Archived News:
Dave "Zoid" Kirsch updated
his .plan with a bit on Linux Quake III Arena auto downloads. Here's the hot
word from the id Software contract programmer: Just a note to linux server
operators who are putting custom maps on for autodownloading. The current Linux
server binary doesn't check for the file in the basepath, but in the cdpath.
That this means is downloads try to come from $HOME/.q3a/baseq3/ and will fail
(the client ends up with a zero byte file). To fix this for now, you can force
basepath like this on your server:
./q3ded +set fs_basepath `/bin/pwd` +exec blah.cfg
Where `/bin/pwd` will expand to the current directory you are running the server
from. You can also explicitly state the path there if you wish.
This will make autodownloading work correctly on Linux servers. In a future
version, we'll make sure that the server checks both base and cdpath.
Another day, another LithTech announcement, as Monolith sent along a
press release with word of a LithTech2 PlayStation2 licensing agreement.
Also, Monolith CEO Jason Hall updated
his .plan discussing possible skepticism some of the recent LithTech announcements
may be meeting. Here's a bit of the press release: Monolith Productions
today announced the licensing of their powerful new LithTech 3D Game Operating
System for the PlayStation2 to Crave Entertainment. The as yet-to-be-named
PlayStation2 project for Crave will be developed by Irrational Games, creators
of the highly acclaimed System Shock 2.
"We are very excited about Crave Entertainment and Irrational Game's
decision to use the LithTech 3D GOS for their upcoming PlayStation2 title,"
comments Jason Hall, CEO for Monolith Productions. "Irrational Games is a
proven team capable of producing high quality content, and we can't wait to see
what they can do with our powerful new technology."
As promised, id Software has released new beta version 1.16h patches for Quake III Arena, this time covering Win32, Linux and Mac simultaneously. This release brings a number of new features, such as improved mod support, and several bug fixes. Here are local copies of the Win32 patch, the Linux patch, and the Mac patch, all with a couple of mirrors. Robert Duffy updated his .plan with the scoop:
The point release is now available on our ftp site. It is marked as a beta as there are a lot of
functionality changes and we have a finite number of machines and scenarios we can test with. The
included readme contains a lot of information, please review it. The release is available for all three
platforms, Win32, Macintosh, and Linux.
If you encounter problems or bugs, please e-mail them to me at "raduffy@idsoftware.com"
SoFCenter has posted a brief interview with Chia Chin Lee, Raven's sound designer and music composer on their mercenary shooter Soldier of Fortune. Amongst the topics discussed are the dynamic music system and the score of the game, and the article comes with an excerpt of the music in the Siberia level.
nVidia has released new Release Candidate Detonator 3.78 drivers for Windows 2000, supporting all their various chipsets (TNT, TNT2, GeForce 256, etc.). Thanks nV News. You can download your choice of drivers from their site after accepting the license agreement.
id Software's Graeme Devine updated his .plan with a brief announcement that the next version of Quake III Arena should be released tonight. Here is the cryptic description of exactly what version this will be:
The pre-release of the alpha for the forthcoming beta of the pre-build of the
next point release should be out tonight. Details to follow from Robert Duffy.
The official Nox site has posted word of a new multiplayer level that is available for download on EBWorld.com. The level, entitled Sewers, is a mere 81 KB download, and works only on the retail version of the game.
Gunlok Interview on RPG Vault is a talk with developers Rebellion on the storyline and features of their upcoming futuristic action RPG. Here is a quote on the basic concept of the game:
Corporate rivalry reached a peak in the mid-21st Century and exploded into decades of war and human
persecution. Now cyborgs, more robot than human, rule the planet and their corporations are systematically
exploiting its remaining natural resources. Original humans have all but vanished. At an industrial complex a robot is
changed forever by an energy anomaly that triggers consciousness in his robotic brain. This is Gunlok, the first robot
to dream. With his new thoughts comes the power to trigger consciousness in other robots and the power to tap into
a 'magical' energy field of 'Earth Power' that surrounds the Earth. Gunlok sets off on a quest to discover his origin. On
this quest he will uncover the fate of the original humans, lead a fight against the tyrannical corporations and release his
robotic brothers from bondage. Finally he will confront his arch nemesis, the demonic cyborg Skorn.
Hecubah.com, a Nox fansite, has posted an interview with John Hight and Mike Booth, the men responsible for Westwood's action RPG that was released yesterday. Together they discuss how the game's design got started, reactions to the final result, their plans for the future, and lots more.
In response to the various rumors floating around about the state of 3dfx'
support for Windows 2000, Brian Burke, the company's PR Manager, sent along
this statement regarding their drivers for the just-released OS: The official release Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo3
2000/3000 are completed and have finished certification testing. We are currently
waiting for Microsoft to return the final certification on these drivers to
3dfx. Due to Microsoft WHQL restrictions, we cannot post beta drivers for Windows
2000. 3dfx will post Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo3 2000/3000 as soon
as Microsoft returns our WHQL certification. In the meantime, Windows 2000 users
may use the imbedded drivers for the Voodoo3 that ship with Windows 2000. We
also plan robust support for Windows 2000 with Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 when those
products ship.
InciteGames has posted some
new screenshots from Peter Molyneux' "god game" Black & White.
The shots are high-resolution, and they promise to release more tomorrow.
Also new on Incite Games this afternoon are some new
screenshots from Thief II: The Metal Age, showing off the mansion featured
in the "Masks" mission.
GameSpot's GameGuides has released their
guide to Ultima IX: Ascension. Like all their guides, the HTML version is
free, with a downloadable PDF version available if you're willing to pay for
it. The guide was authored by the fine folk at The
Stratos Group, and features a full walkthrough of the game, as well as a
rundown of all the weapons and monsters.
German games site Gamez.de has posted an
interview with Computer Artworks' Paul Whipp, talking to the producer about
their strange action game Evolva. The interview is available in your choice
of either English
or German.
As hinted at in Paul Jaquays' last .plan ( story), there is now a PDF version of the Q3Radiant Manual, for those who prefer their reading the Acrobatic way. It can be downloaded from id's ftp server or the Walnut Creek mirror (675 KB).
Dynamix has released another pair of Starsiege: TRIBES patches, updating the game to version 1.10.5. This update fixes the Turret bug from the 1.10 release. Here is a local copy with mirrors of the patch to update version 1.0, and a small patch to update version 1.10 is also available.
Quantic Dream has opened a site for Omikron Exodus, their sequel to Omikron: The Nomad Soul. Thanks Swampbug. The page has preliminary details on the third-person action adventure, and a set of design sketches. In related Quantic Dream news, the Quark screenshots page has recently been updated with more images from their other 3D action adventure.
GameSpot UK continues their coverage of the Milia trade event by posting five new screenshots from Flying Heroes, a fantasy action flyer by Illusion Softworks and Pterodon.
There is a new beta release of Dark Magic, a mod for Unreal Tournament that "removes the guns from the game, and replaces them with arcane forces. You collect these powers, and strive to become the master wizard, while putting down your competitors."
AVault has posted five
new screenshots from Hostile Waters, a 3D action/strategy game from Rage
Productions, as well as some preliminary details. The game features an impressive
list of graphical features, including bump-mapping, realistic physics, weather
effects, day and night cycles, and object shadows.
GameSpy.com has posted a
hands-on preview of BioWare's MDK 2, featuring several screenshots, and
a detailed description of the gameplay. Also up on GameSpy is an
interview with BioWare producer and joint CEO Greg Zeschuk, talking about
the development of the game. MDK, as everyone knows, stands for Many Dumb Kids.
The Mad Doctor's Designer's Diary on Computer Games Online is a diary by Activision's lead programmer Ian Davis, accounting the development of Star Trek: Armada as it is heading into the final stretch. Also, the official Star Trek: Armada site has released a 640x480 AVI version of the first movie trailer (previously available in 320x240 ASF format). Update: the AVI version of the second trailer is also online.
SpecForce.net has posted a small patch for the German edition of Spec Ops II: Green Berets, fixing problems with the use of grenades in the tactical squad-combat game by Zombie.
PC.IGN.com has posted a preview of War Monkeys, a 3D sci-fi real-time strategy game under construction at Silicon Dreams and TalonSoft, also known as Dogs of War in Europe. Using a more traditional iso-metric viewpoint, Kingdom Under Fire is an RTS with role-playing influences being designed by Korean company Phantagram for a US release by Gathering of Developers, and Daily Radar has a first look at it.
There's an Allegiance Designer Diary
on PC.IGN.Com talking with Joel Dehlin, executive producer on Allegiance
about Microsoft's space combat game, currently in open beta. Also, the Allegiance Vault's
Allegiance 101 has been updated with some new additions to this strategy
guide to the beta.
GA-Source's
AIWars Screenshots and Development Update gives some pictures, descriptions,
and accounts of AI Wars, an upcoming first-person action hybrid powered by the Genesis3D
engine. Also, there are five
Moonshine Runners screenshots on GPN showing off this upcoming
"funny" racing game, and there are more on the Moonshine Runners
website, as well as a Moonshine Runners interview on The
Daily Telefrag.
There's an interview with Pancho
'XceptOne' Eekels on ShishCoBob.com talking with this map author from
Digital Extremes about his work, which includes some of the maps in Unreal
Tournament.
An alpha version 0.5 of the Slave
Master mutator for Unreal Tournament is now available. Here's the
description of this unusual, decidedly non-emancipated gameplay enhancement:
"You start out 'free', and when someone kills you, you respawn as the
'slave'. Your job as the slave is to collect weapons, items, and powerups for
the master. After you have given enough 'favors' to your owner, he will set you
free. You can only score by being a slave master."
A new version 0.96 beta of the Fists of Fury
mod for Quake III Arena is now available. The mod offers unarmed (not even the
gauntlet) combat for those who don't like to settle things with guns. The new
release adds what's described as "minimal," but "functional"
bot support. Thanks Mod On Demand.
Today is Win2K day, huh? This should be interesting... In the midst of all the
western falderal yesterday I should have also mentioned Gunslinger Quake 2
the Quake II western TC that never did become the single player episode as was
planned, but does have multiplayer action for fans of six-shooters, and as
Quintin Stone points out, the "story" document included with GSQ2 is
"a nod" to one of Clint's best characters. Like Outlaws, for which no
sequel has been announced, it also sounds like there won't be a GSQ3, as the
page mentions plans for a "post-apocalyptic/cyberpunk mod for either the
Quake3 or Unreal Tournament engine" as their probable next project.
As for Clint's man with a name character mentioned yesterday, as loonyboi can
confirm, I am incredibly stupid about failing to use the incredibly useful IMDB
when scratching my head over this type of cinematic query. The Mopar was the
first of a few folks to send along a link to the IMDB's
Per qualche dollaro in più (For a Few Dollars More) page, which
indeed lists Eastwood's character as "Manko." A check of their Per un pugno di dollari
(For a Fist Full of Dollars) page confirms my vague recollection that
he's called a name in that as well, as he's credited as "Joe," and of
course most who have seen Il Buono, il brutto, il
cattivo (The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly) remember his nickname
in that was "Blondie," so there it is: The man with no name, AKA Joe
"Blondie" Manko, the man with three names.
Link of the Day: How
To Be a Game Reviewer on Spike's Corner.
Story of the Day: Jury
Rejects Too-Fat Defense on FindLaw Legal News. Thanks Buclerpp. Think of the
implications if they found him innocent? A license to kill for people like
Roseanne Barr and John Popper!
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