Archived News:
As noted in this
announcement, the ATI Technologies Website
(thanks Chase) now offers a new version 3.2 of the Catalyst reference drivers
for their RADEON family of video cards. The latest release also incorporates
version 8.1 of their Multimedia Center software suite.
Hap from Freeform Interactive sends word that Purge Online, their
LithTech-engine online FPS/RPG, has gone gold. The official press release
announcing this looks like its been delayed until tomorrow, but Hap says the
game is expected in stores around March 31, and that a demo (different from the
beta) will be released soon, as well.
Mozilla.org now offers the release of
version 1.3 of the Mozilla Open Source web browser (thanks Haut^Karl). In
addition to tweaks and over 2000 bug fixes, the new version also provides junk
mail filtering.
ARUSH Entertainment sends an
announcement that a multiplayer demo version of Devastation, Digitalo's
now-gold Unreal-engine shooter, is scheduled for release one week from today.
Word is that there will be no exclusivity deals restricting where the demo can
be found when it's released on March 20. Here's a bit on what this will include:
"The MP demo will contain two of the maps from the final version of the
game, and will showcase Devastation's amazingly detailed levels, beautiful OFX
Particles, and real world physics for maximum interactivity with the environment
and objects in LAN and net games." To celebrate the occasion, they also
sent along a
pair of new screenshots showing off the demo.
Vivendi Universal Games Ships PC Fantasy Title Enclave
is the press release announcing that the PC port of Starbreeze Studios'
action/RPG has shipped to stores in the U.S. Here's a bit of how the game is
described in the announcement: "A third-person, 3D action game,
"Enclave" is set in a fantasy environment where long ago a rift formed
separating the lands of light from the plains of darkness by an impassable
chasm. Over time, the Enclave of light grew strong and prosperous, while those
confined to the war-ravaged plains of the outlands harbored nothing but hatred
and jealousy. Now, after hundreds of years, the rift is closing and it is only a
matter of time before a full-scale war erupts. At the start of the game, players
must make an important decision and choose to take on the role of either an
agent of light or of darkness."
A new patch for Medal of Honor Allied Assault Spearhead is now available,
updating EA's MoH expansion to version 2.15. The 9 MB patch requires Spearhead to
already be updated to version 2.11, and it can be downloaded from EA's
European FTP site (direct link), or one of the mirrors at 3D Gamers,
Computer Games Online, Gamer's
Hell, or Happy Puppy
(registration required).
This week's new gameplay video has been released on the Lock On: Modern Air Combat
Website showing off the jet combat game: "This week we experience a
practice strafing pass in the A-10A using the GAU-8 cannon."
Vivendi Universal Games and Interplay Entertainment have announced the
development of Fallout: Brotherhood of
Steel for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Word is to expect Fallout for consoles
this fall. Also, Online gaming race turns corner
(thanks Mike Martinez) has word that "Electronics giant Sony announced
Wednesday that it expects to have shipped 1 million Internet adapters for its
PlayStation 2 video game machine by the end of March, double previous forecasts."
Nintendo Sold More Than 500,000 'Zelda' Units
(thanks the_culture).
Thanks Mike Martinez and the_culture.
A new version 1.2 release of King of the Hill for Unreal Tournament 2003 managed
to sneak out last week on King of the Hill HQ
without drawing notice here. The new version of this UT2003 that rewards holding
the high ground adds a couple of new maps, changes the welcome message, and
provides a bunch of tweaks and fixes.
Sign-ups are underway for Gamecaster's
upcoming competition, to be held in Las Vegas sometime this year, though exactly
when and where is not yet determined. Word is there are plans to tape the three
day proceedings for television broadcast (though who will broadcast it is
equally indeterminate).
After previously clearing up the major causes of problems on my computer, yesterday I tracked down what seem to be the last couple of remaining glitches on my system. Having already eliminated the crashes, huge
slowdowns, and the such, I discovered three more tweaks that restored even more
sparkle to my system's virtual eye. First I learned what was causing Outlook to
remain silently running after being closed (among other problems), as the latest
NVIDIA drivers install a service called "NVIDIA Driver Helper Service," which provides no discernable benefits, but does cause
problems. I also found a couple of things that were causing browser woes...
installing a newer version of Java helped clear up some wonkiness, and it
finally occurred to me that the incredible slowness of my context-sensitive
menus when right clicking something in Explorer was caused by a handy Google
toolbar I had installed. It's quite a pleasure to have all these nagging
problems cleared up, and I am very happy to see that my notion that this PC has
more reliable service left in it was justified.
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