Archived News:
Last in this long day of Half-Life related releases are the international version 1.1.0.0 patches. These bring the same changes as the English patches earlier today ( story), and come in German, French, Italian, Spanish and Korean language editions. They are available for download from Sierra's Half-Life site, but a word of warning: a couple of files are currently crosslinked, and the Italian v1.0.1.6 upgrade appears to be an incomplete file ( Update: this latter problem has been fixed). A mirror of all files is available at 3D Action Gamers.
Nexon sent word that they have released a new version 0.60 client of Shattered Galaxy for download. Shattered Galaxy is their massive multiplayer RTS, and changes in this version include performance enhancements and larger battlefields. The client comes as a single 53.6 MB full download or 9 parts of about 6 MB each.
Daily Radar has posted a
preview of TRIBES 2. The piece originally ran in PC Gamer, and
all the screenshots from the print magazine are here, including two shots of the game's
new vehicles.
The Last Days of Dark Reign 2
is the name of an article at PC.IGN in which the author chronicles what he says
is the final week of the game's development. The piece details the crazy scene
that is crunch time, with quotes from the developers and photos of their offices.
It's a Thursday, which means it's time for another
installment of PC.IGN's Summoner diary. This edition features Volition artist
Matt Kresge explaining the art of creating weapons and armor, from initial research
to the final details.
As promised, Gearbox Software has released a version 1.1 patch for Half-Life:
Opposing Force. This patch adds the all-new OpFor CTF mod, and adds full compatibility
with the Half-Life patch released earlier today ( story). Here's a
local copy, with mirrors.
There is a new preview of Soldier on GamePower, looking ahead to the third-person action game by Sinister Games and SouthPeak. As is well known by now, the game is based on the 1998 sci-fi action movie starring Kurt Russell, and the preview describes this setting and the gameplay being developed for it, and includes a bunch of new screenshots. As is their way, GamePower also conducted a brief Q&A with the game's producer, Paul Potera, and filmed a few minutes of in-game footage from a recent build.
The official Epilogue website has been revamped today, and now sports five new screenshots and four cutscene images (in the Gallery section) from this 3D real-time strategy title that is being created by Dutch developers Team Sigma (who happen to work just around the corner here).
A pair of updates to the official Horizons: Empires of Istaria site adds new concept art for the Orc character and a "Phase I Race Lineup" in this upcoming MMORG by Artifact Entertainment, as well as details on the Item Creation Skills to the FAQ section.
Two new shots from
No One Lives Forever, Monolith's upcoming first person action game, are
up at GameFan. The shots are in 640x480, and according to GameFan were captured
with a TNT card.
Nihilistic's Rob Huebner updated his .plan on the occasion of Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption hitting store shelves, and discussing the change from development to support mode. The update includes a quick FAQ of issues they have already addressed, as well as their work on the NOD SDK release and the first patch. Here's a quote on the latter topic:
There's one patch already that's just about finished with Activision's QA
process that is just to address the bandwidth used by games hosted on modem
servers. Everyone should get the patch (small) when its released because
it obviously makes the network protocol more efficient for all users, but
its specifically designed to help people hosting on 28.8k or 56k modems.
MacCentral Online
is reporting that the OS X port of Quake III Arena has been delayed until
the next full update of the operating system (thanks Eric Cherry). This is due
in part to major problems that were brought up in the last release (Developer
Preview 4), and Andrew Abernathy of Omni Development Group (the company behind
the port) is quoted as saying that Apple is, "doing a great job overall
-- it's really just a matter of them not having gotten quite everything we need
polished enough for DP4."
Although not yet mentioned on the slightly convoluted official Arcatera: The Dark Brotherhood website, there is a version 1.1 patch for all five language editions of the game on Ubi Soft's ftp server. There is also no information on what changes this brings to the 3D role-playing adventure developed by Westka Entertainment.
Newly launched Starlancer Center has conducted a Q&A with designer Eric Roberts, discussing the aftermath of the space combat sim release by Warthog and Digital Anvil. Eric discusses the upcoming demo, the absence of mouse support, and more.
id Software's John Carmack made a
brief post to a
thread on Slashdot called "Copyrant" about software
security. Carmack talks about the state of CD-Keys in Quake III Arena, dispelling
the myth that there are working key generators, and mentioning that they plan
on removing the lock on single player games that requires the game CD to be
in the drive. Here's his post: The "key generators" are all
fakes. Some of them look like they work for a while because servers you have
visited with a valid key keep a cache to let you in again.
As far as we know, there are no real key generators. If there were, we would
have much more significant support issues.
We certainly will drop the CD-in-the-drive-for-single-player check in a future
patch, that is our standard procedure after a game's primary sales are over.
We've been given the go-ahead to post local copies of the Half-Life tools released
this afternoon by Gamecenter, so here they are, complete with mirrors:
Counter-Strike version 6.5 beta
has been released. This new version works with the just released Half-Life 1.1
update, and adds a new weapon, voting system, updated maps, and other changes.
The official site appears to be down at the moment, but it's available for download
at Stomped, Shugashack
and 3D Files. Stomped also has a giant mirrors list which is actually a mirror of the list from the official site (which makes sense in an MC Escher sort of way).
RPG Vault has conducted an in-depth interview on The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, grilling Bethesda's project leader Todd Howard and lead designer Ken Rolston over their upcoming role-playing game. They discuss the game's setting and influences, their design decision not to include a multiplayer option, character development, the combat system, and the proverbial more.
Gamecenter.com has posted the
Half-Life SDK version 2.0 along with Worldcraft 3.3. The SDK is available
as a standard 15.8 meg download or as a full 60 meg download, the later of which
includes all the game content originally part of the Professional SDK (including
the single player AI source). We'll have local copies with mirrors tomorrow, as today they are Gamecenter exclusives.
Valve has released the version 1.1.0.0 update for Half-Life. This new version
adds the new Half-Life netcode, as well as the VGUI revamped in-game interface,
Team Fortress 1.5, a spectator mode, and lots more (a full features list is
on our download pages). Here are links to our local copies, complete with mirrors:
Release candidate 2.0 of the FireArms
mod for Half-Life has been released (thanks Fantaz). This new
version is only 1.5 megs, as it primarily makes the mod compatible with the
just-released Half-Life version 1.1. They plan on releasing version 2.1 next
week, which will add new content.
A brief excerpt from the Halo feature in this month's edition of PC Gamer UK
has been
posted at the magazine's official site (thanks Halo.Bungie.org).
The excerpt is short, but it does contain Halo programmer Jason Jones talking
about how the AI-driven teammates will function, and the much-talked about quote
regarding a possible switch to a first person perspective.
According to several reports we've received, the Half-Life version 1.1 patch
is now available via the in-game auto update system. The files won't be available
as a separate download for another hour, but if you want it now, you can just
use the Sierra utilities system to get it.
A new version of the Win32
Aliens vs. Predator dedicated server has been released, along with the
first version for Linux. The Linux version requires glibc 2.1.1 or greater,
and this new Windows release fixes some minor bugs. Thanks HepCat{WFC} for the
tip.
In the latest
edition of Suellen and Mark Adams' column at MacGaming.com, the two developers
from Westlake Interactive explain why there won't be a Mac port of UnrealED.
Even though the editor was recently rewritten in the more Mac-friendly C++ language,
it is still far too Windows reliant to be feasible. Here's an excerpt that explains
this: With the advent of the C++ version, many people just assumed we
would now port it. After all, those technical reasons were all about Visual
Basic, right? C++ is a Mac-friendly language, right? Unfortunately, Tim Sweeney's
observations about the new editor's platform-specificity were correct -- UnEdit,
even in its C++ version, is so full of Windows-specific calls, that it is still
a total rewrite for the Mac. It is not a recompile, or just some tweaks. It
is what we would call completely non-trivial.
It is non-trivial work-wise, time-wise and money-wise. Our estimates are that
the editor would take as long to port as Unreal itself took. Since it would
take roughly the same amount of time to port the editor, it would also take
roughly the same amount of money. The original Mac Unreal has never made back
the advances paid to Westlake by the publisher. Since the PC editor was included
for free with the PC game, a Mac publisher couldn't put the editor in a box
and sell it in stores. This means about the only possible way to generate enough
money to pay for the port would be to release it as shareware. By our calculations,
even if over half of all Mac Unreal owners paid a standard shareware fee for
Mac UnEdit, it would still just barely pay for the work.
The official Freedom: First Resistance gallery page now has seven screenshots of this third-person action adventure in development at Red Storm, which is based on the Freedom novels by Anne McCaffrey. There are also development updates from artists Doug Oglesby and Brian Reynolds.
In preparation for the imminent release of Half-Life 1.1 (in just two hours)
Valve has released these dedicated server files. These are dedicated server
files only, so don't download them if you aren't planning on running one. The
client will be released at 2:00 EDT (11:00 PDT). Download and enjoy:
Shogun: Total War - Diary of a Diamyo Part 3 on GameSpot UK features nine more screenshots and a description of some of the Cavalry and Strategy units in the imminent 3D real-time strategy game.
Version 0.5 of csDoom is now available for download, bringing several additions and fixes to this client/server port of the publicly released DOOM source code. Among the changes are mouse-look, improved prediction code, and the csDoom launcher, and the client source code has also been released.
The latest installment in the Terminus developer journal on Station Terminus has Vicarious Visions' Karthik Bala talking about the delays in shipping the game after it went gold last month, their plans for Linux and Mac support, as well as progress on the demos for their role-playing space combat game.
A brief interview
with Westwood's Louis Castle is up at German site Gamez. Louis talks about
their third person action game Command & Conquer: Renegade, and the interview
is available in either English
or German.
Gamers Central has posted an
AVI movie featuring in-game footage from Dragonriders: Chronicles of Pern,
an upcoming third person action/adventure game from Ubi Soft, based on the books
by Anne McCaffrey. The movie clocks in at 56 seconds of footage, and is an 18
meg download.
New screenshots from I'm Going
In, Innerloop's first person shooter with a flight-sim engine, are up at
PC.IGN. The shots were taken from the level shown off at E3, and feature three
of the game's weapons.
Dreamcast.IGN has written a
new preview of Monolith's Sanity: Aiken's Artifact. The preview is really
about the Dreamcast version of the game (which won't be out until 2001), but
the screenshots are most likely from the PC version (which should be out later
this year). They also suggest that Dreamcast gamers will be able to join PC
servers, but stress that it is only a rumor at this point.
GameSpot UK has a
pair of Blair Witch Project previews up this morning, looking at both Volume
1: Rustin Parr (in development at Terminal Reality) and Volume
2: Coffin Rock (which is being developed by Human Head). There are new screenshots
from each, along with a brief description of their plotlines.
Lancerworld.net has several
bits of Starlancer news this morning: they are reporting that the demo version
of the game is almost complete, and final voice-over work is being done at Digital
Anvil. Expect it to be released "soon." In addition, they have learned
that Rob Taylor Hendry, the project coordinator on Starlancer at Warthog, has
left the company "to pursue other interests." Finally, they have learned
that a release of the Starlancer mission editor is unlikely, due to the massive
documentation necessary. It is more likely that an editor would be released
with Starlancer 2 (which is not in production yet).
Offering more Black & White movies than the late-late show, The Citadel
has posted another of their cinematic offerings from this year's E3, in a video
(in color, natch) of Lionhead's Peter Molyneux showing off the fighting system
in Black & White, where your pet creature can duke it out with the pet
creatures of other players (gods) in the game, something we learned deities and
other powerful creatures are fond of from many old Star Trek episodes (three
quatloos on the newcomers!).
The folks at Stomped send word that they
will be conducting an IRC chat on June 22 with Raven Software's Brian Pelletier to
answer questions about progress on Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force, Raven's
upcoming Quake III engine space shooter. The session is moderated, so you will
actually pose questions to the moderators, who will pass them along to Brian,
hopefully maintaining some order. The session begins at 8:00 PM EDT (7:00 CDT)
in irc.stomped.com in the channel #eliteforce.
The Counter-Strike homepage has the
release of the version 6.5 Linux server for the Counter-Strike mod for
Half-Life. Unfortunately there is no upgrade patch for the Linux server, so the
whole 50 MB download is required. Since version 6.5 required for the new version of
Half-Life (expected today- story), the Windows client will not be
released until after the Half-Life update is available.
The Half-Life Admin Mod homepage
has a new beta 1 version 1.0 of this admin front-end for Half-Life. The new
release is updated to work with the new version of Half-Life expected today ( story)
as well as any accompanying updated version of TFC, Counter-Strike, Firearms,
and more. One problem with the new release has popped up, however, there is an
old "liblist.gam" included, which must either be updated by hand, or
replaced with a new version they've posted.
The Freeze Tag page has a new
version 1.31a of the Freeze Tag mod for Quake III Arena where teamplay centers
around freezing your enemies while thawing your friends (while avoiding the Mr.
Freeze treatment yourself). The new version offers a reworked "drop"
command to allow for better teamplay, and word is clients should be able to
successfully play the new version without a download, just by connecting to a
Freeze Tag server.
Tool Box Editor v0.1b is now available on GracelessLand.
Designed to work with any Quake-engine variant, Tool Box Editor (TBED), is a
dedicated text editor for Quake Engine map files that features
"single-click jump to any entity or brush, texture uppercase/lowercase,
texture remap, texture dump, and more, this is a completely revolutionary way to
tweak map text, unlike anything seen before in the history of the
universe." How To Create A Quake III Arena Level in 12 Easy Steps
on In the Trenches is a tutorial that looks to help make you a level
designer even if you've never created a map before.
Run for the border, this is from a press release that came in yesterday:
"Taco Bell, the largest chain of Mexican fast food restaurants in the
(United) States, announced its sponsorship of the Taco Bell Cyberathlete
Professional League Asia (CPL Asia) Championship. The Taco Bell CPL Asia
Championship will take place on Friday, June 9th 2000 to Sunday, 11, 2000 at the
World Trade Centre Hall 2 in Singapore." Also, the BarrysWorld CtC League
is getting underway, offering a Quake II Capture the Chicken tournament.
Finally, the Gib-O-Rama has a
prize list up for the next installment of "Houston's largest monthly LAN party."
Of course we still have a Help Wanted
messageboard but a couple of companies are seeking, so I'll highlight them
here. First off, pulling Levelord's
finger reveals (among other things) that the Ritual tribe is expanding:
Professional news, I need two level designers that are experts in Quake
3. The Ritual Tribe is expanding again and the sun is shining our little island.
Interested parties should email their levels to me at levelord@ritual.com.
PLEASE do not send me unfinished, unprofessional crapola. I must see Quake 3
maps, ...no Quake 2, Quake 1, or any other game.
And the following comes
from Dan Henley at Zipper Interactive: Redmond WA based game developer
Zipper Interactive (Mechwarrior 3, Recoil, Crimson Skies) is actively seeking
texture and 3D artists to work on a PS2 game currently in development.
Applicants must show a portfolio that displays excellent artistic skill with an
eye for light, shade, and color. Experience with 3D software isn't required, but
it would help. There are multiple positions available so if you think you have
the talent, drive, and skill required please contact us at danield@zipperint.com.
Thanks to all of you who shared opinions on the color scheme issue I asked about
yesterday, the input is appreciated (it also really looks like the bug that
clogged up the messageboards so often seems dead, yay). Certainly the suggestion
a few offered to enable custom color schemes is worth exploring, but I was (and
still am) interested in facts and theories relating to light on dark text versus
the reverse as it relates to ease of viewing and eyestrain. One of the more
interesting responses suggested that the two don't go hand-in-hand, and a screen
that is easiest to read doesn't mean it's not more prone to causing a strain on
the eyes, but I'm not sure what color scheme a site should use if this is the
case, but anyway... Finally, while recapping this stuff, one of the responses
suggested that many pages went black way back when as a
protest to support free speech, and this is indeed when this site originally
changed from a white background to a black one (this was either 4-5 years ago or
during the McCarthy hearings, I forget which). the other interesting note that
came up about page design was the theory that sans serif fonts are actually
desirable for body text on monitors (which once again, reverses the logic that's
been taught for centuries now in the print world).
Link of the Day: URent-a-Relative.
Thanks Ant.
Story of the Day: Guerrero acquitted of drug charges
(ESPN). "Former major leaguer Pedro Guerrero was acquitted of drug
conspiracy charges Tuesday, after his attorney argued that his low IQ prevented
him from understanding that he had agreed to a drug deal." Thanks Mike.
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