Archived News:
A
post on the DreamCatcher Forums by Brian Gladman has details on their hunt
for "a limited few" beta testers for Harbinger, their upcoming "single-player
action/RPG set in a fantastic science fiction universe." They have posted
details on how to apply, and say: "We'll be selecting a limited number of
testers from all applications received." in a related note, there are some
new Harbinger "homebrewed" screenshots on The Adrenaline Vault.
This Blizzard Entertainment Press Release
announces plans to premiere a new cinematic trailer for Warcraft III: Reign of
Chaos in theaters beginning tomorrow with the opening of James Bond: Die
Another Day. The new trailer will also appear "before such movies as Lord
of the Rings: The Two Towers, Star Trek: Nemesis, and Solaris."
Word is: "Additionally, patrons of AMC Theatres will be able to take home a
free Warcraft III Game Sampler CD-ROM when they purchase a large Coke and a
Butterfinger candy bar at the concession stand. This exclusive disc includes a
playable demo of the game, featuring three new Warcraft III single-player
missions, and three new multiplayer maps to be used with the full version of the
game." A post on GameSpot confirms the demo will also be made available on the internet "at the
beginning of December."
The Carbon 6 Website has undergone a
redesign, and contained on the project pages are the first concrete details
about American McGee's Oz project, where there's word of a publishing deal with
Infogrames, who plan to bring the game to market for both the PC and Xbox in
2004. They also have a piece of concept art and a screenshot, quotes from
American, as well as word on plans for related toys and expected future announcements
of book and movie deals.
The patches just keep on rolling in, as this Codemasters
Downloads Page has a new 14 MB patch for Operation Flashpoint: Resistance
updating Bohemia Interactive's military combat shooter add-on to version 1.90.
In addition to bug fixes and other improvements, the new version offers the new
weapons, units, vehicles, features and multi-player missions previously featured
in the version 1.85 patch. Likewise, this
page offers the new version 1.90 patch for the Operation Flashpoint Gold
edition featuring the same bug fixes and improvements for an 8.3 MB download. 3D Gamers
has more details on what's changed along with their mirrors of the files.
As noted in the
.plan file of id Software's Robert Duffy, a new client-side only Linux Quake
III Arena version 1.32b (fully-compatible with version 1.32) is now available
for download from
id Software's FTP site (direct FTP link). Robert's update offers a few
workarounds and other tips for users of specific packages and configurations.
A Highland Warriors demo is now available, allowing a test drive of Soft
Enterprises' upcoming RTS game set in the Scotland of yore. The 118 MB file is
available from Gamer's
Hell, and offers the chance to play level 2 from the game as the English
side, with the choice of playing under either easy or hard difficulty modes. The
file has been mirrored on 3D Gamers.
The official Sudden Strike 2 Homepage
now offers downloads of a new patch that updates this tactical war game to
version 2.2. Here is the deal on the 4 MB update: "The patch fixes problems
with the Kyro graphics chips, eliminates some bugs in the editor and enhances
the net code for better multiplayer action. The patch is a must have for every
Sudden Strike 2 fan, and works for German, French and English versions of the
game." Also, the Combat Mission 2
Website has a new version 1.01 patch as a 68 MB download that applies to the
version of the WW2 eastern front combat game purchased directly from CDV in
Europe. Here's the scoop: "Even more realism and more than 100 bug fixes!
Note: Games saved in v1.01 can't be loaded in by the older v1.0. So if you're
playing others by email or TCP/IP, make sure you all upgrade to v1.01."
Meanwhile, this Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin Downloads Page
(thanks The Wargamer) has the 25 MB patch
to apply to the US version of the game purchased through BattleFront.
The AquaNox 2: Revelation
Website (thanks YiYas) now offers
downloads of the German demo for the upcoming sequel to AquaNox, Massive
Development's underwater shooter game. There is an explanation of why there are
two different variants on the demo, one is 227 MB and the other is 378 MB
with the extra space being taken up by the inclusion of the first mission and
the full introduction, neither of which is present in the smaller version. Also, their movies page now offers downloads of a pair of flicks showing off gameplay from the sequel.
- Hegemonia
The Hegemonia
Q&A on The GameWatchers Network talks with the folks from Digital
Reality about their upcoming space strategy game. The questions they ask
were submitted by their readers, and topics include resources, AI, using
wormholes, attacking planets, capital ships, and much more.
- Asheron's Call 2
RPG
Vault Asheron's Call 2 Q&A #3 talks with the team at Turbine at work
on the MMORPG sequel to ask them the following group question: "What is
the coolest moment, incident or experience you saw or took part in during
the beta test, and did you strike you as so noteworthy in this regard?"
- Nexagon: The Pit
Gamersclick's
Nexagon: The Pit Q&A talks with Strategy First's Jay Podilchuk about
their upcoming game of arena combat. They discuss his role, the game's
themes, how development is progressing, mod support, the game engine, and
more.
- Star Wars: KotOR
Edmonton
Knights on GameSpy.com
is a Q&A with BioWare CEOs Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk about Star Wars:
Knights of the Old Republic, focusing on the Xbox version of the upcoming
Star Wars RPG, as part of a
big feature on the game.
- Shattered Galaxy
The Shattered
Galaxy Q&A on Gaming Invasion talks with Nexon's Terry Park about
the changes in version 1.5 of their MMO space strategy game.
- EVE Online
EveGate's
EVE Online Q&A chats with Nathan 'enn' Richardson, server
administrator at Siminn, who will be hosting the servers for EVE Online.
- PVP Online
HomeLan Fed's PVP Online
Q&A chats with Scott Kurtz about his game/tech-oriented online comic
strip, PvPonline.
The Sea Dogs 2 Preview on
PC.IGN.Com looks at the upcoming seafaring RPG sequel, describing the effort
Akella is putting into polishing the "diamond in the rough" to create
"a sequel that makes the game much more playable, in terms of both concept
and function." They offer hands-on impressions based on getting to check
out the game first-hand after a visit from Bethesda Softworks to demonstrate it.
They describe how gameplay unfolds, discussing lessons learned from the first
game as well as the reception that Morrowind met with, the increased emphasis on
land as more than just a refueling station, role-playing, side quests, combat,
graphical goodness, and more.
There's a Warrior Kings Battles
Preview on PC.IGN.Com, saying: "Black Cactus taking a new approach to
their first franchise and it's looking pretty damn interesting," describing
how the developer went back to the drawing board to design their upcoming Warrior Kings follow-up. Among the changes they describe is the complete
elimination of turn-based modes, and they go on to discuss the lands over which
players will do battle, freedom of movement, AI, traits of generals, and more.
IGN's
TRON 2.0 Media Page now offers downloads of the November trailer for Tron
2.0, Monolith's upcoming LithTech game that follows-up on the science fiction
movie from the early days of arcade gaming. The 6 MB movie is in Windows Media Player
format, and shows off cinematic views of in-engine action.
Xbox Live not for everyone
on CNET.com (thanks Mike Martinez) reports: "Last week's launch of
Microsoft's new online service for its Xbox video game console created headaches
for some customers, who reported not being able to use the service or their game
machines." On a related note, there's a
Chris Cocks Q&A on GameAxis talking with this group product manager with
Microsoft Game Studios about Xbox hardware and software. Also, a new StarCraft Ghost
Screenshot is online.
The third part in RipNet-UK's
guide to programming with Visual Basic is now online "to try to teach
you the basics of using components in the form of making a media player."
- Want
to get a SIM life? examines the appeal of what they say is "now the
most popular computer game of all time." Thanks Mike Martinez...
- The Shrapnel Games Website has
a new version 1.01 patch to update Armored Task Force...
- PC.IGN.Com is
reporting that the Russian Homeplanet beta test is underway, and that U.S.
testing should begin soon...
My work PC has been driving me nuts with freezes the last couple of days... I
just pulled it apart and found the secondary cooling fan that exhausts air from
above the dual CPUs was dead. Luckily I had a working fan from an identical case
to replace it with, and I am extremely hopeful this solves the problem,
especially since I don't have many more ideas about what to try here.
Anyway, the turning of the calendar page marks the passing of another year for me, as
today is my birthday. I have been working on an fairly erratic schedule lately
and had last night targeted as when I would get back to getting these morning
updates up in a more timely fashion, but decided that if I was unable to take
the day off, that I would give myself a break on the sleep depravation required
to push this schedule back into shape. I hope you can forgive my self-indulgence
here, and I wanted to let anyone else as frustrated as I am at the inconsistent first posting times that this is to be addressed shortly... I just need to blow
out some candles first (before the smoke alarm goes off).
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