Archived News:
A Slashdot post to a thread called Intel: No Rush to 64-bit Desktop
by Epic's Tim Sweeney (thanks GameSpyDaily)
makes the case for why developers need cost-effective, backwards-compatible
64-bit CPUs sooner rather than later. Along the way, he offers an update on the
status of a 64-bit version of UT2003, along with word that their next generation
content tools will required the use of a 64-bit CPU: Regarding this
"far off" application compatibility, we've been running the 64-bit
SuSE Linux distribution on Hammer for over 3 months. We're going to ship the
64-bit version of UT2003 at or before the consumer Athlon64 launch. And our
next-generation engine won't just support 64-bit, but will basically REQUIRE it
on the content-authoring side.
A new beta demo for TOCA Race Car Driver is now available, almost ten months
after the release of an alpha version ( story) of the demo of
Codemasters' upcoming racing game that's also known as Pro Race Driver. The demo
comes by way of PC Format magazine and Blackhole
Motorsports, offering a test run in a Proton Satria GTi on the Monza track,
and a two lap race in a Lexus LS200 around the circuit at Brands Hatch. The 92
MB download is found on 3D
Gamers and a mirror is up on Fragland.net.
Move over Minnie, another Driver is pulling into Hollywood, as Infogrames Options Film and TV Rights for Driver Franchise to Constantin Film and Impact Pictures
is word that the exploits of the undercover cop/ wheelman from the popular PC
and video game series is heading to the big screen. Word is: "The feature
film is currently scheduled to begin production in 2003, and is being developed
for Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil) to direct from a screenplay by James
DeMonaco, Todd Harthan and James Roday (The Negotiator)."
The Dominion Website has
the announcement of plans for an OpenSource massively multiplayer FPS that will
utilize the Quake II engine (though the name will likely have to be changed due
to conflict with a project in production at Pharaoh Studios) to be distributed
via their "Parallel Distributed Management System." The storyline
involves the power struggle involving politicians, organized crime, and other
such savory characters, and word is to expect beta testing to begin in late
March or early April.
The Motor City Online Website has news that
this massively multiplayer car collecting and racing game is gearing down their
service, and will cease operations as of August 29. There is a Team
Comment on this topic that explains how the game's wrap-up will unfold, how
billing will operate, and the reasons for this move, saying basically the game
was "losing steam" (missing the obvious gas analogy). Electronic Arts
is offering subscribers a free copy of either The Sims Online or Ultima Online,
provided they accept the offer prior to the end of MCO billing.
The MacPlay Website
now offers downloads of a new version 1.0.3 patch for the Mac version of Soldier
of Fortune II: Double Helix (thanks PlanetSoldierOfFortune).
The update can be applied to either version 1.0.1 of the game, or the 1.0.3 beta,
providing new and rebuilt maps, weapons fixes, gameplay tweaks, PunkBuster
anti-cheating support, and more. A mirror of the 36 MB patch can be found on 3D Gamers.
3DO Ships Heroes of Might and Magic IV Winds of War
is the press release announcing the availability of the second add-on for 3DO's fantasy turn-based strategy
game. Here is a bit from the release on the expansion: ""'Winds of
War' is the most interactive 'Heroes' yet, featuring additional campaign editor
capabilities, and six creature generators, as well as twenty maps created by
fans," said Jon Van Caneghem, president of New World Computing.
"Newcomers and fans of the 'Heroes' series will enjoy hours of richly
satisfying gameplay, the enchanting graphics, and the interwoven tapestry of
storylines associated with 'Heroes of Might and Magic.'"
There's a Galactic Civilizations Game Giveaway
on UGO offering the opportunity to win an advance copy of the upcoming
remake of the OS/2 space strategy game before it is available in stores, signed
by the game's developers at Stardock Software. They have invited some other
members of this little web family to participate, so the same contest is being
offered locally
here as well as on Caster's Realm,
Gamer's Pulse,
and PC Gameworld.
There are five copies being given away on each of the sites, so you can sign-up
multiple times to increase your chances of winning. Apologies in advance to our
overseas readers, as this contest is open to U.S. residents only.
The debut release of the Riftwar
modification for Unreal Tournament 2003 is now available. Here is a bit on the
gameplay offered by this mod: "When you enter the game, you'll be presented
with a menu to pick your class. You can find detailed descriptions of the
species and their classes in the 'EDF Field Report' document under media. The
short of it is, each class has a different look, stats (speed, armor, weapon
skill, agility), starting weapon and 'powerup'. Powerups are kind like combos,
but they occur automatically when you hit 100 adrenaline. There are no other
combos."
A new Yager trailer is up on the Official Website
(thanks YiYas) offering a sample of Yager
Development's upcoming eponymous flying combat game (this is from the Xbox
version). There's a new Black
Hawk Down Movie on Computer and Video Games showing off gameplay from the
upcoming Delta Force shooter set in Somalia (NovaLogic has also released a new
set of Delta Force Black Hawk Down
Screenshots). Also on the tactical shooter front, another new preview movie
from Tom Clancy's Raven Shield is now available, the "Thermal Vision"
trailer can be found on FileShack
(registration required), Gamer's
Hell, and Worthplaying,
while there is also a new Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield Preview
on GameSpot. There are a couple of other assorted movie trailers on Worthplaying,
including an Empire Earth Gold trailer.
The brief PlanetSide update
on GameSpot has some screenshots and word that a limited beta of the
upcoming MMOFPS has begun, as well as word that the game "is said to be on
track for release early this summer," which HomeLan
Fed alertly points out, actually represents a delay from the previously
announced release date of this spring. Also, TRON 2.0 Digitizes Into Retail Stores Aug. 26, 2003
is the press release announcing the projected release date of Monolith's
upcoming sci-fi movie tie in. Additionally, the official TRON 2.0
has been revamped.
A double batch, as yesterday's morning round-up wasn't posted (darn space cadet
webmasters):
- AC2
HomeLan Fed's
Asheron's Call 2 Q&A chats with Turbine's Ken Troop about how their
MMORPG sequel is faring at retail, though they are declining to release estimates
on the number of players who have subscribed.
- Lionheart
There's a Lionheart
Q&A on Loadedinc talking with Black Isle's Chris Parker about
progress on this alternate-history RPG in the works at Reflexive
Entertainment.
- Priest
There's a Priest
Q&A on The Adrenaline Vault talking with David Kim, marketing
manager of JC Entertainment, about their upcoming wild west-inspired MMOG.
- Dragon Empires
RPG Vault's
Dragon Empires Q&A #19 asks the folks at Codemasters the following
collective question about their upcoming MMORPG: "In terms of your work
on Dragon Empires up to now, what's the biggest or most interesting
challenge you or your part of the team has faced and overcome?"
- Pirates of the Burning Sea
The RPG Vault Pirates of the Burning Sea
Q&A catches up with Taylor Daynes, the lead designer on Flying Lab
Software's online age of sail game, discussing this game, the fate of the
Delta Green project, and more.
- Kreed
Action Vault's
Kreed Q&A #7 asks the design team on this upcoming FPS the following
question: "In multiplayer mode, which would you rate as your personal
favorite map or two, and why do you feel this way?"
- Warhammer Online
HomeLan Fed's Warhammer Online
Q&A chats with Robin Dews about the ongoing project to create an
online computer game based on the popular pen-and-paper game series.
- Eagle Games
Gamers Pulse's
Eagle Games Q&A about creating board games based on computer games.
- M.O.S.
HomeLan Fed's M.O.S.
Q&A chats with Sharkbyte CEO Carlos Sandoval about M.O.S. (Military
Occupational Specialty), their recently unveiled Massively Multiplayer
Tactical Role Playing Shooter.
Infogrames sends word that Master of Orion 3 has shipped to stores as part of a
simultaneous worldwide release of Quicksilver's 4X space game. Here's a bit from
the press release
(thanks D. Andrew Terrill): "In Master of Orion 3, the sequel to one of the
best-loved strategy games of all time, players assume the biggest role ever. No
longer do players merely represent petty interplanetary dictators. Players
become the controlling power behind an entire galactic civilization; the
dictators, presidents, councils, and overlords that come and go are merely pawns
in the player's arsenal. One must use these governments, their citizens, and
their leaders to secure the destiny of their civilization, to manipulate
policies of freedom and oppression in both foreign and domestic arenas. It is
not enough to be an able economist or a great starship captain to succeed in
Master of Orion 3; considerable political, administrative, research, and
espionage skills must be applied to claim the title of Master of Orion."
The Next Year's Game competition is
underway, offering an industry-backed contest for game development teams (independents
in particular) to "create the most visually stunning, technically adept,
fun and innovative game, game demo or game prototype by the competition's close."
The competition carries $100,000 in prizes.
UnWheel Mod Q&A on the Unreal Ops
Website talks with Kenneth "Shrimp" Watson about the UnWheel
driving modification for Unreal Tournament 2003.
Blech. I visited a friend yesterday and lost my footing on a patch of ice in his
driveway managing to screw up my knee a bit in the process. I am especially
upset about this since it was the "good" knee affected, meaning the
one that already had arthroscopic surgery to remove some damaged cartilage and
ligament, rather than the bad one that's made a clicking noise for years.
Anyway, this didn't bother me so badly at first, but after arriving home to find
my internet connection dead due to a rare glitch at my ISP (some days you
shouldn't get up), I laid down for a nap, and was awakened a couple of hours
later by stabbing pains in my knee. So here I am contemplating my achy knee, and
I'm not even left with a lot of good options to vent about this, as I certainly
don't want to sue a friend over his negligence, and while I might be tempted to
crack him one, he's quite a bit larger than I am. I guess I'll just work
on my Walter Brennan impression in case I'm left with a limp.
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