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Archived News:
The A3D Download Drivers page has
new version 2.08 A3D reference drivers as well as an updated set of pre-release version
4.06 Vortex 2 (OEM) drivers for Windows 95/98. Also, the 3dfx
Interactive site has posted the version 1.0 Voodoo3 drivers, which should be the ones
that shipped with all retail boards, so they're not really new to anyone except perhaps a
few owners of review boards.
As promised, the official Quake 3 Arena site has
word of the release of the Linux version of Quake III Arena as well as new releases of the
Mac version and the Win32 server, both available as full versions as well as updates for
previous releases. Here's a local copy of the Linux Q3ATest in rpm format (20.9 MB), as well as the Linux
Q3ATest as a simple tar.gz archive (20.9 MB), a local copy
of the Win32 server (20.5 MB), the
Win32 Server update (456 KB), the MacQ3ATest full release
(21.4 MB), and the
MacQ3ATest Updater (603 KB) along with lists of mirrors. Here's word from Zoid on the
system requirements for Linux Q3ATest:
- Linux kernel 2.0 or later (2.2 kernels will work).
- Voodoo, Voodoo2 (SLI works "great") accelerator (not Voodoo3)
- 64 MB RAM
- a Linux supported sound card
- XFree86 3.2 or later.
Graeme Devine sent along this update on Q3Test since id Software's .plan server
is down: We're about to update (tonight) the executables to 1.03 of q3test,
there is a seperate download for win32 and mac that just contains the updates,
and the main files have been updated as well. Win32 is still only available as a dedicated
server.
We're also releasing the Linux version of q3test, this will available as a RPM and as .tar.gz.
If you have a G3 system, I highly recommend the new firmware update from Apple, that gave us a noticeable (to humans) framerate improvement.
Here's the update list:
Mac specific
------------
improved networking stability
improved device scanning
improved speed
improved memory checking
improved sound latency
Generic
-------
global motd/update server
added drop shadow to field characters and fixed scrolling
fixed edge-of-bounce-pad misprediction error (server side)
removed broken weapon-stay dmflag
made menu gfx never picmip
cheat protect r_lightmap
cheat protect r_nocurves
clear sound buffer before any file IO
continuous scoreboard / ping update when tab is down
put version number on menu background
dim out behind floating menus
fixed server crashing string bug
adjusted scoreboard for 8 players
show hostname on connection screen
fixed null model warning on startup
more space for hostname on local servers screen
sv_privateClients, sv_privatePassword
"server is full" message on connect screen
archive handicap in config file
Whole bunch of 3D Realms related news for you this afternoon: first off, Keith
Schuler updated his .plan
with a glowing report from his playtesting of the N64 Duke Game, Zero Hour (including
a report that the title has more speech than any prior Duke game). AVault
is reporting that Remedy Entertainment has unveiled their new logo (you may
recall that LucasArts had threatened legal action over its similarity to theirs).
Mike Wilson updated his .plan
with the final word on the whole Gene Simmons/Max Payne confusion: Gene
Simmons has no contractual rights to Max Payne for film. I let CGW know before
they [ran] this story (when I first heard that he said that to a CGW reporter
in Finland). Maybe it was too late to change it, or maybe CGW just thought it
was too funny to take out, true or not. The fact is that Gene has a great interest
in the game and had the whole Remedy crew out as VIP's at their concert in Finland.
Since he also has some film company relation- ships (he's gotten 2 major films
greenlit in 6 months), he has been acting as a sort of agent on our behalf only
to his select relationships. Who knows what will come of it... there are quite
a few people interested in Max Payne and Nocturne in Hollywood.
Lastly,
George Broussard updated his .plan
responding to this afternoon's rumors about Duke Forever and Prey. Here's a
quote: FACT: Duke Nukem Forever will NOT be shown at E3 in any capacity,
by OUR choice. We have decided to stay focused and work through E3, and not
let the distractions of a trade show dictate "when it's done". GT
fully supports our decision and should be applauded for it. Duke Nukem: Zero
Hour (N64) will be the Duke Nukem focus and man, let me tell you what, it rocks!
We've been testing and tweaking it for 2 months and I see a million seller there.
FACT: GT has not "dropped, cancelled, pulled support, or poo-poo'ed"
any part of Prey. They have always been supportive of our products.
ReSaurus updated their news page
with the design sheet for their Quake 3: Arena toy, The Klesk. Subscribers to
their newsletter have already seen this, and a new newsletter went out today
with details on their next Quake 2 figure, The Medic. If you're not a subscriber,
you can join at this
page to get the details.
Phoebus sends word that Jake Simpson, Raven
Software code junkie made a post to the Heretic
II.com forums with some dirt on the next version of the enhancement pack:
Ok, tomorrow should see the new version of the EP up on both our and
Activision's servers. This is the one with all the bug fixes in it. An updated
toolkit should be around too, in fact two versions - since we are replacing
the EP totally, then there will be a newer version of the toolkit with all the
new code in it. Also, on the Raven site, there will be a smaller code only toolkit,
with just those files in it that changed from version 1.04 to 1.05, for all
the modders out there.
We apologise for taking so long to get it to you, we were actually QA'ing another
version of H2 at the same time that is going out to Nvidia, to be released as
an OEM deal with the TNT2. If there were going to be an OEM deal, we wanted
to be sure it was the latest code, that way if anyone sets up a server, it will
be with the latest and greatest code.
One last thing - 1.04 and 1.05 should be compatible multiplay wise, but you
will most likely loose your save games. Sorry.
GameSpot's Quake III
Arena week continues, as they've posted a Quake III
Arena Screenshot Gallery, most of which seem familiar, but that first one (#8) looks
new. Thanks Beyond 3D.
Just when you thought Joost was going to have to update his .plan about her lack of
updates, there's an update on BitchX' page
announcing that the Prey project is dead. As she reports: "No, I'm not dead... yet....
but Prey is... at least as far as GT is concerned. Sources say GT has pulled
support from the product and 3DR has no one working on the project at this time."
There's also a rumor on the rumor-monger's site that Duke Nukem Forever will make an
appearance at this year's E3, in spite of all the reports to the contrary. Thanks
Valeyard.
A new article on ION Storm in the Dallas Observer Online gives the lowdown on the latest behind the scenes rumblings at ION and Eidos based on court papers recently filed. Here's a quote:
But behind the scenes, in courthouses and boardrooms across the city, another sort of gaming continues. Last month, ION filed amended lawsuit pleadings suggesting that Eidos may be close to pulling the plug. ION's suit alleges that last November's walkout of
the Daikatana development team "jeopardized [ION's] relationship with Eidos and caused Eidos to restructure its business venture with [ION]."
According to people in a position to know, Eidos may acquire 51 percent of ION, making ION
more or less a part of Eidos. But the same sources say that ION's remaining shareholders
— John Romero, Todd Hall, Jerry O'Flaherty, Todd Porter, and Warren Spector —
will not get rich from the deal, which apparently involves no cash. Instead, Eidos will
forgive a portion of its advances to the developers in exchange for its chunk of ION
— a move that will enable Eidos to keep closer tabs on ION's operations.
The SciTech Software Download Files
page has the new version of the SciTech MGL toolkit for creating games and other
interactive graphics applications. This Multi-platform Graphics Library has been used in
the development of titles like WinQuake, Hexen II and many others, and is available for
Windows, MS-DOS, Linux, OS/2 and QNX. Thanks 3DFiles.
There's a new version of the MesaQuake
drivers out (3.1b9), those cool drivers that allow you to play Q3Test using
a Voodoo card on a Mac. This version fixes a problem where Q3Test would crash
when you entered the portal room in Q3Test Map 1 (thanks Greg Cloon).
NovaLogic has announced
Delta Force 2, the sequel to their squad based FPS title. The follow-up uses
a next-generation version of their Voxel-powered engine, and adds Voice-Over-Net
technology allowing people to talk to each other while playing online. In related
news, GA-Source
has posted the first screenshot from the game.
Computer
Games Online previews Werewolf: The Apocalypse ( "stay off the moors"
) looking at this forthcoming horror game calling it "More madness from the sick
folks at DreamForge." Here's a part talking about some programming efforts that have
taken the game's Unreal-engine in a new direction:
Even though they are using the Unreal engine to create this monster of a
game, we'll find that it's not totally Unreal. They have tweaked the engine to
perform in what they hope will be one of the more unique interpretations we've seen. The
engine was in development when they got their claws on it, and still is (and ever shall
be, it seems), and after digging deeply into the poorly-documented tool, they were able to
add a caboose of their own.
Probably the most significant addition is the morphing capability of not only the main
character but of certain NPCs as well. In the Werewolf universe, there are three
states of being that are available to those with wolf genes. The first is the simple human
state into which some have been born, and from which the lucky ones will begin to evolve
during adolescence. As described above, the second state is that of Crinos—the
wolfman—a huge, bipedal monstrosity with large sharp claws. Crinos have the ability
to use a Klaive (ceremonial werewolf swords) and the ability to cast magical Gifts (like
spells) and regenerate damage. Finally, there is Lupus, the wolf, who has Alpo-breath and
likes to do it doggy-style. The Lupus form is small and fast, with tracking capabilities,
and has the ability to squeeze into smaller, tighter spaces than its counterparts.
More horror: GameSpot's
Nocturne Preview is up with an extensive look ahead at this upcoming spooky-looking
action/adventure from Terminal Reality, offering a gallery of no less than six
hundred million screenshots (give or take).
Sharky Extreme's
First Glimpse at Decay looks at this upcoming action game from Insomnia Software that
looks so impressive from the screenshots (some of which are included in the preview).
Get a load of this. More than a byte of bits:
SailorScout's GC
interviews Suislide talking about the Action
Quake mod, discussing this multiplayer Quake II mod, the possibility of a
single-player version, and the upcoming Half-Life version.
- The Lithium II Mod for Quake II page
has new version 1.24 releases of this Quake II mod ported to Linux AXP, Solaris Sparc,
and Solaris x86.
- Version 1.2 of X-Maps for LMCTF adds a ninth
map to this popular pak for Lokis Minions
Capture the Flag for Quake II.
- The Chapter Honour demo is out offering the
first chance to play this mod called the Warhammer 40,000 TC for Quake (WinQuake or
GLQuake are recommended). Looks like they're exploring the possibility of a commercial
release on this, but it seems that it's not determined yet whether that will happen.
More bullets!
- GBPaker is a Pak update utility that allows mod authors to make additions or updates to files within .pak format files, which could lead to easier updates for new versions by allowing "mini update pak
files." Available for Linux, Windows console and DOS. "A native Windows 95/98 version is coming soon."
- Raven-Games has released the ACC Script
Compiler for Hexen to go along with the recently released source code of this Doom-engine
game.
- Developer's Corner: The Learning Forum
is a group production looking to create a playable game and engine from scratch, and
they're looking for help. It's open to current and future game developers.
- Shogo Paint is a freeware
program to simplify the creation of "bullet art" for Shogo: Mobile Armor
Division.
- Storm3D.Com has the new version 0.11 release of
the Lightning3D freeware NURBS modeler.
I was actually supposed to be out most of the day yesterday, but my plans changed, and I
was able to hang around and get into loony's hair as he captained the ship (and a great
job he did). The loonster also got cultural and popped in a pop culture reference yesterday, recalling a line from the Watchmen.
About the only good return Rorschach quote was from Hellspit who makes us wonder if he's
wondering about us with his choice of "Possible Homosexual? Must remember to
investigate further," though Dagger also gave the Latin subtitle ( Quis
custodiet ipsos custodes), which probably qualifies as plain old culture, as well as
the pop kind.
Link of the Day: Elephant Puts Foot Down On
Pirated Software. Thanks f00Dave.
Image of the Day: Release Linux Q3ATest or Tux gets it.
Thanks Adam "YourNameHere" Smith.
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