So while TrackMania Nations/United Forever have just been released they have now both been made available on Steam!

As to be expected Nations is free while United clocks in at $39.95 and both include the free ‘Forever’ expansion. If you already own a copy of TrackMania United on Steam then the game will automatically update for you with ‘United Forever’ for free!

TrackMania Nations Forever offers a new version of the Stadium environment, a complete solo mode, and 65 new tracks. TrackMania Nations Forever promises to unite an even larger number of players than its very successful predecessor thanks to engaging new multiplayer modes, online functions, and — for the first time - allowing players of the free versions to play online with players from the retail version of TrackMania United.

More information on Steam news.

The Sims franchise has now sold over 100 Million copies! That is enough to line the perimeter of Wembley stadium 115,000 times and to stretch between Land’s End and John O’Groat’s over 200 times!

That just puts it into perspective….that is a hell of a load of copies from one franchise to sell!

“At this milestone, we want to thank players of The Sims everywhere for making The Sims such a worldwide phenomenon,” said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. “The Sims has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we’re thrilled to be a part of that. From building houses and relationships, from the first kiss to a toddler’s first step, from kitchen fires – and even visits from ghosts, players have told more than 100 million unique and fun stories!”

Sometime today you will also be able to download a special Sims 2 outfit on Sims2.com

Ain’t that awesome!

TrackMania Nations Forever has now been released by Nadeo. This is the free sequel to TrackMania Nations and features a new ‘Forever’ Stadium envrionment, a complete solo mode and 65 brand new tracks!

Also offered is the chance for owners of TrackMania United to play with people on TrackMania Nations Forever with a new patch for the purchasable game.

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Is it possible, is it really possible that we may one day see a Gran Turismo game on the PC? According to Polyphony Digital boss Kazunori Yamauchi it may just be! In an interview with German site derStandard Kazunori had this to say:

Frage: Gibt es eine Chance, dass Gran Turismo auf einer anderen Plattform erscheint?

Kazunori Yamauchi: Es ist sehr sehr unwahrscheinlich, dass GT auf einer anderen Konsole herauskommt. Aber vielleicht kommt es auf den PC. Vor allem am chinesischen Markt könnten wir so die Verbreitung fördern.

Which according to Develop Mag means that it is very unlikely to see a Gran Turismo game on any console other than a Sony one, it is possible it may come to the PC. China is touted as a likely target for the game.

Being a lover of the GT games back in the day on my PSX/PS2 this is great news! GT5 looks gorgeous on the PS3 and for it to come to the PC would be utterly fantastic!

A new patch for Trials 2 has been released and it features some good stuff, some damn good stuff! While a full list of changes can be read here I will just run down a few of the big ones.

- Team limit bumped up from 10 to 20
- Downloadable content now able to be used
- General changes to the physics system
- Changes to original Dynamic tracks and training tracks
- Five new tracks - four new easy and one new Dynamic track.

Video of new Dynamic track Domino Effect:

Via Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Just been in touch with Ron Carmel from 2D Boy regarding the latest World of Goo trailer and he had some interesting tid-bits to pass along.

The trailers were all taken from the PC version, and that is exactly how it will look on the Wii too
Development should be finished around July but release depends on Nintendo’s schedule.

Ron also had this to say regarding the big ‘Mrs Goo Balls’ from the new trailer.

One new kind of ball you saw in the video is the Beauty Ball. That’s the huge pink one. Beauty balls get processed into Beauty Product ™ which can get sucked out through the pipe. Thus, some of the levels in chapter 2 are solved in two “stages”… first you process the beauty ball, then you suck out the beauty product. Rumor has it that the World of Goo Corporation uses raw Beauty Product ™ to make facial exfoliating lotions and personal lubricants.

All very intriguing, two “stages” to a level, beauty balls, Beauty Product ™…wow this is all so great!

Remember to keep your eyes peeled on 2D Boy for all the latest regarding World of Goo!

Empire Interactive have confirmed that ‘Pipe Mania Puzzle Madness’ will be coming out later this year accross many platforms, including the humble PC!

A remake of the classic Pipe Mania (Pipe Dream to me) this new version of the classic game will feature expanded game modes along with new themes, game mechanics and new blocks for the goo to travel through!

“We are very excited to be bringing back Pipe Mania. Releasing this popular puzzle title across all formats will give all gamers of all ages the opportunity to enjoy this exciting puzzle sensation,” commented Ian Higgins, CEO Empire Interactive.

From the press release

The basic premise of the game is to get the goo (oh I love my goo tonight!) from point A to B by using different shaped blocks to ensure it stays on track! Bioshock copied this effectively in its hacking mini-game.

There are some screenshots over on Shacknews with the revelation of five new game modes and over 70 levels as well as some multiplayer action.

Two new videos for the amazing looking World of Goo have been released from 2D Boy’s day at a Nintendo WiiWare Festival. If these don’t get you excited for this game I don’t know what will, because you must be a very sad person not to fall in love with this game!

While the first movie is good, the second one below the jump is even better! As these were taken from the WiiWare Festival I assume they are of the Wii version, hopefully I can get some confirmation on that soon.

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I now know why people play consoles. PCs are a friggin pain in the arse to figure out what the problem is. I have been having various errors cropping up for the past few weeks and right now I have hit such a point where I am just like ‘whuuuuu?!’

My laptop with Vista is my saviour at the moment. Really, a Vista based machine. I’m boned :(

Race Driver GRID is all about the race according to Chief Game Designer Ralph Fulton. In his latest Developer Diary he gives us some more background regarding what we can expect to see in the game apart from great racing and great crashes.

The main thing raised in this diary entry is the revealing of three different racing areas for the game. First off is Europe the home of the ‘classic’ racing disciplines such as touring cars and open wheel cars. Expect to see some of the finest track from around Europe here.

Secondly we have the US which, as Ralph tells us, features a lot of street racing around places such as Long Beach, San Francisco and Washington. Expect to see some big muscle cars here.

Finally GRID will take us to Japan where ‘drift’ racing is the focus of the game.

Each area has different cars and environments in which to race so expect to see some great looking cars and tracks be perfectly suited to each other.

I just wonder what is with the Queens of the Stoneage love as the soundtrack to these little diary things….