Archived News:
A
post on Stomped has a reply they received when asking id programmer Robert
Duffy about the status of the non-beta version of the point release Quake III
Arena patch that says the patch, which contains only "a couple of very
small changes" from Q3A 1.29H, should "be in the near future," as
it's currently being tested at Activision.
There's a Q&A With David Litwin
on The Prime Directive talking with the project leader at Totally Games on Bridge Commander,
the upcoming game that boldly goes where no man has gone before, to split an
infinitive. The short Q&A covers David's role on the production team, the
most positive point about working on the project, what he thinks will make the
game a hit, and the possibility of a sequel, and no more (I told you it was
short). Thanks A Talent For War.
Stimulating adventures challenge players to become part of the story
on the Edmonton Journal (thanks Logan Foster) is a letter to the editors
written by Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk, joint CEOs of BioWare, in
response to an article the Journal ran based on the same announcement in the ZDnet
Computer games linked to learning problems article mentioned here last week
( story), bringing the study's generalizations into question.
Meanwhile, Heavy Entertainment,
an "upcoming computer game publisher" based out of the UK
coincidentally sends along word of their own rebuttal to the article, which
isn't available in HTML, but rather as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf
file, a Word .doc,
and a simple
text file. While as noted when posting the previous rebuttal to this piece
( story), software developers and publishers can't really be considered impartial
in this case, the BioWare letter (in which they also stress the value of a
balanced lifestyle) carries a bit of added credibility owing to the fact that
the BioWare founders are each medical doctors, which allows them to bring the
study's methodology into question. Here's an excerpt: It's hard to
comment on this article's validity for a number of reasons. The study does not
specify studies or peer reviewed publications that support Prof. Ryuta
Kawashima's position.
As you are no doubt aware, the peer review process is one of the key principles
in judging the value of medical and scientific research. Assuming that a study
is fact until it has been analysed and reviewed by other knowledgeable
scientists is not appropriate.
As medical doctors, we don't think it wise to change a treatment protocol until
we have all the valid facts in hand, and have analysed them carefully and
thoughtfully.
Additionally there are many different types of games, such as the pure-reflex
hand-eye co-ordination type, others that force you to strategize, and even games
that engage you as a participant to become part of the story and help it unfold
through your intelligently directed actions.
"Industry Vets Create Bedlam" is the headline that greets visitors to
the Gladius Online
Website which harkens the coming of Gladius Online (or as their I
Clavdivs-style Roman placard puts it: Gladivs Online), the first project from
RedBedlam Ltd., a newly-formed developer that describes itself as "the
UK’s first dedicated virtual world development company" (thanks RPGvault).
The game is described as "a massively multiplayer online game based on the
Roman Empire, circa 180AD," and the website describes their plans to
"shake up the way games are developed and played online. Crucially, the
company will establish a new financial model that will allow users to play for
free - leaving subscription-based titles to fight amongst themselves for
diminishing revenue." There is no concrete description of how this will
work, other than to say the game is being designed "purely for
entertainment value," and "the revenue model relies on simulating
proven real-world mechanics," which the FAQ
goes on to describe as a "radical and unique revenue model that doesn’t
use subscription, advertising or phone bills to generate the revenue required to
maintain the service" (though there is a PayPal donation button on the
site). Since the "six industry veterans" that formed the company all
seem to be from the business/marketing/journalism end of the gaming scene, maybe
they have some unanticipated tricks up their sleeves for making this all work.
Dynamix may be no more ( story) but that hasn't stopped some of
the former members of the TRIBES 2 development team from creating a new pack of
six custom TRIBES 2 maps (thanks TribalWar),
available for download on Tribes2Maps.com.
According to TribalWar's write-up:
"These maps include 3 Siege missions, 2 CTF missions, and one combination
Hunters, Rabbit, Deathmatch and Team Hunters mission," and the release
itself is described as "a parting gift to the Tribes community."
GameSpy.com Previews IL-2 Sturmovik
looking ahead at this upcoming eastern-front flight simulator in the works at 1C
Maddox Games. They use experience gained after playing with the last several
builds of the game to offer impressions of the graphics and gameplay, offer a description of how
the view system should appeal to flight sim veterans, and how the game's attention to
detail helps promote suspension of disbelief. They also point out that the
game does not focus on the single aircraft in the title, saying it could easily
have been named " Air Combat on the Eastern Front" (I would have
picked 'Aces Over Stalingrad,' but I guess there were trademark issues there).
Included with the article are several new screenshots.
The Team Factor website has been updated with
a single new screenshot, showing off a sniper's-eye view from this upcoming
team-based (duh) multiplayer action game in the works at Czech developer 7FX.
In SpaceWorld no one can hear you scream, but they can read your web-based
reports, so GameSpot
and cube.ign.com each have their day three
reporting from the show online, describing all the little Marios and Luigis they
were able to check out at the big Nintendo exhibition in Tokyo. The IGN report
offers, among other things, a new Metroid
Prime movie with more than the glimpse of footage provided in the first one.
A QuakeCon
Story Part III: Meat and Potatoes on Cached.net ( "How can you have
any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?") offers a "look at the
round of 32 winners bracket games, following the Gamers who lose all the way
until they are eliminated from the tournament."
Low Polygon Real-Time
Modeling with 3D Studio Max on RuneEd is an updated version of an article
originally published last summer giving tips on how to get started modeling.
They plan future articles on skinning your model and importing it into RUNE.
Interesting reactions to the post yesterday about the player who died after an
extremely long Counter-Strike session ( story), ranging from folks
defensive about another story they feel reflects negatively on gaming, to one or
two folks questioning the validity of posting it here, along with the usual dose
of levity over the serious topic. I'm surprised that there is so much concern
that this would become another example cited by gaming detractors, but
I guess this is a touchy topic. Anyway, the description of his gaming session
sounds like it was less than 24 hours of play, and I can attest myself to how I
have survived similar extended bouts of gaming at LAN parties and such with no worse side effects
than headaches (and I'm sure very many of you have as well), and folks have
survived longer stretches of far more strenuous activity since the dawn of time,
so I would be surprised if this was used as serious anti-gaming ammunition, but
I guess stranger things have happened. Update: In an fascinating twist, Drugs 'added to gamers' drinking water'
(Ananova) has a report springing out of this story saying: "A Thai
newspaper claims amphetamines are being added to drinking water at 24-hour
computer game shops to keep people playing for longer." Thanks Rigs.
R.I.P.: Singer Aaliyah killed in plane crash
(CNN). The 22 year-old R&B singer who was to appear in one of the sequels to The Matrix.
Thanks CrunchTime.
Link of the Day: SilverSmiles Fake Braces.
Thanks mortis. Something to straighten out your Billy-Bob teeth, I suppose.
Bonus Link: Nicotine Water.
Thanks mortis. I just can't figure out how you're supposed to get the stuff lit.
Story of the Day: Wild child weds Norwegian prince
(CNN). Congrats to the prince and Norway's colorful future queen. Thanks Axel Sjøstedt.
Bonus Story: Shocking £2bn electricity bill
(BBC). Thanks Grom. So remember to turn the lights off when you leave a room.
Wild Science: IBM Researchers Build World's First Single-Molecule Computer Circuit.
Thanks Digital Silence.
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