Archived News:
Yep, it's Mailbag time again. In this week's thrill-packed installment: more
on Sin, an open letter to GT Interactive, Requiem: Avenging Angel, Daikatana,
John Carmack vs.Y2K, and of course, more. Hop on over to the April
11th edition of the Mailbag, and remember: I didn't make a single one of
these up. Seriously!
There is a Voodoo 3
Possible Fixes thread on the Starsiege
Players Forums offering fixes for V3 owners playing Dynamix' new giant robot game.
Thanks Apache at Computer Gaming Review.
Team Evolve's Red Odyssey page
now has a version 1.1 patch for this add-on pack for Battlezone. The patch would seem to
be mostly bug-fixes, as the page simply says it is a "patch to fix some issues that
were noticed after the product shipped."
Eidos Eyes Bigger
Stake in ION Storm is the headline of a GameSpot
story with the rumor that "Eidos is negotiating for a 51-percent ownership position
in the Dallas-based developer." Thanks Flamethower.
Here's a bit more on the implications of such a move according to GameSpot:
The source also said that if the investment is completed, changes affecting
top-level management at ION were also likely.
When asked for a comment, ION Storm CEO Todd Porter denied that Eidos was making such an
investment.
Valve is offering a reward to one lucky member of the Half-Life primary server program.
Here's the announcement sent along by Jenni (which I should have posted yesterday):
In an effort to thank those who joined Half-Life's Primary Server Program (PSP),
Sierra Studios and Valve will be giving away a free trip to Valve to one lucky PSP member.
To be selected, these members must be registered participants of the PSP and have their
server up and running this Saturday. The 100 chosen at random will be sent a Team Fortress
Classic T-shirt. Then next Saturday, April 17, Sierra Studios and Valve will check these
servers again and select one of the hosts at random to come to Kirkland, WA and spend the
day at Valve.
Those who are not currently enrolled but would like to participate must complete the short
questionnaire and download the server software from CNET's Gamecenter.com.
Some afternoon hardware bits for your reading pleasure: There's a PowerVR 250 article on Kert's page
talking about the difference between the PVR's tile-based rendering and more conventional
polygon-based graphics processors. Thanks Billy at Voodoo
Extreme. Also, from VE, FullOn3D
Hardware's Matrox interview talking to Dan Wood about the G400. Computers R Us' updated
chipset guide looks at the current stable of chipset selections. Finally, Ars-Technica mentioned that Intel Unveils Processor Road Map
At WinHEC offering an actual CPU roadmap released by the big I. Thanks Shugashack.
There's an RBR
Update on GA-Source where they asked Randy Pitchford about the status of the folks who
once staffed the now-defunct Rebel Boat Rocker. His reply reveals the news that they
have more-or-less remained together, forming a new company called Gearbox Software:
Most of the RBR content team stayed together. We've re-organized and
reincorporated as Gearbox Software.
We're working on a new very exciting project that will be publically announced in just a
couple of weeks.
There's a very large Q&A on PlanetBlood with
Monolith CEO Jason Hall (thanks Billy at VE).
The folks at P.B. have taken issue over the current state of the game, and ask some very
direct questions about Blood2's future, starting off with this strong intro: "Okay
Jason, I think we've tolerated this enough now. This is a list of issues we have with your
game..."
The Quake Movie Library is announcing the winners of their Quake Oscars today in an IRC session in Undernet #qmovies at 8:00 PM GMT. Everyone's welcome! Black tie optional.
Version 1.1 of the Gaz Mod, is
out (hours after the release of version 1.0) offering a gateway program that will connect multiple Quake II servers. The mod is a server-side .dll that lets the server admin create 'special' teleporters in a map that transport players to a new server when activated.
A new beta 5 release of Terror Quake2, a
Quake II mod that adds many real-life effects and weapons, as well as terror to the game,
is now available. There is also now a new online Terror
Quake2 manual.
The Console Stats Homepage has version 1.1 of the
Console Stats 2.1 preview, the latest release of this Quake II demo/log file analyzer
offering improved HTML output, and new stats to report.
Hardware for your weekend! Not even a Sunday morning can stop all the hardware bits
running down the wire, here are a couple of morning bits: Anandtech's Super7 3D
Video Accelerator Comparison is up offering a look at the state-of-the-art in 3D
accelerators when running on non-state-of-the-art Super 7 motherboards. Thanks
Pyscho_Clown at 3DNow.net. Also, Sharky Extreme's Memory Guide
Part 2 is up offering a look at the performance of whatchamacallit, memory. Finally, An In-depth Look at A3D 2.0 with Heretic2
EP is an article that looks at Aureal's A3D 2.0 sound API using the audio in Heretic
II as a test-bed.
The update yesterday about the .mp3 dealies ( story), mentions "a limited time $50 mail-in rebate offer to
customers who purchase the original Rio PMP300 between April 12 and July 5, 1999,"
but I jumped the gun a bit, since word on that hasn't been posted there yet, I'll mention
it again when it is. Whoops, also I called the werewolf interview a vampire interview
yesterday (you can't tell the monsters in upcoming action/RPG's without a scorecard!) in
the headline yesterday. Also, Hexagon at Ritualistic
says that the ReDeMpTiOn SiNbot has
been using the 1.03 source for some time, yesterday's new release wasn't the debut of that
feature.
- TFC vs. G.I. Joe (as the page declares,
"no, it's not a MOD!") offers a comparison between the classes in TeamFortress
Classic and the post-Vietnam era GI Joe figures (the 6-8" versions, not the
foot-longs of my youth). Some of the similarities here are startling. Thanks Twisted
Cowboy...
- The second edition of Datumplane::Starsiege's
Ask Prometheus column is up, acting as a "Dear Abby for TRIBES"...
- AMD Zone interviews Hap
talking to the man behind Future vs. Fantasy about this cult-favorite Quake mod,
discussing development of the upcoming new version using the Genesis3D engine...
Response has been strong to the newly revived LAN Parties
section, if you have an event to add, be sure to head on over, or, of course, if you are
looking to attend an event in your area, there are already a bunch of listings. Next up is
the Want Ads, which will be similarly automated so it's always up-to-the-minute fresh.
Rocking right along, I have a guess who's in the photo contest to put up just for fun
(well, there'll be a prize, too), look for that tomorrow.
The Half-Life FAQ version 4.10.1999 (hey, a Y2K compliant version number!) is now available, adding some new info, including stuff on
the newly released TeamFortress Classic.
As I mentioned earlier today, the LAN Parties and the Want Ads, a couple of my favorite
areas on the site here, have been in a state of neglect for some time, since a project has
been underway behind the scenes to automate the function of these two areas. I am pleased
to announce that the first of the two projects, the revived LAN Parties page is now online. You can add your own LAN
party through this page, which will email back a passworded personal URL that allows
you to confirm, modify, or delete the information for your event so it can always be
current. Because of this, we decided not to take the liberty of adding the parties from
the older HTML LAN parties page so that the maintainers of those parties can get properly
set up with their URLs when they enter their info. Props to Furn for a fine job in
programming the new page. Enjoy!
"To celebrate the positive resolution of System Shock 2's slipped release date debacle," The Adrenaline Vault News has posted a pair of new System Shock 2 screenshots. According to the resolution they mention, the game is still on track for a Summer release.
The ReDeMpTiOn SiNbot page has the
version 0.6 beta of this artificial intelligence playmate for Sin. Thanks fernando guerra.
The new release has been re-written with the Sin 1.03 source code release. Here's a list
of what's new:
- Changed bot accuracy formula again
- Added coloured highlight text for the centerprint
- Added b_arena CVAR [0/1] to make bots attack ONLY humans! This sets b_autoskill by
default too...
- Finally fixed bot bodies lying around in mid-air bug.
- Put node system back in. Navigation is not perfect yet, but we'll get there.
- Added ladder nodes
- Made level up message an external file (arcade)
- Taught bots to hunt enemies
- Camper hunting AI in place (30 second delay)
TribeNet Neutral Ground has opened, intended
to serve as a nonpartisan home for posting TRIBES challenges, as the name implies. Word is
TribeNet will provide a free message board for any squad that requests one.
Work continues apace on the automated LAN Parties section, which may go online later this
afternoon, which will be followed by the newly automated help wanted section. In the
meantime, here's a help-wanted that Monolith's Jason Hall posted in his .plan
(yeah a fix on the BlueTracker is still TBA, too):
Our director of product development (Chris Hewett) has asked me to put this in
my .plan file - so here it is unedited!
--Begin Quote--
---
IMPORTANT! Monolith is looking to fill 2 very important positions on our other currently
undisclosed mega-AAA title. We are ready to hire immediately!
The first position we are looking to fill immediately is the Art Director position. This
person needs to have strong illustration skills and should be familiar with 3D programs
(SoftImage or 3D Studio Max). The second position requires a highly skilled character
modeler/animator. If you think you can fill either position, then Monolith will do
everything in our power to make sure you are taken care of! For the Art Director position,
please send your resume and your best illustration samples that you have created to 3DJobs@lith.com. For the character modeler/animator
position, please send your resume and your best samples of human character models that you
have created to 3DJobs@lith.com.
------
- End of Quote -
PlanetBlood has posted a good sized Q&A with Monolith CEO Jason Hall about some issues they have with Blood II, asking about the status of the tools and source release, as well as a discussion about 'net play. Thanks Billy at Voodoo Extreme. In the discussion Jason mentions the possibility that Monolith would offer "some limited support to a key mod group so that Blood 2 may live on and take some of the directions that various Bloodites would like it to take."
Pandemic Watch has posted a brand new screenshot from the upcoming BattleZone II that "shows an ISDF Walker lurking around a base on Pluto." Thanks again Billy.
Apparently the registration screen that kept coming and going on the PCZone Quake III Arena preview mentioned in this story the other day was an accident, and the intent was to keep
registration from interfering with the article. If you are one of the readers who hit the
back button when confronted with the registrations screen, here is a
link to the PCZone Q3A preview that should not revert to requesting a log in, since it
has a group login built in.
QuakeFiles.Com has got a dealie set up to notify folks by email when the q3atest becomes available, promising the word as soon as it's given, courtesy of their all knowing technological ways.
The Requiem cheats have returned to Requiem-HQ (they were posted, then pulled), giving up the goods on how to access god mode, all the weapons, and more. They plan on keeping the list up-to-date with new stuff as it's learned, and to annotate the list with notes where appropriate.
The Starsiege TRIBES
Scripting Documentation Index has been updated with more scripting documents with info
on modifying the game, adding sections titled: Group and Set,
Item, Math and
Vector, Miscellaneous,
Moveable,
Network, Team, and Vehicle,
leaving only the blanks for the Object, Player, and String not filled in. Thanks Trev.
PlanetUnreal has posted an interview
with Travis Williams, Executive Producer of Werewolf: The
Apocalypse, the upcoming Unreal-engine werewolf game.
GameSpot's Preview of Mechwarrior
3 is up looking at the entry in the upcoming giant robot wars (along with Starsiege
and Heavy Gear 2) from Zipper Interactive that the article contends "has the most at
stake."
A newsletter sent along by CTW says
their next edition will carry the news that GT Interactive will cease their US
distribution operations due to a "huge fourth quarter financial downturn." The
report quotes GT Interactive Europe Chairman Frank Herman saying, "As far as GT
Europe is concerned, there are no changes anticipated."
Prick up your ears (huh?), there are a few of these .mp3 stories: Strange Company has released The Strange Company mp3 decompressor, a utility to allow Quake II mod makers to distribute sound files in compressed
mp3 format that will automatically decompress into the mod's .pak file upon installation. This is the util behind their Nightfall movie's 22 MB install which decompressed to 140 MB.
More on Nightfall in the next story. Also on the .mp3 front, while we're at it, the new version 1.0 of the Mp3Spy dealie that finds streaming
audio content on the Internet is now available for your listening pleasure. Finally, Diamond has announced their Multimedia
Rio PMP300 Limited Edition, a 64 MB version of their portable .mp3 player that sports a new think the same as those who "think different" sort of design. They are also set to announce 32 MB upgrades for the Rio PMP300 as well as a limited time $50 mail-in rebate offer to customers who purchase the original Rio PMP300 between April 12 and July 5, 1999, expect word on that soon.
The previous story mentioned a new distribution of the Strange Company's Quake II movie, Eschaton:
Nightfall. This prompted me to re-download the second installment in this four part Eschaton series based in the
world of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos and Pagan Publishing's Delta Green because I'd
had problems with the RAR compression they were using in previous attempts to run it. The
new distribution worked, and I have to say, that this is really wild stuff. The audio is a
bit muddy, and my American ears had trouble following all the British-accented dialog, but
the effort that went into this movie is evident throughout, with plot, sets, dialog, and
action all getting equal attention. It's a bit odd having this kind of movie be so dialog
heavy (you spend a lot of time looking at models talking without their lips moving), but
the couple of action sequences make it all worthwhile, with great looking hand-to-hand
combat, and a boss monster confrontation that outdoes many games.
Offering an add-on for an add-on, the AQDT
has released Action Quake: Espionage, code name AQ:E, a new add-on for the popular Action Quake2. AQ:E will allow you to create
your own scenarios and or use the included scenarios, CTB, ATL (Assassinate The Leader),
ETV (Escort the VIP), and more.
To the dismay of many Star Wars fans, I wrote Darth Moll in place of Darth Maul in yesterday's out of the Blue ramble, my apologies. My excuse is that I'm actually staying fairly insulated from most pre-release news on the movie, and can't recall seeing the name in print before (it's no "if the glove don't fit, you must acquit" but it's something). My apologies to the Darth and the entire empire. ("Apology accepted Captain Needa"). More apologies: BlueTracker is still borked (sorry).
True signs that the apocalypse (or something) is upon us: Lara Croft - Icon for the 90s
and now... The New Face of Lucozade.
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