Archived News:
ActiveWindows has
gotten a confirmation from Microsoft, that DirectX 7 has "gone gold"
internally (in quotes since there's no gold pressing involved) and will be released
to the public soon (they're reporting by the end of the month). The final version
number, they say, is 4.07.00.0700.
The Half-Life site Area
13 has posted a list of "bloopers" from Half-Life (complete with
screenshots). They're not exactly bloopers in the literal sense, just a bunch
of goofs that nit pickers have been able to find. Some of them are pretty funny
though, such as incomplete keyboards on the scientists' computers, and a fan
that isn't connected to anything (thanks Ant).
An email from Brandon Reinhart on the
story about an Unreal Tournament Test next week says the Unreal Tournament
release that Mark Rein called a test is, in fact an actual demo. Also, thanks to
Unrealism for pointing out another
post to the UT put back till nov - GT Forum
thread from that story has more from Epic's Mark Rein on the release:
The demo/test will have 4 or 5 maps. The plan right now (it is still
subject to change) is 3 deathmatch maps, 1 Domination map and one Capture The
Flag map. Of course there will be bots and a single player ladder (albeit
shortened to the 4/5 levels that come with the demo).
The Sincest page has a new
version 1.0.8 of SinEd Omega that fixes "the MAX_SUBMENUS problem"
with editing Wages Of SiN maps, adding lots of other stuff to this Sin level
editor along the way.
The Adrenaline Vault Ground ZERO Coverage
has two new screenshots from Half-Life: Opposing Force being shown off at Ground
ZERO (loonyboi is there even as I write these words). Word there is that they
are working on an OpFor movie to be appearing as a covermount with some upcoming
gaming magazines and on some websites. Also, fhibbard sends the following about
a short OpFor FAQ available for download: I compiled all (Well, most
anyway) currently known information on Opposing Force into an easy to read faq
which you can download at http://sol.wctownhall.com/downloads/OpForFAQ.zip
(9.47k) You'll need Microsoft Word to read it though. Let me know if it needs
any corrections or new info... Sincerely, Jeremy
Dunn.
Epic Designer Cliff
Bleszinski updated his .plan with word that he'll be speaking in the Raleigh
area at a GDC roadshow, so as he puts it "If you're in the area and have 90
bucks to spare, the GDC roadshows are worth checking out." While you're in
the area it's a good chance to visit Mayberry and Mount Pilot, as well.
There's a big old SWAT 3
preview on TacticalPlanet (or as they call it "big-ass"), giving a
look ahead at the upcoming game of tactical police operations currently in
production over at Sierra. In addition to a look at gameplay in SWAT 3: Close
Quarters Combat (perhaps to distinguish it from a future SWAT 3: Long Range
Tear-Gas Attack) based on hands-on experience with the beta, the preview offers
no less than two dozen screenshots.
A pair of new Giants screenshots have quietly popped up on CitizenKabuto.com
(I spotted the news over on IPlayGames News)
giving a couple more looks at in-game scenes from Planet Moon Studios' upcoming
third-person action game. These are before-and-after shots of Kabuto the giant
himself, gobbling down one of those pastoral big-macs that graze the hills in
the land of Giants. Would you like fries with that?
GA-Source's KISS Psycho Circus The Nightmare Child
interviews doesn't actually talk with Gene Simmons or anything, but rather
with several of the folks at Third Law Interactive where they are working on a
LithTech-engine game based on the comic book exploits of the only-sometimes fictitious
but almost always made-up rock band. The Q&A includes some screenshots, including a pair that are new (the bottom two).
A thread titled UT put back till nov
on the GT Unreal Forum has word from Epic's PR maven Mark Rein that we may
be seeing a test release of Unreal Tournament (with another quickly to follow),
as early as next week. Thanks Syclone. Here's the post: Next week (and
again the week after) we'll be releasing a demo/test version that will help us
find and shake out some of the last few bugs in the game. Once we see what users
report then we'll have a much clearer picture of when the game will be ready.
[This message has been edited by Mark Rein (edited 09-11-99).]
Ritual's Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2
Gallery has been updated with a bunch of F.A.K.K.2 concept art from Kevin Eastman showing some the illustrated inspiration for Ritual's upcoming Quake
III-engine Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.2 game. Thanks again Frans at 3DGamers
for spotting these (I have to take his word for it, every time I go to that page
I get terminally stuck in the Julie Strain section).
BW.Wire has posted eight new screenshots
form LionHead's upcoming god-game Black & White, of course, based on
the Michael Jackson song of the same name (or was that Black or
White... anyway). The shots are taken from the build of the game that was being
shown off at the recent ECTS in London.
The Tread Marks Screenshots
page has been updated with a pair of new shots showing off this OpenGL
accelerated tank racing game. Thanks Frans.
Both shots show off "the volcano level,"
one with a descending lava ball, and the other a "post nuclear" shot
(think more yellow than an ABC ad campaign and you've got the picture).
GameFan has posted
a hands-on preview of Legend's Wheel of Time, based on the author's experience
playing a build of the game from start to finish. There's a bunch of new screenshots
there to boot, and the report is very detailed.
Drakan.net has posted the log
from last night's chat with Surreal Software, the developers of Drakan: Order
of the Flame. The big news of the evening is that the patch that's currently
in limited beta testing will be out next week (although these things have a
tendency to change on a day by day basis).
More coverage of this weekend's Ground Zero event here in NYC can be found
at Next-Generation
Online, where Mista Gamez has been dispatched to file daily reports. His
first report is from Thursday, which means it's a writeup of the Female Frag
Fest. For stats from the whole weekend, stay tuned to NetGames
USA's Ground Zero page, where they'll periodically be posting tournament
stats (there's no Internet connection at the show, so they're not live).
The Rogue Spear
Database has posted a complete walkthrough for the Rogue Spear demo, complete
with screenshots and a downloadable replay file (thanks RainbowSix.net).
Possibly because they really want to give Blue a new GeForce 256 card, the
screwballs over at Maximum PC are throwing a Gordon
Freeman Stunt Double Contest. Entrants only have to send a high-quality
picture of themselves looking like Gordon, with the grand prize winner walking
away with an NVIDIA GeForce card, and the runners up getting Maximum PC swag.
The QuakeWorld Server Launcher
has been released. This program will allow you to launch as many as 20 servers
at once, and the author recommends it for use at LAN parties.
Thanks as usual to Frans of 3DGamers
for most of these.
Well, the Dreamcast launch date has come and gone, and since I'm still waiting
for mine (hopefully it will arrive tomorrow - or heads will roll) I decided
to fire up Final Fantasy VIII. Since I was a huge fan of its predecessor, I
wasn't planning on doing that until I had the time...I have a tendency to get
horribly addicted to this sort of game. I'm pleased to report that it is very
good...I'm not far enough into it to point out the flaws that many people say
it has, but I'm getting my money's worth, that's for sure. Of course, right
after I post this, I'm placing it back on the shelf, where it will remain until
next weekend - I can't afford to lose whole days during the week to the game.
Link of the Day: Perpetual
Bubble Wrap. Surely the product of someone with waaaaaaaay too much time
on their hands.
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