Archived News:
GameSpot has posted a
news story that attempts to piece together clues dropped by Bungie CEO Alex
Seropian as to the nature of their third game. According to them, the new game
is a real-time strategy game that may or may not be a new Myth title. While
their third game may in fact turn out to be an RTS, Take Two acquired the rights
to the Myth franchise, and has already stated that they are planning a new game
(or games, in fact), so it would seem unlikely that both companies were working
on expanding the series. Also, Bungie's Jason Jones has stated on several occasions
that Halo developed out of technology that was supposed to be used for their
next-generation Myth terrain engine, suggesting that while a new Myth game may have been in the works, it may have been put aside when Halo started development.
PC.IGN kicks off their three day look at American McGee's Alice with
today's preview, focusing on the characters and weapons in the game. For
each character and weapon there is a detailed description, along with an image
that's not in-game per se, but still uses the in-game models (instead of being
pre-rendered or conceptual artwork). Some of these look familiar, but there
are more than a few new images as well.
Another edition of PC.IGN's continuing
look at the various characters in Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force is online,
looking at Juliet Jurot and Telsia Caitlin Murphy. Like their previous installments,
there are new screenshots and character sheets for each member of the team.
The E3 Shadowbane trailer has been released, and is available
for download at GameSpot. The movie clocks in at just under a minute and
a half, and features both in-game and cinematic footage from this massively
multiplayer RPG. It's available in several formats, both streaming and downloadable,
and in a number of different sizes to accommodate your bandwidth.
Also new on GameSpot this evening, is the
third piece of their five-part preview of Age of Empires II: The Conquerors.
This installment focuses on the Spanish empire, with new concept artwork and
in-game screenshots in addition to details galore.
A new Q&A with Dynamix'
Dave Georgeson is up at Fragzone.se, talking with him about some detailed
gameplay issues in TRIBES 2. Dave explains that dogfights are indeed possible
with their new vehicles and goes into detail on their new turrets (which now
come in indoor and outdoor varieties) as well as map sizes and the new Siege
mission type.
Starfleet Universe has posted a
new edition of their Starfleet Command Volume II diary. This installment
takes the form of a FAQ, with Taldren's Josh Morris answering 21 common questions
fans have had regarding this upcoming space-sim.
While console ports for all of ION Storm's games have been talked about in
the past, no real confirmation has ever been issued regarding the Dreamcast.
However, it would appear that ION is getting ready to move into console territory,
as according to a new listing
on their jobs page, they are hiring a Dreamcast programmer. This could mean
a DC port of Anachronox, Daikatana or Deus Ex is in the works, or it may even
be a hint at John Romero's next game, which he has said may be for a console
system and not the PC ( story).
Artifact Entertainment's James
Jones and David Allen are interviewed on Horizons Vault, talking about the
current status of Horizons, their massively multiplayer RPG, which is in danger
of being canceled unless they find a publisher in the very near future ( story).
Due to the timing of the interview, the questions deal with their financial
situation rather than being game-specific.
A new edition of Machnima.com's
Ask the Experts column is online, featuring questions about horror game
design answered by Headfirst Productions' Andrew Brazier, members of the Buffy
the Vampire Slayer development team at The Collective and former id Software
level designer (and author of the original Call of Cthulhu pen and paper RPG)
Sandy Petersen.
Stomped has posted a
letter they received from Steve "Gateway" Tietze, where he announces
that he has left Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption developers Nihilistic
to pursue other opportunities in the gaming industry. Steve can be reached via
e-mail at gateway@tietze.com and he
says he will be taking on contract work.
Hot on the heels of the new Voodoo 5 drivers (see below) comes new
Windows 2000 drivers for the Voodoo 3 2000 and 3000. These drivers (which
likewise are classified as beta and unsupported) fix issues with Prince of Persia
3D, a nasty crash issue with Half-Life, some miscellaneous OpenGL issues with
Homeworld and other game-specific problems.
3dfx has released new
Windows 2000 drivers (numbered 1.00.00 Beta) for their Voodoo 5 AGP card.
These are beta drivers, and so they come with 3dfx' typically scary warning
about how they are completely unsupported. Thanks 3D
Spotlight for the tip.
The latest installment of the
MDK2 walkthrough at Interplay's official site is online, offering frustrated
gamers help with level 9. And of course, if you haven't gotten that far yet,
walkthroughs for levels 4-8 are also available.
Blade-Universe has posted a set of Blade screenshots for download, featuring three scenes from Rebel Act's third-person melee combat game, each captured with full-scene anti-aliasing (FSAA) turned on and off. The shots were taken on a GeForce in 32-bit color, and they add that "performance is only reduced by about 5% (contrary to other games, which can take up to 50%)."
Two new screenshots from Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force are up at VoygerEliteForce.com,
showing off the game's LCARS menu system (that's Library Computer Access and
Retrieval System for non Trekkies). Alongside the images are detailed descriptions
from project administrator Kenn Hoekstra, who explains that using the menus
you can access information about the weapons and view space maps in addition
to the usual single and multiplayer options.
Bullfrog's Steve Murray sends along word that they are looking to hire level
designers for, "a console conversion of a high profile game based on the
Quake 3 engine." Your guess is as good as mine as to what the game is,
but here are the details for those that are interested: We're looking
for level designers that want to work the standard deal: long hours, lots of
glory and...paid too.
Bullfrog is currently looking for level designers available to work in the Southeast
London area to join a team performing a console conversion of a high profile
game based on the Quake 3 engine. Aspiring applicants should reply via email
to Stephen Murray (smurray@ea.com). Please
send a resume, but no map files unless specifically requested. If you have something
available online, please point me to it.
Artifact Entertainment has made an
update to their official site with word that Horizons, their ambitious massively multiplayer
RPG, is in jeopardy of closing down due to lack of funding (thanks David "Anselan"
Brender). Here's an excerpt from the large update: It is with both hope
and regret that I inform the gaming community of the serious problem that has
arisen in relation to the HORIZONS project. As you know, HORIZONS was supposed
to be a privately funded project; the problem is that the funding has fallen
through, and the project is now facing extinction.
We have been in talks with a publisher for close to two months now and have
just been informed that it's going to take them even longer to make their 'decision',
and the problem is that we cannot last during this amount of time (we have already
been privately and personally funding HORIZONS for the past 9 months). At this
time, we have a team of roughly 20 people; many of them industry professionals
that are migrating from other companies to work on HORIZONS. This team will
fall apart and be disbanded over the next few weeks unless something is done.
As far as I can tell, the only way that HORIZONS will be bailed out is if somebody
acts quickly and works with us to make this amazing project a reality with the
proper financial support (millions of dollars). We have the people, the talent,
the design & concept, and even more importantly, the drive and ability to
make this project a reality. We are only interested in working with those who
will not waste our time and are interested in making things happen instead of
talking about it.
As expected, Valve Software has also released international version 1.1.0.1 patches for Half-Life for download from Sierra's ftp server. They are available in the usual German, French, Italian, Spanish and Korean editions as both the upgrade from 1.1.0.0 and the full 1.1.0.1 update, but until the Half-Life support page is updated, you'll have to go by filename to find the patch you need. A mirror of all files is available at 3D Action Gamers, where the files are clearly labeled.
I'm Going In fan-site ProjectIGI.com
has opened their screenshots
archive, which features a collection of 128 images from this upcoming FPS
game, some of which are brand new and exclusive to the site.
CheckOut's Chris Jensen has released a
new multiplayer chronicle for Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption, titled
DarQuest. The site says the mod is a, "perfect adventure for beginning
Story Tellers and shows what players can create using the tools included with
the game."
Shiny's official Sacrifice site has
been updated with another look at one of the various gods in the game. This time it's Pyro,
the lord of fire, and there are new concept images of the character, along with
a new in-game screenshot of his realm.
Valve has released the version 1.1.0.1 patch for Half-Life. This upgrade fixes
a number of bugs and exploits, and is also available via the game's auto-update
system. Here are links to our local copies (with mirrors) for each the various
client and server files:
Blizzard has announced
that Diablo II has shipped to retailers worldwide. In many places the game
is on shelves already (although most won't have it until tomorrow) and people that pre-ordered their copies from EBWorld
or other online retailers should be receiving them today or tomorrow. Thanks
to everyone that sent this in.
In a move that should surprise...well, nobody, Intel
has announced the Pentium 4 processor, which will be shipping in the second
half of this year. The Pentium 4 is the final name for the processors that were
code-named "Willamette" and is their next full consumer level CPU
(thanks chadb).
Nihilistic's Rob Huebner made an update to his
.plan, answering some common questions about the upcoming patch for Vampire:
The Masquerade - Redemption that were sent in after his update yesterday ( story)
as well as announcing that they are now hiring for their next project. Here's
what he has to say: Got a few questions in email after the last update,
figured I'd post them here:
- The new patch should not break old save game files, so no need to start over
in the SP game
- An additional Storyteller feature that was added I forgot to mention: the
ability to re-position objects after they are placed and also the ability to
remove all placed objects (or very nearly all, we may have missed one or two,
there are too damn many).
- The patch size is about 2MB (800k of actual patch data, the rest is the self-extractor
and patch application itself). This might grow a bit as the localized data is
added, however.
- There will be a single patch released for all languages.
- The save-anywhere feature is accessed via the ESC menu just like LOAD.
- The pause feature is accessed via the "pause" key.
- The issue with the 5-button Microsoft mouse is fixed in the patch.
Also, we are starting phone interviews and stuff for open positions here for
our next project. If you're a programmer, designer, or artist (and are kick-ass
at your job, naturally) send some stuff to "jobs@nihilistic.com".
Full-time on-site only, please! There's just no subtitute for working on a small,
efficient, talented team so why not give it a shot, you won't regret it. We're
planning to add just 3-4 people total to bring the head count here to like 15,
and will continue to focus on only one triple-A title at a time. If you sent
stuff earlier during crunch mode, feel free to re-send it to that alias if you're
still available. Thanks.
Continuing today's trend, Bethesda Softworks has opened the official Echelon website for business (thanks GA-Source). The site features lots of info and some new screenshots and concept art of the combat flight sim that is being developed by Russian companies Madia and Buka.
GameSpot UK is the latest site to post a hands-on Icewind Dale preview in the time between this isometric RPG going gold and appearing on store shelves. Naturally, a gallery of new screenshots is featured as well.
German developer Blue Byte has opened their new Blue Byte Game Channel site, featuring sections for the three games they are currently working on: the 3D action adventure Dragon's Lair 3D, the 3D turn-based strategy game Battle Isle: the Andosia War, and the isometric RTS Settlers IV. Of particular note are the new Dragon's Lair 3D and Battle Isle screenshots, and a short Dragon's Lair 3D trailer.
A new Q&A with
Savage Entertainment's Tim Morten is up at ActionTrip. If the name doesn't
ring any bells, it's because the company, which is made up of former Mechwarrior
and Heavy Gear designers, has been working in secret for the last two years
on a new 3D engine. While they haven't announced anything beyond their Sabertooth
3D engine, Tim gives some hints as to what the game may be, suggesting that,
"it would fall between a combat-simulator and a first-person shooter."
The game is planned for PC as well as the Playstation 2 and Xbox consoles, and
ActionTrip has several screenshots from the engine's prototype levels.
The first part of Daily
Telefrag's interview with David Durcak is online, talking with the head
of development at Cauldron about Battle Isle: The Andosia War, the fourth game
in the Battle Isle series. This installment of the interview talks about the
game's multiplayer, their resource management, weather conditions and more.
Red Storm has opened their Rainbow Six: Covert Operations Essentials site for business, offering information and screenshots of the standalone expansion pack that will include nine new levels, as well as "an insider's look at the world of covert operations."
We won't be posting local copies until 2:00 EDT (11:00 PDT) out of respect
for Valve's embargo, but if you can't wait, the full Half-Life version 1.1.0.1
patch is now available
from Sierra's FTP, along with the
patch to update from version 1.1 (direct FTP links). We're not entirely
sure ourselves why the files are up now, and the server is likely to be slow
as molasses, but if you can't wait, there they are. Update: the files were pulled (thanks awoq), and we are now back on track for the previously announced 2:00 EDT release. Also note that you won't be able to use the new version (if you did get a copy) until the master server has been updated to authenticate it.
Kalisto Entertainment (the folk behind
Nightmare Creatures) have
announced that they have acquired the rights to make games based on the
Highlander TV and movie series. The first game will be a massively multiplayer
adventure game, and no details are available beyond that the game will be playable
by "thousands of gamers" simultaneously. Thanks to Stomped's
John Callaham for the tip.
Big Kid paid a visit to Australian developers Krome Studios to look at their upcoming games, including the 3D action adventure Kat Burglar. The game is still early in development, but the article describes its premise and characters, and includes a few new screenshots.
Deus Ex scriptwriter Sheldon
Pacotti is interviewed on GamePen this morning. Sheldon discusses the scriptwriting
process, explaining what his duties were on the game and how it differs from
writing a novel or screenplay.
A new Q&A
with Raven artist Les Dorscheid is up at Stomped, talking with him about his
work on Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force. Les explains what it's like to be
an artist working with the Star Trek franchise, and he talks briefly about the
enemies and weapons in the game.
Italian site Multiplayer.it has posted a pair of KISS: Psycho Circus movies, featuring new in-game footage (without sound) from the first-person shooter in development at Third Law. The movies were filmed from a computer screen during Gathering of Developers' European press tour, and include the first footage that I can recall of the sniper mode, as well as some frantic action with a bunch of the game's enemies.
Well
Rounded Entertainment is reporting that Ubi Soft may be the latest company
interested in purchasing Eidos Interactive. Shares of the company have been
rising on the Paris Stock Exchange, and they have confirmed that they are, "in
the early stages of discussions which may or may not lead to an offer for the
whole of the issued share capital of Eidos." Other companies still being mentioned
are Havas (parent company of Blizzard and Sierra) and of course, Microsoft.
Computer Games Online previews Wizards and Warriors is a look ahead to the 3D role-playing game being crafted at Heuristic Park and Activision, based on a playable build. The article covers the game's features, as well as comparing them with other RPG series, and naturally comes with a bunch of new screenshots.
Adrenaline Vault has posted a preview of Homeworld: Cataclysm, examining a recent build of the space-based RTS by Barking Dog, and going over the changes and improvements in this sequel. Elsewhere, BrokenPixel previews Homeworld: Cataclysm offers a similar treatment, notable for the two dozen or so screenshots that accompany it.
There's an
edited log of pc.ign.com's chat with PlanetMoon Studios on PlanetMoon Central
recapping the online chat with the folks currently at work putting together
Giants: Citizen Kabuto, the upcoming third-person action game where you can live
life large (as a giant), small (as a Meccaryn), or nude (as a sea reaper). The
log covers a wide variety of topics from user mods, to the latest release date
(fourth quarter this year), where Kabuto is a citizen of ("he's a citizen
unto himself"), and the inevitable more. Also, there's an
edited 3DRealms chat log on DukeCentral.com from last night's MadOnion
chat session. In this chat we learn of possible plans for the Duke3D source code
release (now that the Build-engine code has been released) after DNF is out,
licensing questions, OpenGL support, system requirements, and a whole lot more.
GameSpy.com interviews Jamie Durrant
of Lionhead Studios talking about progress on Black & White, their upcoming
strategy/RPG where you play your very own deity. In the conversation we learn
that the game has reached its alpha stage, and most of the questions center on
what portions of the game are complete, and what's still being worked on or
worked out.
RPG Planet interviews
Nevolution, talking with the team currently at work on Shadows of Reality,
an upcoming RPG based on the Unreal Tournament engine. The Q&A discusses the
nature of the project (which is still seeking a publisher), their switch from
the LithTech engine, the game's planned cyberpunk theme, and more. In addition
to the interview there are six new screenshots.
Daily Radar
interviews Mark Rein of Epic Games, giving him the third degree on one of
the hot interrogation topics of late, their plans for Xbox support. In the
Q&A we learn that Epic seems to be keeping a higher priority on PC projects,
saying "It's too early to know the answer to that question" when asked
about Unreal II on the Xbox, while going on to say this about PC support: We
like the PC. We're good at exploiting it, and our last two games (UT and Unreal)
have been very successful on PC. We would be stupid to walk away from the
platform we know and love, a platform that is consistently evolving and allowing
us to stretch further and further. We have no problem with people shifting their
focus away from the PC or watering their PC product down to the lowest common
denominator -- it just leaves more opportunity for us!
The Wyrm 2 World of Destruction
website has a completely revised version of the class-based Wyrms 2 mod for
Quake II, now re-dubbed Wyrms 2000. The new release offers eight new weapons
(bringing the total in the mod to 39), a new ammo type, leper Q2 support, and
more. Word is due to the use of Leper Q2, this is no longer PPM (plug-in player
model) compatible, but does contain full VWep support for visible weapons.
GameSpy.com's Half-Life Mods
article offers a look at hot current and upcoming modifications for
Half-Life. Similarly, Daily Radar's mod week continues with an
interview with Valve's Robin Walker, who certainly knows a lot about the
subject, since he was one of the authors of the seminal TeamFortress Quake mod
before joining on with Valve. Finally, there's an SAS
Mod Interview on In The Trenches looking ahead at another Half-Life project
in the works.
The Vavoom source port
has a new home at Raven-Games. This is a bit of a source code salad, as it uses bits from
the code for Doom, Heretic, Hexen, "and even uses a little bit from the
Quake source." Supported platforms are DOS, Windows and Linux. Also, there
is now a
tutorial index on claudec's Lair of Q3A outlining all the available lessons
they have posted on creating and editing maps for Quake III Arena.
Word is the attendees of the Shafted LAN
event this weekend in Australia's Latrobe University will not be shafted at
all, because Motorola has agreed to pay 50% of everyone's entry fee, reducing
the cost of getting in from $30 to $15. Also, the evil geniuses at Old
Man Murray are holding a contest giving away copies of LDA's Tread Marks in conjunction
with a high score (and/or PhotoShop editing) contest on their LDA-created game,
Crate Master. Finally, the Liquid Fusion
LAN Party Los Angeles California is accepting sign-ups, the shindig is just
a couple of weeks off, and registration for the Quake 3 Arena 5 on 5 Deathmatch Tournament
begins on Monday.
FragPipe.com's
CS_Italy Tricks shows off some tricks of the trade that can be pulled off in
the latest version of Counter-Strike for Half-Life.
Don't worry about the future, it always arrives soon enough: As you probably
couldn't help noticing, the big story of the day on Monday was the First Step of Human Gene Map Finished
announcement. I thought I heard all there was to this in the deluge that day,
but loonyboi points out a note I missed at first: "It would fit on a
DVD." Wow, that certainly brings new meaning to the concept of Saving
Private Ryan. I am just a caveman, so this view of the future scares me, I'm a
little more comfortable with Jetsons-style innovation, like the car in a
suitcase, or perhaps the Link of the Day that follows...
Link of the Day: LG Electronics'
Internet Digital DIOS Refrigerator. An odd glimpse at the future. What did
George Carlin say? "Nail two things together that have never been attached
to each other before, and some schmuck will buy it from you!" Something
like that. Thanks Jay H. Edson.
Bonus Link: BUYGAMES.COM - The Game Superstore.
Featuring "Quake 3- Arena Elete" for sale. Thanks Travis McPherson. If
their decidedly non-'leet spell-checker is bad, their proofreader is worse, as they
describe the game as "Fueled by a radically modified version of the Unreal
3D engine." Wow!
Story of the Day:
"We Are at a Good Point to Pass This Off", says Genome Scientists (MoonApples.Com). Thanks Louis Chyp Sineni, who points out
it's a bit subtle, but the Jeff Goldblum quotes are worth the price of
admission, and besides, it connects so well to today's OotB.
|
Twitter 
