Archived News:
There's an
interview with Stephen Townsend on EA GAMES (thanks AlliedAssault.Com)
talking with the associate producer on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, the
upcoming action game from EA they are hoping will provide "the definitive
World War II experience." Topics include the reasoning behind the decision
to have 2015 do the PC version of Allied Assault (the console versions continue
to be developed internally), the extensive research that has gone into the game,
the continuing role of their military advisor in the MoH series, the inclusion
of multiplayer modes, the plan to release a demo shortly before the game, and
more. The following excerpt gives the reasons they selected the Quake III engine
to power this project: The Quake III engine is extremely versatile and
allows the development team to create vast levels that are exponentially larger
than anything we've been able to do before -- both inside and out. The biggest
thing, from a technology standpoint, is that it finally lets us realize the
dream of building an Omaha Beach level that lives up to expectations that people
have coming from a game in the Medal of Honor series. It was impossible to pull
off before, but combine the talented team at 2015 with the Quake III technology
and D-Day suddenly becomes a reality.
In addition to the Invasion levels, the environments vary from the baked desert
of North Africa to the frozen tundra of Norway, to the bombed-out villages of
France, where whole sides of buildings have been blown apart by artillery -- you
can see individual rooms, complete with their own wallpaper, furniture, and
personal effects. It's really a wonderful amount of detail. Adding to that you
have trees and bushes that sway gently in the breeze, and real-life weather like
rain, thunder, and lighting, and even snow flurries that make you feel like in
you're fighting it out in the real world.
There are English Gothic
First Impressions & Screenshots on RPGDot giving impressions of the
upcoming English version of Gothic, the RPG that is already available in
Germany. The impressions offered are fairly brief, since they focus on the
language shift, since that represents a majority of what is different than all
the impressions of the German version already available. Likewise, their
selection of 18 new screenshots all offer views of inventory descriptions,
statistics, and books, since the graphics on the English version remain
unchanged.
Bowlay.com is now offering a new version
4.00 of the QRec demo recording utility for Quake, II, Kingpin, and Quake III
Arena. The new version represents a ground-up re-write of QRec, and offers
compatibility with Q3A version 1.29f, the removal of advertising, and the
re-introduction of the user interface.
Both the Remedy Entertainment website (thanks HQH) and a .plan update by 3D Realms' Scott Miller give word that Max Payne has gone gold. As per the countdown that commenced earlier ( story), the hard-boiled third-person action game is expected on store shelves towards the end of the month.
There's an interview with Randy
Pitchford on gameplex talking with the president of Gearbox Software about Blue Shift, their recently released installment in the Half-Life series
that puts you in the role of a security guard during the apocalyptic events at
the Black Mesa complex. Topics included in the conversation are some of the
nitty-gritty details about the game, the oft-discussed topic of its length (or
lack thereof), and what Gearbox is currently at work on, which includes
Half-Life for the Playstation 2, as well as stuff they could reveal, but they'd have to
kill us after. The interview is also
available in the site's native German.
There's now a new Republic
Preview on MGON offering a look ahead at this upcoming political simulator
based on a look back at their experience checking out the game at this year's E3
(in other words, this could have been 'it came from E3 part 34'). In spite of
the time lapse, these are first-hand impressions of the game, offering a glimpse
at gameplay that involves influencing the three classes (lower, middle, and
upper) of citizenry in your quest to go from being a lone voice of political
dissent to joining the ruling class.
MGON's
Civilization 3 preview is also online, likewise based on their impressions
from E3 of the upcoming installment in the strategic Civilization series. The
article comments on various aspects of gameplay, including the inclusion of new
ways to reign supreme other than flat-out winning the space race, which include
the diplomatic route or the use of economic warfare, and even a cultural win
victory condition. They seem quite excited at the prospects for the game, saying
it is near the top of their 'to die for' list.
A couple of new additions regarding Yuri's Revenge, the upcoming add-on for
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 are up on the
Yuri's Structures page on the Red Alert2 website, where there's a glimpse at
the Grinder and the Bio Reactor. There is also now a new unit, the Magnetron, on
the Yuri's
Units page. Thanks Red Alert2 Den.
As promised ( story), the new version 1.3a of Front Line Force
modification for Half-Life is now available, updating this mod that offers
goal-based teamplay with attackers and defenders, but none of the realistic
weapon damage or sitting out the round after dying aspects of so many other
current mods. Notes included with the new release mention that some of the maps
have now been broken off into a map-pack release (which server operators should
keep in mind), and that so many new features and console commands have been
implemented that all players are advised to check out the included user's
manual.
A new beta 3 of the Night's Edge: Wet Works
modification for Unreal Tournament is now available. Described as a
"tactical simulator" rather than "just a weapons mod,"
Night's Edge is: "Set in a post-apocalyptic future one-hundred and sixty
years from now, it focuses on incorporating a balance of realism and gameplay."
The new release addresses a couple more bugs as they move forward towards a full
version 1 release.
There's an
Urban Warfare Interview on The Backburner discussing the upcoming mod for
Half-Life described as a sister mod of Hostile Intent. The conversation gives a
feel for the mod, giving the case for why it is not just a Counter-Strike clone,
and justifying the claim that they offer more realism than other 'realism-based'
mods. Also, there's an interview
with Ben Hawes on drunkgamers.com talking about The Opera mod for Half-Life, which just saw the release of a new version ( story).
Don't ask me how I noticed this, but the coincidence of the day is probably this
report that includes word that pitcher J.C. (Juan) Romero has been sent down
to the minor leagues by the Minnesota Twins. The coincidence? It was one year
ago today that loony posted a Story of the Day headlined John Romero signed by Philadelphia Eagles
( story). As James Bond pithily put it in Diamonds Are Forever,
"schmall world."
Link of the Day: ˇMusica, Sí!.
Streaming Mariachi music. Pass the mezcal! Thanks Keith Passmore
Story of the Day: Retired
Couple Sells Funeral Home, Buys Brothel (Fox). Thanks theAntiELVIS.
Wild Science: Pentagon: Missile Test a Success
(AP). Thanks Jonathan Ruff.
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