Archived News:
Another Max Payne double bill this evening, as the promised preview at Shacknews is now online. The article offers a hands-on account of playing a recent build of the third-person action game by Remedy Entertainment, along with impressions of the engine, environments, characters, weapon system, and more. Also, another short gameplay movie has gone up at PC.IGN.com, offering some 30 seconds of action-packed footage in QuickTime format.
Another Friday evening leads into the weekend with the usual weekly Halo update, this time over at haloplayers.com (thanks halo.bungie.org). It's a brief update, with Bungie's Matt Soell offering word on bug fixes, blast door animations, new music, and other snippets.
Sierra Studios has opened their official Aliens Vs. Predator 2 site, showcasing the three-class first-person shooter sequel in the works at Monolith that they're publishing on behalf of Fox Interactive. The site is currently a one-page affair sporting a handful of familiar screenshots and some basic information on the game and its features. Thanks Gamigo.de for the tip.
Another day, another audio interview on XGR this evening, this time talking to Dan Cermack, the executive producer on Command & Conquer Renegade, Westwood's foray into first- and third-person action gaming. As usual you'll need WinAmp or a Shoutcast compatible player and the fun kicks off at 9:00 PM EDT.
Another daily update on the Anarchy Online Community site is up, and this time there is word on more bug fixes and a new version 12.1.3 server-side patch, while "Memory leak issues are still aggressively being worked on." Also, Funcom has now signed distribution deals in Europe so that the temporary offer to download and purchase the full game has ended ( story). Lastly, they have posted links to several third-party sever monitor tools.
Ubi Soft sends word that the Conquest: Frontier Wars demo is now available for download from their ftp server. This is a modest 40.1 MB download that allows you to try out the space-based RTS by Fever Pitch Studios (previously by Digital Anvil). Here's the description of the demo:
The demo has skirmish and multiplayer available [for] one of Conquest's three
unique races. Play a one player game versus the many levels of Computer AI,
or fight with up to 3 other human players at Ubi.com.
The official Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind site has received its weekly update, this time consisting of three new screenshots of Bethesda Softworks' first-person RPG, another piece of fiction, and a new diary penned by artist Mark Bullock, who talks about how he got into the game industry and the various projects he worked on.
A version 1B patch for The Opera mod
for Half-Life has been released (thanks Hiroaki). This patch contains a
fix for a server crash bug along with other tweaks and improvements. Also available
is the new Opera Download Validator, which checks downloaded files for correct
file sizes and CRC values to make sure you have all the right files.
The recently opened Freedom Force Center has conducted an
interview with Jon Chey, the project leader of the game at Irrational Games.
Topics covered include the game's planned multiplayer (which will be powered
by GameSpy), how the characters are influenced by classic comic books, whether
or not the franchise will migrate into other media and more. In addition to
the interview, the site has also posted the
first images of Nuclear Winter, one of the characters in the game.
Freelancer has posted a
preview of World War III: Black Gold, an upcoming strategy game from JoWood.
The author was able to play a beta version of the game, and so the preview contains
his impressions along with plenty of screenshots.
Stomped's
hands-on preview of Max Payne is online this afternoon. The preview, like
the ones that ran last week, is based on the author's impressions of the game
during a recent visit to 3D Realms, and is loaded with gameplay details. Also,
a short gameplay movie is available
for download at FilePlanet (free registration required). Another preview
of the game is expected to run at Shacknews
later today. Update: Another short gameplay clip is online at GameSpot, but only in several streaming formats.
The official Multiplayer BattleTech: 3025 site has recently opened its doors for the public, offering insight into the multiplayer mech combat game that will run over EA.com's subscription service. Along with plenty of game information and details on the beta test (in a pop-up window), there are some previously revealed screenshots ( story) and the movie trailer ( story), a downloadable game manual, information on the BattleTech Universe, and more. Thanks Dry-Hump for the tip.
There is a wealth of From Dusk Till Dawn information and screenshots on the Peter Noble PR site, offering the latest on this third-person action adventure by GameSquad based on the 1996 horror road movie by Robert Rodriguez. The game is scheduled for a September 7 release in Europe (but there's no word on a possible US release), and along with an overview of the its premise and features, there are a dozen screenshots on the aforementioned page, another two dozen screenshots and some character images, the original design pitch, and a Q&A with lead designer Hubert Chardot. For even more From Dusk Till Dawn, check out the recently opened official site ( Flash required) and five more screenshots on Gamedata.
Update: AVault has received word that DreamCatcher Interactive will publish the game in the US in "late Fall."
PCShooter.com has conducted a
Q&A with Petar Ivancek and Tomislav Pongrac of Croteam. As Serious Sam:
The First Encounter has been out for some time, the questions are of a more
general nature, with the duo commenting on the Serious Sam mod scene, the use
of the Serious engine as a benchmarking tool and the success of the game.
A version 2.2 beta patch for the Urban Terror mod for Quake III Arena has been released. This latest version consists of bug fixes and gameplay tweaks, and is available as a small file for 2.1 users or as a full download for new users.
German publisher CDV sends word that the official WarCommander site is now open for business, showcasing this isometric tactical RTS situated around D-Day 1944 by likewise German developers Independent Arts. The site is available in their native tongue and in English, and features some game information and a handful of new screenshots.
The July
12 Anarchy Online Update (from the wee hours this morning) follows-up on the
AO memory leak situation, saying after "the tremendous response and
feedback," they "now have a clearer picture of the problem and are one
step closer to solving this pertinent concern." There is also news that as
of yesterday morning, they were running a new version 12.1.2 patch on the server
addressing a "non-monster-attack exploit as well as fixing problems with
spawning objectives that would prevent a player from entering the mission areas."
GameSpy.com's
Shattered Galaxy Developer Diary Volume 1 is online, written by Kevin
Saunders, lead designer and producer of Nexon's upcoming massively multiplayer
online RTS game. This debut installment covers the background of the game, going
into some of the elements of the RTS genre, discussing how the plan for
Shattered Galaxy developed. This includes detail on their approach to game
balance, offering examples of aspects of balancing using a pair of made up units
called Bob and Fred. Also, the
Fatherdale Development Diary, part 4 on RPGDot describes their decision to
release gameplay movies on a weekly basis, as well as some of the aspects of
such an undertaking that are more complex that you might think at first.
Finally, a new Horizons Vault
Developer Journal offers thoughts from Todd Jones, the lead audio engineer
on HORIZONS, talking about his job, which is to "make noise."
A new version 1.04 of the BarrysWorld Admin Mod for TRIBES 2 is now available (thanks Stomped).
As with previous versions, the goal with this server-only modification
is to provide bug and cheat fixes, while not changing gameplay. The new release
adds a random teams option for the rare TRIBES 2 FFA matches and some other
tweaks, as well as other changes to accommodate the version 23669 TRIBES 2 patch.
- The Project Entropia
Beta Test Application is where to sign up if you are interested in
helping test MindArk AB's upcoming RPG as they expand their beta testing
team...
- Dark Horizons relates
a report from Premiere Magazine that Tom Clancy wants to bring his
novel (and game) Rainbow Six to the silver screen, starring Matt Damon...
- RPGDot has
posted a tune from Gorasul, the upcoming RPG from Silver Style Entertainment
in .mp3 format...
Happy Friday the 13th!
Remember the old Saturday Night Live bit about the tape store in the mall
where customers would ask for recording tape and they'd be sent away with the
explanation that they only carried the 'sticky kind?' I had an experience
yesterday reminiscent of that, as I went in search of a new mattress for our
convertible sofa bed to replace our guest bed in time for a visit from my
brother WalterEgo, and in no fewer than four mattress specialty stores I was
told this was a special order item. I finally found one in Sleepy's, but only
after having to ask in those other places why a mattress store wouldn't stock such an
item, considering they only carry three sizes of conventional mattress anyway.
Anyway, now that it's been replaced, hopefully Hudson the wonder dog will hold
her water better... the reason for the mattress shopping is that the last time
my bro was here, she was so pleased at her prize that she marked the bed to
stake her claim (since the huge gang of foster kids at the breeder had named
Hudson "Princess" before we adopted her, I'll always consider this the
"Princess and the Pee" story, though you probably wouldn't have to be
as sensitive as in the original to detect this pee under your mattress).
Link of the Day: Personal
Computer Security. Thanks John Doe.
Flash(es) of the Day: The 'Oscars' of
Flash. The results of the Fifth International Flash Film Festival.
Flash is not actually required to view the story, but you do need it to check
the winning links, which includes previous Link of the Day, Electrotank
MiniGolf (which does require Flash) as the people's choice award winner.
Story of the Day: Red Bull linked to three deaths
(smh.com.au). Thanks Dasein.
Bonus Story: 'The Sopranos' Leads Emmy Nods
(AP). Thanks Reddog.
Follow-up: Fla.
Shark Victim Taken Off Ventilator (Fox). Thanks theAntiELVIS. A slightly
more optimistic outlook for the boy in this story.
Weird Science: Incinolet.
"The world's only incinerating toilet" (thanks NiNe). Oh yeah, this
isn't a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Wild Science: U.S. Scientists Create World's Most Precise Clock.
Thanks Reddog. Hey, that's my Uncle's agency!
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