fortunately through Steam they can offer something along the same lines.

Going by the title’s forums, all current Shattered Horizon players have or will be given three guest passes that they are free to share with anyone. The free guess pass enabled a Steam user to download and play the full version of the game for three days. I know at least one person who’s played the game, and I call immediate dibbs on one of his GP’s.

Don’t have a Shattered Horizon owning buddy? We have you covered with our giveaway of the game, as long as you get in before the November 20 deadline. Even if you don’t win, you can beg the lucky one who did for one of his/her golden tickets.

Futuremark Game Studios has released an update for their unique space FPS Shattered Horizon, now available on Steam. The patch brings several fixes to the shooter, including the improvement of memory allocation among other bug fixes.

Shattered Horizon offers up multiplayer gameplay in the cold reaches of space, played entirely in zero gravity. Check out DIYgamer’s review of it, and those interested in a free copy should check out our contest giveaway of the game going on now.

The download can be had by restarting the Steam client. Change log after the break.