Archived News:
A hands-on
preview of Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul is up at GameSpot this evening.
The preview is based on their experience with a full build of the game, and
contains their overall impressions plus what they feel still needs improvement
before its English language release (it's already available in some parts of
Europe) and some new screenshots.
Matrox has released updated drivers for their G200, G400 and G450 video cards under Win9x, WinMe, WinNT and Win2K. There are no details on the changes they bring, and these are unsupported beta drivers, so apply at your own risk.
Fan page DeusEx.de has conducted a 15
question interview with Warren Spector. As they are still very much in pre-production
on Deus Ex 2, Warren doesn't provide any real details about the game, but he
does talk a bit about the technology research they're doing, as well as the
various influences on the original Deus Ex.
As we've come to expect by now, the official Oni site offers a new featured move of the day for Bungie's imminent third-person action game. This sixth short movie clip shows off the jump flip, which not only increases jump performance but also serves as an attack move to enemies lying on the ground (and they say you shouldn't kick 'm when they're down).
Hothouse Creations has released a new movie trailer of Gangsters 2 on the official site, showing the offers their upcoming mobster management strategy game will make (which you know you better not refuse). The trailer is quite enthralling (for an isometric game, anyway ![=]](/miscimages/smiley4.gif) ) and sports over two minutes of footage in self-running Bink format, introducing the game's setting and main characters, and demonstrating plenty of gameplay sequences.
It's starting to look like Sega really is shutting down their hardware production,
as some reputable outlets are reporting similar news. The first tidbit comes
by way of Reuters Japan, who
have a story up that says Sega will announce a major restructuring
next
week in which they will reveal that they are working on Playstation 2 games,
and that they are considering the Xbox as well. This story has been denied by
Sega, but FGN
Online
is reporting that a major announcement is coming next week. Finally,
what
looks to be the nail in the Dreamcast coffin is over at MCV
where they are reporting that Sega is "killing off" the system,
and
that they are already working on five PS2 games and two for the GameBoy Advance.
They also say that Sega will continue to market the system until their current
supply is exhausted
(thanks to The Shugashack
for the tip). Update: Sega of America has issued this statement, which
seems to contradict these reports: Sega of America stated today that the
company globally reaffirms its commitment to Dreamcast. In fact, Sega has more
than 100 games worldwide coming out for the platform in the next year. It is
not Sega's policy to comment on rumors and the company has not made any statement
regarding ceasing manufacturing of Dreamcast or development for other videogame
platforms.
7fx marketing manager Pavel
Sinagl is interviewed on GameSeek.com, talking about their upcoming tactical
shooter Team Factor. Pavel provides some general info about the game, explaining
how it differs from Counter-Strike and also talks a bit about their internally
developed LightForce engine.
Longbow Digital Arts has released a "TMMasterClient" add-on .exe for Tread Marks version 1.5.9. Other than the description that "This provides an alternate interface for chat and server selection," there are no further details on the featherweight 125 KB download.
There is a small patch for Close Combat: Invasion Normandy on FilePlanet, updating the top-down WWII strategy game by Atomic Games and SSI. The patch addresses a series of AI, game data, interface, multiplayer, and other issues, listed in detail on the download page. Update: It appears this is an unofficial patch not supported by Atomic and SSI, so apply at your own risk (thanks CGO).
GSC Game World has opened the official Venom site for their upcoming first-person shooter where you control a two-man squad through a futuristic world (thanks Gameplex for the tip). The site runs the full gamut of game info and storyline, screenshots, downloads (mostly familiar), as well as a brief FAQ and some tips & tricks. Elsewhere, the official Project Hârn site opens its doors showcasing the roleplaying environment that will be home to Auran's upcoming game Hârn: Bloodline (thanks RPG Vault). Also, German publishers CDV send word of their Psychotoxic and Heaven & Hell preview sites. Finally, the official Shadowbane site offers all sorts of new information on the MMORPG in the works at Wolfpack Studios (thanks SuicidalKing for the tip). Update: I forgot to mention that Codemasters opened a new Severance: Blade of Darkness site yesterday (thanks Blade Universe for the reminder).
Here's some more info on the latest additions to the Unreal Engine for you
today: Epic Games has posted a
complete, detailed list of all the new enhancements in the latest version
of the engine that has been sent out to developers, as well as a
tutorial for developers using Unreal Warfare's new terrain system. Thanks
Stomped, who also have posted a
press release from Epic's Mark Rein that contains a "top ten list"
of new engine features.
A new interview
with Hardy LeBel, the lead designer on Oni at Bungie is up at Inside Mac
Games. The interview covers some interesting topics, including why they decided
not to include multiplayer and mod support (both of which have been in every
other recent Bungie title) and the game's animated sequences, which were made
by the Japanese anime house AIC (who also worked on the popular Bubblegum Crisis
series).
Strategy First sends along word that Europa
Universalis, the empire-building strategy game from Paradox Entertainment
has gone gold. No specific release date is given, but they do say that the North
American version will be available in "late February."
Stomped's Legends
of Might and Magic interview talks with Bryan Farina, Keith Talanay and
Ken Spencer, the lead designer, lead artist and lead level designer at 3DO on
this LithTech Engine title. The trio explain why they made a full turnaround,
changing the game from a first person RPG to an Unreal Tournament style action
game, discussing how this presented a challenge to the design team and they
also provide details on the off-line mode (which will consist solely of a tutorial)
and confirm that a demo will be released "in about a month."
Reakktor's Joerg
Schwiezer is interviewed on neoTERM this morning, talking about Neocron,
their upcoming massively multiplayer RPG. Joerg explains how the project got
off the ground, what anti-cheating measures they're working on and more.
FGN Online has conducted a
Q&A with Epic Games VP Mark Rein, talking with him about the latest
version of the Unreal Engine that has been sent out to developers. Mark says
the current version of the engine will be powering Unreal II and Unreal Warfare,
as well as an unannounced Xbox title they are also developing. There are details on the specific new
features (which include textures up to 2048x2048 and levels that have "150-200
times more polygons than what users saw in Unreal Tournament") as well
as two screenshots that give a glimpse at how the game may look on the Xbox.
The Super X Studios Home has
word of the first patch for Far Gate, updating this game formerly known as
The Rift from this developer formerly known as ThrushWave Technology. The update
is currently only available through the in-game auto-update feature, and is said
to solve a few memory issues and driver problems.
The Game Voice Beta Download
page has a new beta 1.2 of this software that allows you to control games
using your voice. The new release offers complete Windows 2000 compatibility, a
few new keyboard functions, and "Better keyboard injection." Thanks ActiveWin.
The Gamechics.com website has a new
version 3.0 of the LW Edit program for Delta Force: Land Warrior. As previously
mentioned, this is not a level editing program (in spite of the name), but is
more of a front-end, allowing a great deal of control over the options involved
in joining or setting up a Land Warrior server. The new release supports character
settings transfers, direct joining of IP games,
fixes problems with the name editor, and more.
The Hellfire Arena page has a
new version 1.2 of the Hellfire Arena modification for Quake III Arena. In
addition to bug fixes, the mod offers "a few neat features," which
include a new Flamethrower, a new in-game scoreboard, and a new HUD, as well as
an option to configure the speed of projectiles.
The GDC Homepage has information on some of
those scheduled to speak at the upcoming 2001 edition of the Game Developer's
Conference. Presenters will include J Allard and Seamus Blackley/Microsoft,
Michael Abrash/Microsoft, Hal Barwood/LucasArts Entertainment, Cliff
Bleszinski/Epic Games, David Braeben/Frontier Developments, Louis
Castle/Westwood Studios, Thomas Engel/Factor 5, LLC, Alex Garden/Relic
Entertainment, Demis Hassabis/Elixir Studios, Rob Huebner/Nihilistic, Peter
Molyneux/Lionhead Studios, and Paul Jaquays/id Software. Thanks MSXbox.
An update to the Strike Force Center
reveals that the NV they've been referring to for the upcoming version 1.60 of
this Unreal Tournament modification are Night Vision goggles, and they've posted
some screenshots to show them off.
The Twin Galaxies Unreal Tournament
has opened up this Unreal Tournament tournament to all European entrants, the
competition offering $25,000 in prizes. Also, the GameLoft
launch LAN Event is scheduled for Sunday, January 28 in Sydney, New South
Wales.
There's a
new Hitman: Codename 47 guide on PC Strategy Games Website giving tips on
being the best assassin you can be in this game that values such skills.
Several readers point out that yesterday's Image of the Day was a droid from the
original Star Wars (Episode 4), though no one has presented a reasonable theory
for the guns 'n' roses connection. Also, I can't believe I didn't recall the
classic WKRP in Cincinnati episode related to yesterday's Story of the Day, but
a messageboard post filled in that gap... and the origination of the SoD was New
York's premiere all-news station to boot, though it's not certain that this is
proof that Les Nessman is now working there.
Buck Rogers turns 58 today, as it's Gil Gerard's birthday. Thanks Chris
Morris. That's nothing, of course, compared to the World's Oldest Man,
who turned 112 yesterday. The man, an Italian shepherd, says that a daily dose
of red wine is the secret to his longevity.
Link of the Day: Explodingdog.com.
Thanks Athlon7.
Story of the Day: Wrecking crew mistakenly knocks down wrong house
(Fox). Thanks theAntiELVIS.
Image of the Day: Microsoft's New Operating System.
Thanks .f00Dave.
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