Archived News:
Purge demo coming soon
on GameSpot has word that the demo version of Freeform Interactive's
now-gold online shooter/RPG is expected Friday, offering the chance to play as
either the commando or the assassin class.
This Codemasters
Downloads Page has a patch for IGI 2: Covert Strike intended for advanced
users who are having difficulties getting Innerloop's stealthy shooter sequel to
run. This patch is one of those 'use at your own risk' dealies.
As promised ( story), the Project
Three Interactive Downloads Page now offers an updated version 1.4 of the
demo for New World Order. In addition, they are also offering up a new map pack
with the "Restaurant map" for the full retail version of Termite
Games' tactical shooter. The new single-player and multiplayer demo is a 144 MB
download, while the map pack is 33 MB, and both files can be found mirrored on 3D Gamers,
FileShack: Demo - Map
Pack (registration required), Gamer's
Hell, and Worthplaying.
Microsoft Game Studios sends word that the Microsoft Flight Simulator
2004: Century of Flight Website has launched, or at least taken off,
dedicated to the next installment in the long-running flight sim series. "The
rich history of powered aviation as well as the history of the Microsoft Flight
Simulator franchise is presented on the site, including an article on the
history of flight by Lane Wallace, columnist and west coast editor of
Flying magazine. The site also features historical accounts, in-flight
screenshots and cockpit images of the 24 aircraft. Visitors will also be able to
download videos and keep tabs on events related to the 100th
anniversary of the first flight." Please return your stewardess to her
original upright position.
Windows flaw opens PCs to attack
(thanks Mike Martinez) has the warning that: "A vulnerability in all
versions of Windows could allow attackers to use a malicious Web site or HTML
e-mail message to trap victims and take control of their PCs, warned Microsoft."
Fixes are already available through the Microsoft Web site
or via the Windows Update function.
The Blitzkrieg Website has word that
CDV's World War II RTS game is gold in Germany (thanks Andrew Long), and is
expected in stores in that country on March 28. Word on the U.K., U.S., French,
and BeNeLux versions is that they are still due first half of this year, with
the ETA in other countries still TBA. To celebrate the German gold announcement,
they have released a new "megascreenshot" on
their download page showing the Soviet counteroffensive. "Hey ho, let's
go... shoot 'em in the back now!"
There is an extensive WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne Preview
on FiringSquad with a look at the upcoming RTS add-on based on getting to
participate in beta testing, saying: "It finally feels as though Blizzard
is putting the finishing touches on a painting that was never quite finished,
and gamers will finally be able to experience Blizzard’s fully realized
ambition." Also, MacGamer's
Warcraft III: Frozen Throne Beta Impressions provide further impressions of
the beta based on playing with the Mac version, illustrated by a bunch of new
screenshots.
Following this morning's announcement of progress on the PS2 and GBA versions of
the games based on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ( story),
we asked Ubi Soft to confirm this meant all the other versions were cancelled,
and their reply keeps the status of other console ports up in the air, but confirms
that the PC version is off the boards. Here's the exchange: Blue's
News:
Can you confirm the cancellation of the previously announced PC, Xbox, and
GameCube versions of the game?
Tyrone Miller (Ubi Soft):
No, I can not.
The PS2 and GBA versions of the game are the only ones that we currently have
approval on. We will be making another announcement about other platforms once
we have approval. We will not be doing a PC version.
EA sends word that 1503 A.D. - The New World, SUNFLOWERS' prequel to 1602 A.D.,
has gone gold, and is expected to ship in North America on March 24. The
announcement they sent along is brief, so here it is in its entirety: "EA
is pleased to announce that 1503 A.D. - The New World has GONE GOLD and will
ship in North America on Monday, March 24 for the PC. Delivering a blend
of real-time strategy with empire building, the game sends players on a quest
for wealth and power with thrilling adventures and discoveries at every turn.
Players will establish and build colonies while watching them prosper as the
need for trade and diplomacy heightens. The choice to live peacefully or
take part in combat will be entirely up to the player."
A new version of the Line of Sight: Vietnam multiplayer demo has been released,
this sample of n-Fusion's Vietnam War no longer requires a FilePlanet
registration key to install (or as it's described by Worthplaying, this is the
"free, non-exclusive, non-key requiring, non-ezpad version"). The 170
MB file can be downloaded from 3D Gamers,
FileShack (registration required),
Gamer's
Hell, and Worthplaying.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon Game to Hit Shelves in August 2003 is the press release announcing
the schedule for the games based on the Oscar-winning wire-fu epic, saying the
PS2 version will be available in August (more than a year later than originally
planned), while no release date is specified for the GBA version that they say
is in the works at Ubi Soft China. The noteworthy omission in the release is the
failure to mention the PC, Xbox, and GameCube versions that were mentioned in the
original announcement of the movie tie-ins in 2001 ( story),
suggesting these other versions may have been axed.
A Mistmare Demo is now
available, providing a sample of this imminent LithTech engine 3D fantasy RPG
from Arxel Tribe & Sinister Systems. The demo is a 278 MB download (though
it says 291 MB on the page), but no real details about what it offers are
available. Word on the full version of the game is that it's still planned for
release by the end of this month. The demo has been mirrored on 3D Gamers,
Computer Games Online,
FileShack (registration required),
Gamer's Hell, Happy Puppy
(registration required), and Worthplaying.
- Realms of Torment
HomeLan Fed's Realms Of Torment
Q&A chats with Limitless Horizons' Dan Antonescu about Realms of
Torment, their upcoming MMORPG, learning how they hope to stand out from the
competition, specifics about gameplay, and how the closed beta testing is
progressing.
- Cult
RPG Vault's Cult
Q&A features Jan Turan and Konstantin Lipatov of 3D People talking about
their upcoming "isometric fantasy RPG for one dominant character with a
focus on fast gameplay and a deep storyline."
- Freelancer
Action Vault's
Freelancer Q&A #3 asks 11 of the developers of Digital Anvil's space
combat game the following question: "What are a couple of locations in
Freelancer that you consider especially interesting, fun, intriguing,
memorable or otherwise noteworthy, and why do they stand out for you?"
- Syberia II
There's a Syberia II Q&A on GameSpy.com chatting with Benoît Sokal of Micröids about
progress on their upcoming adventure game sequel, inspiring him to say: "everybody
was thrilled to know that over 16 million users would read the article on your network!!!"
A thread called Premium Package Contents
on the Star Wars Galaxies Website (thanks HomeLan Fed
and VE3D)
has word from LucasArts Producer Haden Blackman on plans for a limited (75,000
copies) edition of the upcoming MMORPG that will include a concept art book, a
pewter figurine, a lapel pin, an autographed manual, and more.
Waiting for a PlayStation 3? Get
comfortable on CNN Money makes the case for why they feel: "More and
more, it appears that the PlayStation 3, Xbox 2 (or, as some are calling it, the
'Ybox') and next Nintendo game machine won't see the light of day until 2006."
Also, Ubi Soft sends word that Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc for the PS2 and Xbox have
followed the Nintendo version onto store shelves. Finally, Batman: Dark Tomorrow
for the Xbox GameCube has shipped to stores throughout the US.
There's a Purge
Online Class Guide on Worthplaying offering tutelage (in advance) on playing
as the Cyborg Class in Freeform Interactive's upcoming MMO FPS/RPG.
There is a link in the PlanetBattlefield Forums
to a 43 MB video showing off the next version of the Desert Combat mod for
Battlefield 1942. Thanks Ant.
- Computer
Fictions: "Artificial intelligence and online team-play may be
triggering fictional forms that we can only begin to imagine." Thanks
Mike Martinez...
- Chris Vrenna Remixing Alice Poll
"Which song from American McGee's Alice should Vrenna remix as the
B-Side to the Enter the Matrix limited edition 7"?" That's vinyl
they're talking about, for you whippersnappers...
- Salon.com Technology: Get behind the M.U.L.E. "Dani
Bunten's pioneering computer game inspired some of the greatest designers in
the business. But her life story is a testament to how the industry lost its
way." Thanks Mike Martinez...
- The Adventure Company
announces "it has shipped The Omega Stone: Riddle of the Sphinx II for
the PC. The second in the Riddle of the Sphinx series, this title takes
gamers on an incredible adventure."...
- There's yet another updated Star Wraith 3 Shadows of Orion demo on 3D Gamers,
though the version number curiously remains at 1.4. There is also a Tournament
Dreams College Basketball Demo on Worthplaying...
- There is a 7 MB Out of the Park Baseball 5 Update Patch on Worthplaying...
Hmmm, earlier updates... Fluke or trend?
Thanks Mike Martinez.
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