Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter Message Board

A new Serious Sam bundle will make its debut on Xbox 360 next month, July 12. Included within the Serious Sam Collection are Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter, HD remakes of the first two original Serious Sam games, plus sequel Serious Sam 3: BFE and its "Jewel of the Nile" DLC. Rounding out the collection is Mommy's Best Games' side-scroller, Serious Sam Double D XXL.

This specific announcement applies to Europe where The Mastertronic Group, with blessings from developer Croteam and publisher Devolver Digital, will offer the Serious Sam Collection. We've inquired about a North American release and will update this post when we hear back.

Blue has pointed out that we seem to have got some news from 2010 this week, with the arrival of the Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter demo on Steam. The HD version of The Second Encounter was originally release just under two years ago, and has waited until now to get a demo. It seems to be promotion for the 75% sale of the game currently taking place on Steam, but seems like a good opportunity to try it for nowt, should slaughtering endless hordes and delivering a few quips be your sort of thing.

Hm. This sort of came out of nowhere. Well, maybe not nowhere, exactly. I mean, free-to-play has voraciously consumed the hearts of every other business model and gained their powers, and Croteam’s been known to host the occasional F2P weekend from time-to-time on Steam. But it still surprised me, OK? Gosh. At any rate, this is exactly what it sounds like: Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter’s versus and survival multiplayer modes will – beginning May 15 – attempt to carve out their own niche in an increasingly crowded F2P landscape. Probably with bombs.

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- Voice chat now works again. It stopped working after Steam codec was changed from Speex to Silk, due to different traffic requirements and packet sizes.
- Increased max client inbound bps default to 12000 and max client outbound bps to 10000 (needed for increased voice traffic).
- Added barriers on Fortress level to close windows from which player could fall out of level.
- Prevented falling through floor that was possible by jump-crouching at low framerates.
- Fixed crash when Ugh Zan appears in network.
- Prevented super-fast Laser firing when quickly pressing/releasing the fire button.
- Player models now have ragdolls (e.g. when killed in versus).
- Added blood sound to player's destruction so it is heard when player is gibbed.
- Grenade launcher item model now uses the same scheme (sound, particles) as all other weapons.
- New Versus map: ShottyTrouble. It is same as LittleTrouble but with double shotgun's only
- Prevented scripts starting during warmup, which caused sniper never to spawn on Jump Over versus map.
- Sniper weapon hint will not be shown in versus.
- Player will always be able to pick up health and armor in Versus modes.
- Fixed problem with sounds repeatedly played from trigger heard only once on client.
- "Match is tied" announcement was never played.
- Item disabling game options now work in deathmatch games.
- Sniper mask didn't get rendered if weapon rendering is disabled.
- View bobbing option now also affects weapon bobbing.
- Serious damage item will be hidden during the first 120 seconds of the game.
- Sniper now deals 80 damage without scope and 160 damage with scope in deathmatch games.
- Grenade launcher now deals 100 damage on direct hit (40 direct + 60 range) in deathmatch.
- Added safeguard to re-award previously earned achievements, in case Steam didn't register them.
- Fixed bug in life awarding on score: if you reached exactly the same score as the life awarding milestone, then you would never receive score for that milestone.
- Picking up armor which is not needed (happens in deathmatch) should not decrease current armor.
- Added timeout to server list queries, since they sometimes take a very long time.
- Fixed voice options not properly being set from cvars when starting.
- Fixed the chat console cursor which incrementally floated away from the text with each successive text line.
- Fixed the chat console input string corruption that happens when the last character is cut because it contains more bytes then it fits the string buffer maximum size.
- Updated string wrapper in the chat console to work with unicode strings.
- Fixed potential crash when canceling matchmaking queries.

- Quick fix for dedicated server not starting.
- A few minor localization fixes.

It seems like every other week Serious Sam is on sale on Steam, and this weekend is no different. If you've yet to pounce on one of the preceding deals, then know you can get 75% off the game this weekend -- whether you want to snag the games piecemeal or all together in one bundle.

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter are marked down to $3.74 and $4.99, respectively. The Serious Sam Gold Edition, which includes both HD remakes and the original PC games, is $9.99. If you're looking for just the HD remakes, then you can snag them both in a bundle for $7.49.

Look, let's not waste any time writing this perfunctory text. There are four new XBLA games out this week. Four. Let's just get right to the latest episode of XBLA in Brief so you can see if any of them tickle your fancy (or your wallet).

Tunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes.
[Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly.
[RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[M4V] Download the M4V directly.

Fan site Seriously! supposedly got the scoop from Devolver Digital, publisher of HD remakes Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter, about Serious Sam HD: Gold Edition -- a bundle which includes both remakes, as well as both original games. That can't be good for the original games' self-esteem, being bundled with sleeker, more attractive-looking versions. Have you no heart, Devolver Digital?

According to Seriously!, Steam users will be able to download Gold Edition on Thursday for $39.99s. We've followed up with Devolver Digital for confirmation and will let you know what we hear back.

Finally, fans left hanging at the conclusion of Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter can get a bit of closure on September 22, as Majesco has confirmed the launch date for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter. If there's anything that these games are known for, it's their rich narrative and character development, so to leave us hanging like that is criminal. All jokes aside, we could all probably use a bit more of "shoot everybody and don't die" in our lives. Keeps you feeling young, you know?

Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter adds three new weapons -- the Sniper Rifle, Flamethrower and Chainsaw -- and co-op support for up to four players across 12 maps, including team-based and competitive modes. No price has been announced for The Second Encounter, though we suspect pricing will be in line with the first game: 1200 MS Points ($15).

This coming weekend, from July 8 until July 11, Steam will play host to a free-for-all multiplayer event for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter. Additionally, the game will also be 50% off -- only $10. The only problem is that apparently nobody told Devolver Digital's boss, Fork Parker.

"This is total bullshit," he said. "How are we supposed to make any money by giving away our sweet multiplayer juice for free?" Well, we're no businessologists, but maybe make another game?

Show full PR text SERIOUS SAM HD: SECOND ENCOUNTER MULTIPLAYER FREE-FOR-ALL IS FREE FOR ALL THIS WEEKEND ON STEAM

Gamers Get a Delicious Taste of Multiplayer Madness and 50% off Purchase

Zagreb, Croatia, July 8, 2010 - In an effort to spread the Gospel of Sam to those non-believers who still haven't bathed in the redeeming light of high-definition, Croteam has decided to allow the few remaining heathens to partake in the visual delights of Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter's over-the-top multiplayer modes. From July 8 through July 11, Steam users around the world will be able to play all the brilliant new modes of multiplayer fun with up to 16-players. New converts will be able to experience divine gameplay modes like Co-Op Survival, My Burden and Beast Hunt along with classic deathmatch and campaign co-op modes.

"This is total bullshit," said Fork Parker, Chief Financial Officer at Devolver Digital. "How are we supposed to make any money by giving away our sweet multiplayer juice for free?"

Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter will also be discounted by 50% during the promotion. Seriously. Half off a game that already costs less than $20. That's $10 sucka.

"Goddamnit," replied Fork when asked for further comment.

About Croteam
Croteam are the creative force behind the massively successful Serious Sam series, which is recognized across the globe for its all-action and entertaining game design and its powerful Serious Engine technology. Founded in Zagreb, Croatia in 1993, Croteam has grown to become one of the most successful and respected developers in Eastern Europe.

More information about Croteam can be found online at www.croteam.com.

About Devolver Digital
Devolver Digital is a small, laser-focused production and publishing company based in Austin, Texas, (also with one very lonely desperado in London) from an unnamed group of industry veterans/outlaw refugees. The company aims to take large wads of fun created by great game developers worldwide, and help create large wads of cash from it by getting it into the hands of rich, entertainment-starved gamers around the world, wherever they happen to be hanging out, and for whatever currency is handy. Our Twitter handle is @DevolverDigital so hook it up.

No matter how you feel about Serious Sam's brand of first-person mayhem, you've got to admit the marketing behind the HD remakes has been brilliant -- and this latest video for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter is no different. It's the second promo to feature the "House of Sam," a place where folks can worship His divine shotgun; where those afflicted with Krundle Blindness -- an inability to see things in high-def -- can be be cured. Mostly, it's a place of magic.

Click the play button on the trailer above and allow His divine presence to wash over you. Bathe in polygonal splendor and be healed, brothers and sisters. And remember: never attempt to treat your ailments with skunk meat.

There are times when it feels like some video games have a religious following. The latest trailer -- if you can call it that -- for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter illustrates what a real video game religion would be like. In short, it's kind of scary, in the way that only televangelists can be. Watch the video, and discover why Sam is the way.

Seriously.

Here at Joystiq, your health is our main priority. That's why we ensure that each and every post we present is void of toxins and meets your daily requirement of Vitamin Verbose. Still, sometimes we have to stray into the danger zone with things like this multplayer trailer for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter.

Basically, the trailer's got more flashing lights than '70s disco -- but if that's no concern for you, feel free to soak in the 14 multiplayer modes presented above, which run the gamut from co-op to competitive to objective-based modes. It's a smorgasbord of multiplayer mayhem, really.

There are tried-and-true gametypes like Capture the Flag and your usual Deathmatch variants available, but our interest lies in some of the more original modes: BeastHunt, My Burden, and Co-Op Survival look like they're quite fun.

Listen up, folks, because this week's Swag Saturday is serious. Serious Sam that is. We've got ten (count 'em, ten) redemption codes for Serious Sam HD: The Second Enounter through Steam. The codes grant you the game itself and, as an added bonus, they will also net you the playable Ugh-Zan pre-order bonus, if you redeem before the game's official launch on Wednesday, April 28. Like we said: Serious.

• Leave a comment telling us how serious you are about winning
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- you know why).
• Limit 1 entry per person per day.
• This entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Sunday, April 25.
• At that time, we'll randomly select ten winners, who will each receive one redemption code through Steam for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter (ARV: $19.99).
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition.

For more info on our policy, click here.

Listen up, folks, because this week's Swag Saturday is serious. Serious Sam that is. We've got ten (count 'em, ten) redemption codes for Serious Sam HD: The Second Enounter through Steam. The codes grant you the game itself and, as an added bonus, they will also net you the playable Ugh-Zan pre-order bonus, if you redeem before the game's official launch on Wednesday, April 28. Like we said: Serious.

• Leave a comment telling us how serious you are about winning
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- you know why).
• Limit 1 entry per person per day.
• This entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Sunday, April 25.
• At that time, we'll randomly select ten winners, who will each receive one redemption code through Steam for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter (ARV: $19.99).
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition.

For more info on our policy, click here.

While the title has been on the radar since November, Majesco has now confirmed that Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter is headed to Xbox Live Arcade in addition to the PC. Previously relegated to the more nebulous "home console," the HD remake is officially coming to XBLA with some new features in toe. There is no release date mentioned, though the Steam version is currently listed for April 28. The game includes a new deathmatch mode along with co-op, capture the flag and survival modes. It also includes lots and lots of enemies.

For those interested in the PC version, Steam is currently offering pre-purchases on the game for $17.99, two bucks off the normal $19.99 price. Pre-orders will also get an extra multiplayer and co-op character: Ugh-zan, the boss of The First Encounter. Check out a new trailer after the break.

[Via Big Download]

More alien splatter coming your way.