Archived News:
PC.IGN.com has posted a new Spider-Man preview, checking our this third-person action game by LTI Gray Matter by way of a recent press build. After an introduction to the game's origin on various console platforms and its premise, there are plenty of gameplay details as well as a handful of new screenshots. Additionally, five QuickTime movies are included totalling several minutes of gameplay footage.
Second Developer For Wolfenstein? is a story on HomeLan Fed reporting that a preview of Return to Castle Wolfenstein in the September 2001 issue of Computer Gaming World reveals that Gray Matter is not developing a multiplayer mode for their upcoming first-person shooter, but that an as yet unsigned developer will take on this task. They contacted id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead about this who briefly commented that more information will be released at next week's QuakeCon.
The official Neverwinter Nights site sports a new project update penned by producer Trent Oster, sharing the latest on the development of the 3D role-playing game at BioWare (thanks VE and Neverwinter Vault). Progress of the past three months is rolled into one update and covers the usual art, programming and design departments, concluding in "NWN is moving towards functional completion at a very fast pace."
The latest Morrowind Developer Q&A is online at RPG Vault, and in this fourth installment lead designer Ken Rolston is in the hotseat to talk about the character classes and factions in the first-person RPG being crafted at Bethesda Softworks. Ken discusses the 21 pre-defined classes, how they differ from the ones in the previous Elder Scrolls game Daggerfall, the benefits of joining a faction, and a few related topics.
GameSpot has posted a new preview of Star Trek: Armada II, looking ahead to the space-based 3D RTS in the development at Mad Doc Software. The article offers an overview of the game's premise, plenty of details on its features and how it will improve on its predecessor, and nearly 30 new screenshots.
Russian developers Nikita have released a new movie trailer of Parkan: Iron Strategy, their futuristic 3D action strategy title, available for download from Games Domain. The trailer features two and a half minutes of footage with cinematics introducing the game's setting, as well as plenty of in-game action, and comes as a 20.2 MB dowbload in AVI format.
- Starfighter
Computer and Video Games has posted five new Star Wars Starfighter screenshots, showing off the PC port of this PS2 flying shooter by Secret Level.
- Commandos 2
Gaming Age was the first of many sites to post five new Commandos 2: Men of Courage screenshots, and according to this EuroGamer story the squad-based tactical combat game by Pyro Studios is now due in UK stores by September 21 (although a US date is not yet known and Eidos has yet to announce the game being officially gold).
- Freedom Force
There is a lonely new Freedom Force screenshot on Freedom Force Center, featuring a new scene in the 3D tactical combat RPG by Irrational Australia, and they also report that the game is now scheduled for an early 2002 release.
- Divinity
Seven new screenshots of Divine Divinity are online at GameScreenshots, sporting more scenes in the isometric RPG being crafted at Larian Studios.
- Shadowbane
Celebrating their deal with Ubi Soft (story), Wolfpack Studios has released six new Shadowbane screenshots from their upcoming fantasy 3D MMORPG.
- Neocron
Necron Central has posted four more Neocron screenshots, illustrating the futuristic MMORPG being beta tested at Reakktor Media.
It's been a little while, but XGR will be broadcasting a new audio interview with Dan Hoecke, director at Strategy First where he's currently working on their space-based first-person shooter, Zero-G Marines. As always you'll need WinAmp or a compatible player to tune in, and the fun starts at 9:00 PM EDT.
As noted on the official Quake III Arena site, a new Linux version 1.29h beta patch is now available. This release addresses a known server crash exploit, and as usual we have a local copy with mirrors of the 26.4 MB download.
As promised ( story), the Total War Community site now announces the next 3D real-time strategy project from developers Creative Assembly, entitled Crusader Total War. More information can be found in the current issue of PC Gamer UK (for those lucky enough to have received their copy already), but here is the brief description of the game's premise:
Set in Europe during the Middle Ages, a period of 400+ years when all of Europe was in a state of almost constant warfare and violent upheaval. This is the period from the First Crusade to the Holy Land of Jerusalem, to the fall of Constantinople and the Spanish Reconquista.
There is a short DuelField movie at the official site for this online 3D turn-based strategy game in the works at French developers Sismoplay. The 16 second clip is a mere 2.4 MB download in MPEG format and features "one of the wackiest creatures in DuelField, the Troll Priest, performing the great Dance of Fire."
TalonSoft has released a new patch for Age of Sail II, bringing the naval 3D real-time strategy game by Akella to version 1.54 beta. This 1.52 MB download applies a handful of multiplayer fixes and general improvements.
This press release on GameSpyDaily announces Darkfall, a fantasy 3D massively multiplayer online RPG in the works at Norwegian company Razorwax. The game is still early in development and not due for release until 1st Quarter 2003, but the official site is already online with plenty of game information, a FAQ, screenshots and concept art, and more.
HomeLAN has conducted a
Q&A with Rick Lambright of LithTech, Inc., talking with him about their
LithWorlds engine, an extension of the LithTech development system that's being
made for massively multiplayer games. Rick explains why they are making a general-purpose
engine for massively multiplayer games, and he also talks about how they are
dealing with security and other common problems, and he reiterates that they
are working with Monolith on a still-unannounced massively multiplayer game.
While plans for an expansion to Echelon had been previously mentioned in interviews, Buka has now officially announced Echelon: Wind Warriors, a mission pack to the futuristic combat flyer developed by MADia and published in the US by Bethesda Softworks. The pack is scheduled for a 2nd Quarter 2002 release, and the press release offers more information on its premise and new features. Thanks FGN Online for the tip.
If you recall the series of Aliens Vs. Predator Gold Edition levels released between August last year and March of this year but couldn't try them because you only have the original game, then AvPNews.com now comes to the rescue with a Aliens Vs. Predator levels pack. Almost all of the 15 Gold Edition levels have been converted to corresponding multiplayer and coop/skirmish levels, making for a package with 29 maps complete with .BAT files to easily use them in the game. Here is a local copy with mirrors of the 39.5 MB download which we're hosting at their request.
There's a
Project Eden Preview on PC Zone based on making a trip to visit the gang at
Core Design to check out production on their upcoming action game. After holding
Core's feet to the fire for milking their Tomb Raider franchise, the article
turns its attention to Project Eden, giving some first-hand impressions from
their visit as well as the playable demo that they were able to walk away with.
Topics include PE's similarity to other titles, as they make more comparisons to
Half-Life, as well as what makes it different, as discussed in the following
quote: The skill with which the squad dynamic has been incorporated is
also likely to set the game apart from its peers, with each level and puzzle
built very deliberately around the various abilities of your team. These skills
will probably be familiar by now: Minoko is the computer hacker, required
whenever a computer interface presents; Carter is the leader of the pack, with
access to special information and security levels; Andre is the DIY man, an
engineer handy for fixing the many broken devices found in the city's lower
realms; and Amber, the robot, can withstand heat and harsh environments.
GameSpy.com Previews Sub Command
getting a feel for the depths to which this upcoming submarine simulator from
Electronic Arts and Sonalysts is willing to sink (probably not as far as I was
willing to go for that pun). The preview is based on getting to play with a beta
version, and gives their hands-on impressions of how the game recreates the
cramped life of submariners offering descriptions of the interface, gameplay,
and illustrating the whole shebang with a batch of screenshots.
A post on
Ritualistic casts some light on some recent mysterious rumblings on Levelord's Home Page
revealing that Levelord, Tom Mustaine, and Robert Atkins are helping out
Electronic Arts on James Bond: Agent Under Fire, an upcoming Quake III engine game
for the PS2 that makes use of FAKK2 technology (Levelord also assisted on
American McGee's Alice for Rogue & EA, which was likewise Q3/FAKK2-powered).
The downloads section of DCGrendel's Development Site
has a pre-release version of their Dreamcast port of Doom for download. On a
related note, the first
screenshots of GBA Doom are on Computer and Video Games. Tron Running on PlayStation 2
on FGN says that "the Disney Interactive game based on the new Tron
movie is being prepared for PlayStation 2 and not Xbox." There's a Star Wars Starfighter Special Edition preview on
Xbox.IGN.com that includes ten new screenshots and new details on multiplayer
modes, and in related news, there's a Postmortem
on Project Europa (A.K.A. Lucas Arts' Star Wars Starfighter) on Gamasutra.
In spite of several credible reports to the contrary, No Controller Changes
on Cube.IGN.Com refutes stories saying the buttons on the upcoming Cube
controller would be altered. It's Finally Official - Tekken 3 Is Next For Bleemcast
reports Dreamcast.IGN.Com. The High Res Lord of the Rings Game Trailer
is up on Xbox.IGN.Com for paying subscribers. Finally, Final Fantasy Tactics rerelease defective
reports TheGIA.com (doh!).
The Planetside FAQ
has been updated with questions and answers about characters and items &
equipment, and now sports a new layout to accommodate new content. Also, PC.IGN.com's Diablo II Lord of Destruction Guide
is online for subscribers.
Payne Reactor has
the release of the official Max Payne texture pack, either as one large 43 MB
file, or broken up into 17 smaller archives (separated by theme) for easier
downloading. Thanks .-= NicE GuY =-. Also, there are new forums online to
discuss all manner of editing stuff on Rust.
The game isn't out yet, but the Neverwinter Vault Scripting Course
keeps rolling right along. Finally, Codemasters has released an Operation Flashpoint help file showing "how to incorporate your own custom textures for soldiers" in Bohemia's soldier sim.
It was five years ago today that a
.plan update by John Carmack (I didn't even know I still had a copy of that
from the days before .plan trackers) revealed .plans to scrap the original
Quake netcode and create QuakeWorld. While QW didn't turn out quite as
originally conceived, as plans for things like a chat mode, global ranking, and
banning of players at the Master Server level were eventually scrapped, it did
turn out to be the way that a lot of folks finally got to have an enjoyable
experience playing an online FPS without a broadband connection.
I know I've mentioned the
original web-cam before, the one that was used by the University of
Cambridge Computer Laboratory to see if there was coffee in the coffee pot. Now the
Historic Trojan Room coffee pot is up for auction on eBay (thanks Scott
Thurston), your chance to own a piece of web history. Hey, and I need a coffee
pot too -- too bad I already have a full supply of broken ones.
Link of the Day: Whatever-Dude's
Reader Submission Contest Winner #1. Exploring the eerie connections between
Calvin & Hobbes and Fight Club.
Bonus Link: The Smoking Gun Archive
with a list of vanity license plates you cannot order from the New York State
DMV. Thanks Pr0ducer.
Story of the Day: Cusack White House Campaign Gathers Momentum on Web
(Reuters).
Bonus Story: Three-Year-Old
Makes Hole-in-One at California Course (Fox). Thanks theAntiELVIS. Reminding
those of us who've given up on the game why we did so.
Follow-up: ABCNEWS.com
where they have shark petting video related to a recent story of
the day. Thanks Chris Morris.
Media of the Day: GRACELESSLAND.
The virtual ink was probably barely dry on my words about my MTV days yesterday
when theAntiELVIS got to work.
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