Archived News:
The playable demo for Alone in the Dark: the New Nightmare that appeared online earlier this month ( story) was originally very large due to its intended distribution via magazine cover CD-ROMs, but Infogrames has now released the actual online demo for download from their ftp server. This 83.1 MB download contains a slightly newer game executable, but is otherwise identical to the stripped version of the previous demo. Also, after earlier demo patches ( story), 3DO has now also released the updated Legends of Might and Magic demo itself. This version 0.511 demo no longer includes an expiration mechanism and forgoes the need for the demo patches.
- Nomads
CDV has updated its official Nomads page with a pair of concept images and two new screenshots of the high-flying action/ RPG/ strategy hybrid being developed at Radon Labs.
- Iron Strategy
French site Joystick has posted eight new Parkan: Iron Strategy screenshots, offering more scenes in the 3D action RTS in the works at Russian developer Nikita.
- 3D WWII
There are seven new 3D WWII screenshots on GameSpyDaily, showing off the upcoming budget-priced FPS by LippieSoft and GameActive Networks.
- Anarchronox
GamePro has posted a dozen new Anachronox screenshots captured from a press build of the 3D role-playing game by ION Storm that is expected on store shelves next week.
- Morrowind
The official Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind site has been updated with three new screenshots, a new wallpaper and the Redguard comic, all illustrating this upcoming 3D RPG by Bethesda Softworks.
- Bridge Commander
Similarly, a new screenshot of the week is online at the official Star Trek: Bridge Commander site, offering another galactic scene in the capitol ship space sim by Totally Games.
- Divinity
Larian Studios has released a new collection of animated characters in Divine Divinity, their upcoming isometric role-playing game.
- Anarchy Online
Just under the wire for the game's release this Monday, the official Anarchy Online site sports five new screenshots, while over two dozen images make up the Anarchy Online Creature Gallery at RPG Vault.
Hot on the heels of the game's release, there is now a Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal patch available for BioWare's isometric RPG expansion. This is a beta patch for Windows 2000 users with Service Pack 2 that fixes an NPC problem, and the 3.9 MB download is available from BioWare's site or Interplay's ftp server.
The promised Episode 2 of the Battlecruiser Millenium demo has now been released, offering another chance to try out this space sim by 3000 AD. This standalone demo does not require the first demo, includes three scenerios and is available only in a high-content format this time, weighing in at a hefty 121.4 MB. It is available for download from FilePlanet (registration required), 3D Gamers, and Gamerush.
While the game is now appearing on store shelves in Europe, US gamers will have to wait a bit longer for Operation Flashpoint, but to pass the time Bohemia Interactive has released a final official movie trailer for download. This is a pretty impressive trailer running for a bit over three minutes in MPEG format, and it's available in medium and high-resolution.
TalonSoft has released a new beta patch for Age of Sail II, bringing Akella's naval-based 3D real-time strategy game to version 1.53. The 1.5 MB download adds a handful of multiplayer improvements, gameplay changes and bug fixes.
GameSpot has posted an
interview with Eric Wang of Westwood Studios, talking with him about their
upcoming massively multiplayer title Earth and Beyond (thanks EarthNBeyond.com).
Eric explains how the ambitious project came about, how it shares some of its
3D technology with Westwood's other 3D titles, how the character classes differ
from each other, and more. Alongside the interview are three new colorful screenshots.
Codemasters has released a patch for the European edition of Operation Flashpoint, the new tactical 3D action game by Bohemia Interactive. This 3.1 MB download merely "fixes a problem whilst playing in Windows 2000." Thanks The Nexus for the tip.
Stomped's
3D World War II Interview talks with members of the development team at
LippieSoft about their near-complete first person shooter. The LippieSoft folk
provide some background info on the project and the company, and they also comment
on a few gameplay aspects, including the available arsenal.
Simon & Schuster send along the promised patch for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars, updating the space-based RTS by Gizmo Games to version 1.02. The patch clocks in at only 780 KB and addresses a sizable list of issues as shown on our local download page. Note that the patch will break save game compatibility.
Bulgarian developers Haemimont Games, who previously created Tzar: The Burden of the Crown, have announced their new game The Druid King (working title), an isometric RTS with adventure and role-playing elements scheduled for a release in the first quarter of 2002. The official site is online with plenty of information on the game's premise, story and features, as well as concept art and screenshots to show what it looks like.
Due to problems with the version 1.61 and subsequent 1.60_A release of the
Strike Force mod for Unreal Tournament, the development team is now asking
that people revert back to version 1.60, which is available for download at
the mod's official site. They expect to fix the problems with version 1.61 within
the next few weeks.
Although not noted on the Diablo Patch Information page, Blizzard offers version 1.09b patches for download from their ftp server in Windows Diablo (1.51 MB) and Windows Diablo Spawn (1.46 MB) incarnations. It's not known whether these are supported on Battle.net, so your mileage may vary. Additionally, the Mac version 1.09 patch (1.51 MB) is also available, which is supported as it's the same version as the previous Windows release ( story). Thanks Patches Scrolls for the tip. Also, Interplay has released an alternative MDK2 OEM patch, specifically updating version 4000 of BioWare's three-way third-person shooter. Update: Blizzard clarifies that the Diablo v1.09b patches are for PCs running Windows NT and fix a sound bug. They are compatible with Battle.net just like all other versions of the game, but are not needed when running the game on any other other operating system.
Voodoo Extreme has conducted a
Q&A with Rodney Hodge, the PR man for Playnet and Cornered Rat Software,
talking with him about the status of their massively multiplayer title World
War II Online. To say that the game "had some major problems in its first
few days" is a severe understatement, but nonetheless Rodney comments on
the problems they ran into, and he says they are currently focused on consolidating
the game world back into a single server, improving stability and getting the
mission and ranking systems up to speed among other things.
Black Cactus sends word that their new publisher Microids has now opened its official Warrior Kings page, introducing their upcoming 3D real-time strategy game with an overview of relevant game information and three new (and three familiar) screenshots. They also reaffirm to be on target for a November release after parting ways with Sierra On-Line earlier this month ( story).
As part of their fifth anniversary of Quake celebration, in addition to a
detailed Quake timeline, Methos Quake has
posted a short tag team interview. The Q&A asks the same set of
Quake-related questions of both ION Storm's John Romero and id Software's Tim
Willits, harkening back to the formative days of the shooter before id and John
Romero parted ways. Here is a sample from the Q&A where the pair discuss how
the game turned out versus their original plan: Romero: Quake's
design was VERY different from the game that was released. It was much more of a
D&D-based game with a main character named Quake who had an awesome hammer
that would grow in power as the game progressed. At one point in November 1995,
we decided to change the design to something we were more comfortable creating
-- FPS weapons with a few twists. After the major redesign, the game underwent a
few more smaller redesigns (to cut down development time) and we released the
Quake that everyone knows today.
Willits: The original game started out more fantasy based, less science
fiction. There was going to be no gun type weapons. The player would have had a
mighty hammer that they could enchant with powers as they progressed in the
game. The game's intention was to be a real slugfest with the player bashing
their foes to death. Luckily we changed that and went with more Doom style
weaponry.
A DiabloII.Net
Fansite Chat Analysis is online, recapping an IRC session with the Diablo II
team from Blizzard, though they say that they do not have a verbatim transcript
of every question and answer "due to technical issues." Topics include
questions related to the changes found in the recently released Diablo II 1.08
patch ( story) as well as other Blizzard announcements.
Technology programmer Dave Moore updated his
.plan with word that he's leaving Dynamix and the odd world of Eugene, OR
for the odd world of San Luis Obispo to work on the Oddworld franchise. From the
update: "To all the Tribes nuts out there: 'So long, and thanks for all the
beer!'."
The WTW website has a new version 2.0
of the WTW log parser utility that answers the question "Who's the
Winner" (actually the scoreboard answers that question, this utility offers
more information than that). The new release includes installation packages for
both Windows and Linux, and coinciding with this is also the release of the
source code for the previous version 1.42 of WTW. There is also a note about a
problem with RA3 that impacts the display, but not the stats, that will result
in the release of a fix soon.
Though it is not certain exactly when the release will take place, the DEMISE
website has word of plans to release the source code for DEMISE: Rise of the
Ku'Tan, partially because all of Artifact Entertainment's current attention is
focused on finishing work on HORIZONS.
Today is the fifth anniversary of Quake, as the shareware version of the game
was released on June 22, 1996. Here's a bit from
the id Software site describing some of the kudos that Quake garnered in its
day: "The year 1997 showered QUAKE with numerous awards. Computer
Gaming World named QUAKE Action Game of the Year and recognized QUAKE
with the "Special Award for Technological Achievement." Computer
Gaming announced QUAKE as their selection for Best Game of the Year and
Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year. The Computer Game Developer’s
Conference (CGDC) 1997 Spotlight Awards presented QUAKE with both Best
Online/Internet Game and Best Music of Soundtrack. PC Games recognized QUAKE
as their editor’s choice for Breakthrough Game of 1997. QUAKE was also
awarded the 1996 MVP Award for best CD-ROM game in PC Computing magazine."
Check out the media of the day linked below if you have a chance. Wow!
Happy birthday to Bruce Campbell, birthday-meister Chris
Morris sends word that this favorite actor of many gamers turns 43 today.
On sadder notes, R.I.P. to a couple of classics: Boogie blues legend Hooker dies at 83
and Carroll O'Connor, TV's Archie Bunker, Dies at 76.
I actually met John Lee Hooker when making an MTV Christmas video years ago. I
forget if it was the one with Billy Squier or Joe "King" Corrasco, but
either way I doubt they are showing that one much anymore.
Link of the Day: Doom
E1M1 in Shockwave (!). Thanks Ryan Stotts.
Bonus Link: Book-A-Minute.
Thanks EvilToast.
Story of the Day: Boy, 4, given rabies jabs after 'eating' pet cat
(Ananova). Thanks Chris Johnson.
Bonus Story: Cookie Monster attacked
(Canoe). Thanks RodentX.
Media of the Day: The
Counter-Strike Film on iFilm (thanks Fantaz). Live action, and truly amazing
(though someone has to explain the recoil on Desert Eagle automatics to today's
film makers).
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