Archived News:
The unofficial Quake III Arena gameplay FAQ has received a major update to version 2.0, expanding its tips and tactics for deathmatch survival to levels Q3DM8 through Q3DM12 (including Q3TOURNEY3), as well as making various updates throughout the document.
Newly opened Allegiance Vault has posted an interview with five members of the development team of the online-only spacecombat/RTS game by Microsoft. The talk covers topics like the creation and design of the game, the progress of the current beta test, the measures taken to reduce lag in the game, and more.
In style with the time of year, SOFNews.com has posted two winter themed screenshots from Soldier of Fortune. Earlier today, Raven's Kenn Hoekstra updated his .plan on his first working day after Christmas, while pointing out an unofficial movie at Now Playing Games that shows some gameplay from the OEM version of their mercenary shooter, which can be downloaded here ( Real player required).
Activision has released the map editor for Interstate '82 for download at WON.net. Dubbed the Terraformer, the editor comes with a tutorial document and offers "a number of powerful features to help you create action-packed multiplayer environments", including:
- The 2D view for painting large areas of elevation, placing roads,
connecting intersections, etc.
- The 3D view for sculpting more detailed terrain features, precise
texturing, and object placement
- AI Mesh creation to help keep your Instant Action AI vehicles driving more
like humans
- Multiple layers which can be hidden or revealed to keep things simple and
less confusing
- Objects, bridges, and intersections which automatically snap to one
another
- Extremely precise placement of objects, vehicles, and colored lighting
GASource has posted two
new screenshots showing off Monolith's LithTech
2 engine, which is being used to power the game formerly known as No One
Lives Forever as well as the recently discovered SpecOps 3
( story).
The December issue of Incite magazine features a Q&A with Motley
Crue member Nikki Sixx, who apparently (along with his band 1958) has been contracted to
write the music to the as of yet formally unannounced title Half-Life II (thanks
Voodoo Extreme by way of PlanetHalfLife).
The eloquent Mr. Sixx explained this by saying, "when they heard some of
the 1958 loop-based music, we all felt it was a marriage made in hell."
Indeed.
The spooky Spookhouse
has the debut release of the mission editor for Nocturne, Terminal Reality's
equally-spooky third-person action game. Here's the deal on the editor sent
along by the delightful Kazi Wren, who now embraces her title as Dark
Mistress of Spookhouse: You'll want to download the .EXE file into the
same place on your hard drive you have NOCTURNE. It must be in that folder to
work.
The .EXE comes with FULL documentation from Terminal Reality, in both .DOC and
.PDF (for Acrobat readers). We will also have some of the documentation
available in our new NOCTURNE EDITOR section. I'll add all the documents in the
next few days.
The Editor is robust, but I found it simple to follow the documentation and use.
You'll be able to create complete missions using it. You can modify them, too,
but there are a few things you won't be able to do. You will not be able to
create new character models. It's really complicated, and TRI's Fletcher Dunn
(the editor god) would never get his other work finished! You WILL be able to
re-texture (skin) existing characters and monsters to fit the stories you
create.
You'll also be able to create new sets, models (except character models),
missions, scripts, sounds, extract the PODs that shipped with the game, or
create your own PODs of your levels and sets so you can give it to your friends!
Of course, for all of this, you can start with an existing set/model/script and
alter it, or you can start from scratch.
So, go forth, Agents, and team up with others. Take the time to play with this
Editor. When you have a mission or even smaller elements (like new skins, new
PODS, etc.) send them to SPOOKHOUSE. I will create areas on the site for your
work to be downloaded. If you decide to create your own Web site for your work,
again lemme know. I'll provide links on Spookhouse as well as any support I can
give.
The Starlancer Weekly Screenshots
on GameRush have returned, resuming their weekly glimpses ahead at this
upcoming space sim from Microsoft, Digital Anvil, and Warthog.
The oogily-named Sincest has
version 0.1 of a new modification for Sin called Capture & Hold. Opting for
the sin-cerest form of flattery route, the gameplay is described as "a SiN
version of the Domination mod for UT." The mod apparently works properly on
all CTF maps, and almost of all of the Sin DM maps (except Spool and Paradox).
The Den has version 2.1 of
TRIBES Arena, the Starsiege TRIBES version of the last-man-standing gameplay of Rocket
Arena. The new release is described as a version 2 release candidate, and adds a
Match Mode (with team captains and a limit of two LasRifles per team), a time
limit (four minutes by default), removes heavies from the game, and more.
id Software modeler Paul Steed has supplied casManG's All You Can Eat Games
Stuff with three .bip files from Quake III Arena showing off sample
character animations that can be imported into Character Studio "to give
your models some motion." The three animations they've posted are for
Hunter, Klesk, and Visor.
After porting Quake to SDL ( story),
an apparent wave of nostalgia inspired Sam Lantinga to also create an SDL port
of LxDoom, which is now available for download on
this page. Thanks Jacek Fedoryński.
In my OotB as originally written yesterday, I failed to properly note the date of Festivus
(December 23), thanks snagger and zac. For some time this weekend, the routing
glitch that's been slowing down access for this site for people using certain
paths to get here cleared up (for me at least, as I've been so affected).
Unfortunately, the situation has reverted this morning, so I'll see if we can
actually get this addressed this week in spite of the holidays.
Link of the Day: TIME.com Person of the Century.
Albert Einstein. Inspiration for all of us who had trouble in school.
Story of the Day: This Ottawa Citizen Online article
that claims yesterday was not actually Boxing Day. Thanks Will Raths.
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