|
|
 |
Archived News:
Pandemic's official Battlezone
II site has been updated, and now contains two new units: the ISDF and Scion
Assault Tanks (thanks GhostFire).
As with previous units, there's a full description and rotating model shot of
each on the page.
PC.IGN has posted an interview
with Yoshi Maruyama and Jay Fong, the Vice Chairman and Software Engineer for
Square Electronic Arts, talking about the PC version of Square's Final Fantasy
VIII. It looks like they're addressing a lot of the problems with the previous
title with this one, including (hopefully) making the movies high-resolution
this time around.
The Quake III Tour Bus swung by the C|Net offices today, and official Blue's News
whipping boy Bill "Crash" McClendon has posted
a writeup over at Gamecenter, complete with photos (thanks Frans).
Epic's Mark Rein made a massive update to the
official Unreal Tournament web site, with a general status report on all
things UT (thanks Frans). Amongst the
topics covered is word that listen servers will appear in the server browser
as of the next version, lots of Direct3D issues, and this general update: The
new demo has been a fantastic success from a testing standpoint. We've been
able to isolate all kinds of problems and find some good solutions. Yes, yes,
yes we should have done this for Unreal way back when. Lesson learned. Don't
forget that we do fully intend to release an updated D3D patch for Unreal itself
once we get the D3D performance to a level we're totally happy with. Unreal
Engine licensees all get access to Unreal Tournament Engine source code so future
games based on our engine should hopefully incorporate many of the improvements
we're making now, and in the coming weeks, thanks to the release of this demo.
Aliens vs Predator.com
has posted an interview with Alastair Halsby, lead artist and producer at Rebellion
on Aliens vs. Predator. There's a lot of ground covered in the interview, including
his background in the industry, a ton of AvP specific issues, and Rebellion's
other projects (including the Playstation version of Rainbow Six).
3D Realms' Chris Hargrove made a
post to their forums, talking about the scripting in their Unreal-engine
title Duke Nukem Forever, and how it compares to that of Unreal's (thanks 3DPortal,
by way of Unreal Universe). Here's
an excerpt: First off, DNF is not purely a TC of Unreal. We have made
numerous tech changes inside the engine itself and will continue to do so. That
being said, yes editing the script code for DNF will be a similar process to
doing so with Unreal.
Everything game-logic related in Unreal is object based, and DNF is no different
in that respect. Much of the script code work involved in making TCs and such
will revolve around making subclasses to existing game logic classes, and in
some cases modifying those original game logic classes directly (although this
is a bit more dangerous and should be avoided where possible). Much of this
process involves using UnrealEd. It won't be a "trivial" task to make
a TC for DNF, but it won't be impossible, either. If you are planning on doing
a lot of work in the code aspect of things, though, then get used to UnrealScript.
We have made several alterations and additions to it, but the core language
is still the same and will remain so.
Redwood over at Stomped has posted two
new images from Quake III: Arena, showing off Paul Jaquays' Q3DM11 map (thanks
redman). The images are available on Stomped's
news page, or in Redwood's
Q3 Status Article from the other day.
Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford updated his
.plan with an update on the Team Fortress Classic contest that WON.net is
throwing: I've received some e-mail asking about the winners of the recent
TFC level design contest hosted by WON.NET, the winners of which will have their
maps featured on the Half-Life: Opposing Force CD.
We received the entry maps a few weeks ago and have played them quite a bit
before picking the winners. We wanted to make sure we gave every map the attention
it deserved. There are some GREAT Team Fortress Classic maps among them and
I'm proud to include the winning maps with our game.
So, we would like to let you know that the winners are being chosen by Gearbox
and Valve and that an announcement will be coming very soon.
Thanks for your patience, and thanks for the great maps!
AVault
has posted a demo version of NovaLogic's Tachyon: The Fringe, showing off five
single player missions from this space combat game.
Gamasutra
has posted a profile of Ronald Kee, the man behind the cutscenes of Nihilistic's
Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption (thanks Vampire
Central). The profile is brief, and hardly even qualifies as a Q&A,
let alone an interview, but if you're curious who's making the cutscenes for
the game, you'll be interested.
Volition's site has been updated
with this bit of news that should be of the highest importance to Freespace
2 players (thanks Billy): Unfortunately we have encountered a problem
with the original shipment of Freespace 2 on some Windows95a or Windows95OSR2
systems. The problem causes the title to repeatedly ask for CD#2, even with
the correct CD in the drive. This does not mean that your CD is damaged or needs
replacement. We regret that the problem was discovered after the product had
been shipped, but we were able to pinpoint and correct this problem immediately,
and have already made an update available for the title, which can be installed
by simply clicking the 'update' button, located on the Freespace launcher. If
the title did not originally install, click on your 'Start' button, then on
'Run', and type D:\SETUP, with 'D' representing your CD-ROM drive letter. After
installation, you will then be prompted with the option to update your title
via the games launcher. The launcher can also be accessed (after the title has
been successfully installed) by: (Start/Programs/Games/Freespace2/Freespace2).
The new version will be automatically downloaded to your system. Any future
updates for the title will also be available via the update button, and we recommend
that you check it periodically to assure that you are running the newest version
of Freespace 2.
Note for Windows98 Users: Although we have not encountered the problem in tests
with Windows98 systems, installation of the patch will in no way be detrimental
to your operation of the title, and is recommended.
Again, we do apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. We do our
best to verify that our products go out as clean as possible, and hope that
you understand that we are working to resolve this situation immediately. We
hope that you enjoy playing Freespace 2 as much as we enjoyed creating it for
you.
If you need additional assistance, please feel free to contact our support department
at support@interplay.com.
Tonight's edition of Lilith
& Eve, the real media show that's, "by women, for women" (although
men presumably won't be turned away) has the ladies chatting it up with Unreal
Tournament designer Cliff Bleszinski (including footage of him handing out a
smackdown to them in UT). You can ask questions by joining their IRC chat at
chat.pseudo.com #allgames, and don't forget to point out that both myself and
Blue are ahead of him in ngWorldStats. The fun starts at 7:00 EDT this evening.
Acclaim has released the car editor for their toy car racing game Re-Volt (which
is really a lot of fun). Here's the appropriately small press release: Glen
Cove, N.Y. - October 1, 1999 -- Acclaim Entertainment (NASDAQ:
AKLM), a leading worldwide interactive entertainment company, today announced
that a mini-application has been released via Acclaim Online that will enable
Re-Volt owners to use the application 3D Studio to edit and create cars in the
PC version of the game. The application, unsupported by Acclaim and Acclaim
Online, is currently available for download at http://www.acclaim.net/games/re-volt/images/rv3dsxpt.zip.
Acclaim Entertainment recommends that only experienced users of 3D Studio download
the application, as technical support for 3D Studio and the car editing mini-application
will not be provided by the company. 3D Studio is required to use the car editing
application.
C|Net
has posted an article talking about AMD's upcoming K8 processor, which according
to the article is a competitor to Intel's upcoming Merced chip (thanks Duane
Pemberton). Both are expected to be discussed at next week's Microprocessor
Forum in San Jose. There's not much in the way of detail, but there is this
quote: Although little is known about the K8, sources close to AMD have
said that it will be a 64-bit processor, which means it can process 64 bits
per clock cycle, double the current rate of current Intel and AMD microprocessors.
Merced, due by mid-2000, will be Intel's first 64-bit processor. Fred Weber,
vice president of engineering at AMD, is slated to speak at the conference on
Tuesday.
Greg MacMartin, lead designer on Cavedog's first person shooter made a
post to the Cavedog forums with an update on why a large portion of the
design team was let go (thanks Billy " totallyannhiliated"
Wilson): Everyone:
Please do not think that Amen is now hopelessly behind schedule because of what
has happened. Yes, this will cause delays, but we're still firmly looking at
mid next year for release.
I also want to make clear one thing. A *LOT* of design work has been completed
for this game. 80% of the environments have been constructed in various forms
of completion for the entire game. Our goal of what we are striving to accomplish
has never been clearer. But it was becoming apparent that we (as designers)
were definitely WAY ahead of the programmers. We were more than ready to make
use of features that weren't scheduled to be implemented for months later by
the programmers. And this was becoming a serious concern for the company.
Sure, this is a difficult time for all of us and it isn't easily going to be
forgotten...but this WILL allow the engine and the core basis of the game to
be completed with less pressure on the programmers.
And it also means that when we re-hire a full design team (hopefully all of
the original guys!!!), there will be nothing stopping them from creating the
experiences that we've been attempting to create for Amen in the last two years.
It is certainly a very controversial decision...for everyone involved. But it
has been made. And we are going to do everything we can to push forward and
make the most incredible gaming experience possible...which has been our goal
all along. :-)
-Valarian (aka Greg MacMartin, Lead Designer, Amen)
NovaLogic's Delta
Force 2 FAQ has been updated with new information about this upcoming
tactical shooter, including word on system requirements, hardware supported and
multiplayer requirements. Thanks Frans ("Just the FAQs") at 3D Action
Gamers.
Microsoft sends word that Asheron's Call, their massive online multiplayer RPG,
will begin public beta testing next week, as the November issue of Computer
Games magazine hits the newsstands, which will contain a beta copy of the game
on the enclosed CD (the issue will be recognizable with Asheron's call the cover
story). The beta will be playable for free over the MSN Gaming Zone. Word is that rather than a pared down version of the game, the beta will offer
the entirety of Asheron's Call's 500 square mile virtual world.
Some new video drivers coming down the wire in this morning's bits:
Unreal4Ever has posted a mod for
the Unreal Tournament Demo called U4E, which adds a bunch of new and refined
weapons to the demo. They have also posted another couple of mutators for the UT
Demo to accompany the mod, U4E Arena, which lets you play UT with only U4E
weapons, and U4E Random Arena, which lets you play with a random collection of
all of the weapons in both UT and U4E.
Info Design interviews David Sawyer
talking with the Valve level designer (author of the famed CanalZone map), talking
mostly about being a professional designer, rather than specifics about
TFC or TeamFortress2.
GA-Source's FirstLook
at ROCK offers a preview of this upcoming game, described as a
"first-person action Hybrid," in a piece that includes several
screenshots. Here's a bit to describe what they hope will set this game apart: SingleTrac
hopes to usher in a new era where gamers will have complete and total freedom to
do whatever their hearts or twisted minds desire - imagine going from piloting a
spacecraft, to taking control of a Mech-like assault robot, to running and
gibbing in the venerable first-person shooter style. SingleTrac is looking to
not mimic other first-person action games, but set a new standard that promises
to be unmatched in the single-player and multi-player arena.
The wHeretic site has a new
build 4 of this Win32 Port of Heretic. Thanks Frans at 3D Action Gamers' Archive.
The TriCon page has a new
version 2.2 of TriCon, the remote console administration tool for Starsiege
TRIBES. the new release fixes some bugs, and adds a few enhancements, like a
badass custom kick mode that shoots the player to be kicked 500 feet in the air
before booting them (the type of thing that can get folks kicked for no good
reason just to watch 'em fly...).
Insomniax.Net's Dark Reign II
Interview talks with Pandemic Studios' Greg Borrund about this upcoming 3D
RTS sequel.
Thanks Frans at 3D Action Gamers
for a huge list o' reviews:
- There's a Q3CTF Petition up
collecting signatures of those offended that Q3 CTF will not be identical to
Q2 CTF, which seems pointless to me personally, since we already have the
former. Anyway, like the "speed up the Q2 grapple to as fast as the Q1
version" petitions that followed Quake II, the new plea is to add the
grapple into Q3CTF period...
- Word from Jane and her friends is that Jane's USAF has gone gold, so all you
flight sim junkies can look forward to that soon. If you can't wait, word is a
playable demo will be released sometime this weekend. Look for that on Gamecenter.
Also, word from Sierra is that Professional Bull Rider, subject of periodic
abuse here, is now on store shelves, so ride 'em cowboy, if that floats your
boat...
- The G-Sector page
has new screenshots from this upcoming freeware arcade space shooter...
As related in yesterday's emergency post, the FM incident mentioned in
yesterday's OotB actually expanded at one point and had both loony and I offline
completely. Our ISP is working desperately hard at scratching their heads in
mystification at why just one website would be inaccessible on one of their
access numbers, but not the other (and doing a good job of it too, I really do
believe they are mystified), so we'll see if they are able to clear it up. Now
it also seems I need to reconnect to the Internet ever five minutes or so, or my
connection fails as well (ugh!). I've had barely a lick of trouble with my ISP in over
two years with them, but this is a trying time. Obviously enough my schedule
never got back on track this week (it defies reason how long this morning's
update took with all the technical difficulties), oh well, as Scarlett said, tomorrow is
another day.
Link of the Day: The Think Tank Brain Sculpture from The Edge Company.
Thanks Troy Fisher. "This is your brain. This is your brain in a four-foot
tank."
Story of the Day: School Says Boy In Drag Can't Be Queen.
Just one of those annual prom mind-plooks, but worlds class headline writing.
Thanks DNapalm.
LoD Follow-up: Nitrous Express
redux. Looks like our Darwin award nominee has come out on top in this
semi-legal battle. Thanks Steve Beiting.
|
Twitter 
