Archived News:
The Elite Force II
Downloads Page on the Star Trek Elite Force
II Website (thanks Frans) now offers downloads of an intro-credit sequence
that "is similar in style to what is done for the different Star Trek
television shows," along with a gameplay movie described like this: "This
movie shows how Elite Force II shines in the Multiplayer setting. Various game
types are covered including Specialties CTF, Bomb Diffusal, and Holomatch. This
TWO MINUTE movie covers several maps and weapons as well. Captured at high
quality 640x480, it's the next best thing to actually playing it!"
The Official
SÖLDNER - Secret Wars FAQ is now online (thanks Frans), offering all sorts
of detail about the upcoming special forces-themed tactical shooter. Included is
preliminary word on plans for closed beta testing, as well as their demo
roadmap: "Yes. A multiplayer public beta demo will be available this
summer. A single player demo will be available after release."
The Commandos
3 Preview on Computer and Video Games offers a look at Commandos 3:
Destination Berlin, Pyro Studios' upcoming installment in their World War II
strategy game series. They describe various aspects of gameplay, including the
following about how the game's 2D engine is holding up: Graphically,
Commandos 3 is looking about as good as things are ever going to get for a 2D
game. Pyro Studios has spent time enhancing the engine, incorporating better
particle effects, improved explosions and more realistic weather effects; and
the lighting system has also been overhauled. Not only buffing things up on a
visual level, these alterations directly impact gameplay. Overall, it's a case
of the atmosphere being cranked up 300 percent.
Following on the recently released German demo ( story), CDV
Software has released the English playable demo for Heaven & Hell, offering
a sample of this "real-time strategy god simulation" that "allows
players to proselytize the masses while performing amazing miracles or
devastating catastrophes." Here's a bit more on the game, which is due for
release this summer: "Players can take on the role of a divinity who wields
omniscient power. Convince the cute and cuddly Earth dwellers that you are the
long-awaited Redeemer. The faithful launch rotten fruit and vegetables at
opposing prophets, while your prophets convert doubters. Alternatively, use
miracles and plagues to lead the disbelieving onto the correct path." The
demo premiered on FilePlanet
(registration required) and GameSpot
(registration required), and mirrors of the 102 MB file have been posted on Gamer's
Hell and Worthplaying.
The Metallica Website is offering
downloads of a new CGI trailer for the recently announced Metallica vehicular
combat game. The site is buried at the moment, but mirrors of the 8 MB trailer
can be found on Gameplex,
Gamer's Hell,
and Worthplaying.
The first screenshots from Unreal Tournament 2004 have been released, and can be
viewed on The
Adrenaline Vault. The three shots show off a couple of character models, as
well as a couple of vehicles from the upcoming UT installment.
Tri
Synergy Announces Port Royale Has Set Sail in the U.S. is the press release
announcing that this seafaring RTS game has shipped to stores in the U.S. Here's
a bit: Providing gamers with over 4,000,000 square miles to work with,
Port Royale offers an expansive environment in which players can choose to
represent one of four nations; England, France, Spain or Holland. PC gamers will
face immediate challenges as they embark on a Port Royale journey and make their
selection to become an adventurous buccaneer, plundering and seizing their
enemies’ villages, a trader, attempting to amass a dominant fleet and striking
against local pirates, or as a pirate, constantly observing the environment to
identify the next significant heist opportunity.
This page on the framed Fighter
Ace Website offers downloads of a new patch for Fighter Ace, updating the
flight sim to version 3.6. The update has been mirrored on 3D
Gamers. Also, the Combat
Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin Downloads Page offers downloads of the PC and
Macintosh version 1.03 patches for this WW2 strategy game, updating the U.S.
release as this morning's patch for Combat Mission 2 did for the European
version of the game.
The
Halo FAQ on Bungie.net has a couple of new entries (thanks Frans) with
details on beta and demo plans, saying a playable demo will be released shortly
after the PC version (hopefully not the same shortly that the PC version is
following the Xbox version) and that while they are definitely planning to beta
test the multiplayer component, they are not sure whether testing will be
private or open. They also have a reassurance that the Mac version will have a
"near simultaneous" release with the PC version.
The DAOC
Gold Edition Press Release offers details on a version of the popular MMORPG
that includes the first two expansions (thanks Frans), though it's a bit
confusing to try to correlate the word that The Foundations add-on is currently
in beta with word that the Gold Edition is now shipping in North America. Here's
a bit: "Mythic Entertainment is now releasing a Gold Edition of its
flagship product, Dark Age of Camelot, the massively multiplayer online
role-playing game (MMORPG). Dark Age of Camelot: Gold Edition will
include the original game, it’s (sic) top-selling expansion Dark Age of
Camelot: Shrouded Isles and the soon-to-be released housing expansion Dark Age
of Camelot: Foundations. An all-new 45-page beginner guide compliments the
updated manuals to introduce players to the world of MMORPG’s (sic) and Dark
Age of Camelot."
This Black Sea
Studios website has scant details and the first screenshots from Knights of
Honor (thanks Gamer's
Hell), an upcoming medieval-themed RTS game they refer to as an "Empire
Conquering Simulation." The game is to be published by SUNFLOWERS, release
date TBA.
This Gamesweb.com
Downloads Page offers a new version 1.03 patch for Combat Mission 2:
Barbarossa to Berlin. The 24 MB patch requires version 1.02 of the game, and
mirrors are available on 3D
Gamers and Gamer's
Hell.
- Sacred
RPG
Vault's Sacred Q&A, Part 1 talks with Ascaron Entertainment's Alan
Wild and Michael Bhatty about their upcoming fantasy RPG. Among the features
they discuss is the ability to mount a mounted attack: "One major
aspect of Sacred is the horse action. Surprise! We are proud to announce
that you will also be able to fight from horseback. And as we have now
started balancing and brushing up the game, we are experimenting with
several niceties like a ramming attack with the horse, etc."
- IGI 2
Action
Vault's IGI 2: Covert Strike Q&A #3 is online, asking the following
group question of the folks at Innerloop about their shooter sequel: "What
are a couple of especially memorable moments or situations you've
experienced while playing IGI 2, and why do they stand out for you?"
- Jane Jensen
HomeLAN
Fed's Jane Jensen Q&A talks with the famed designer about what she's
been up to recently, learning more about the mysterious upcoming project
that represents her return to game development.
- Medal of Honor
There's an
EAComMike Q&A on PlanetMedalOfHonor talking with the community
website manager at Electronic Arts about his career and about the Medal of
Honor series.
- Music
GameZone.com's
FBI Q&A talks with Four Bars Intertainment about the music they
create for computer and video games.
- Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds
HomeLAN
Fed's Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds Q&A talks with Leif
Jensen of Secret Level about Magic: The Gathering -
Battlegrounds, the upcoming fighting game based on the popular card strategy
game. "We chose fighters that would be very recognizable to
Magic players, but also visually appealing to people being exposed to Magic
for the first time..."
- Gaming U.
GameSpy.com's
Gaming's Universtiy Volume XVII features Digital Extremes' James Schmalz
answering more reader-submitted questions about being a game developer.
A couple of bits on testing: "iGames Publishing, LLC, the groundbreaking
publisher behind the highly anticipated, genre-busting title Savage: The Battle
for Newerth™, has launched the next phase of beta testing for the first-ever
real-time-strategy-shooter (RTSS). This next phase will open the
beta test up to an additional 2000 players – an amount that will double
shortly thereafter at the third beta testing stage. Gamers can apply to
take part in the beta test at the following URL: beta.s2games.com."
Also: " Killer Bee Software
entered its Beta testing phase for its game title "The Perfect General
Internet Edition". This closed beta period is planned for approximately two
months."
The World of
Warcraft Night Elves Page now offers new details on the fifth playable race
being created for World of Warcraft. Meanwhile, the Unofficial
World of Warcraft Site now offers downloads of an 11 MB movie shot at E3
showing off the Warlock class from the upcoming MMORPG.
Here's a bit from the press release announcing the latest happenings at Scottish
game developer Real Time Worlds (Mobile Forces): "David Jones, creator of Lemmings
and the infamous Grand Theft Auto franchises has joined forces with Ian
Hetherington, former Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and
founder of Psygnosis, and Tony Harman the former Director of Development and
Acquisition at Nintendo of America. The three industry veterans have united to
back Jones' latest original concepts and technologies. They are planning to
utilise their unique distribution experience to maximize the revenue potential
for Real Time Worlds products now in development."
The QuakeCon Website (thanks HomeLan
Fed) has details on this year's event, and word that registration kicks off
this Monday: MESQUITE, Texas - June 3, 2003 - There are more reasons than
ever to be at QuakeCon 2003. Whether you want to compete for $125,000 in cold,
hard cash, or simply enjoy the company of over 4,000 other gaming fanatics, you
can't afford to miss QuakeCon 2003. The first-come, first-serve general attendee
registration begins at 9:00 p.m. EST on June 9, 2003 at www.quakecon.org.
The dates and times for tournament registration are outlined in the specific
tournament information below. The definitive gaming tournament and party is free
to all attendees and scheduled for Aug. 14-17 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in
Dallas, Texas.
A new version 2.36 of the umod
Wizard is now available, updating this utility that eases the process of
creating Unreal-engine modifications. "This version runs a bit more stable
and introduces Mac startup shell script generation for total conversions."
In celebration of their site's fourth anniversary, PlanetCNC's
Command & Conquer Encyclopedia is online, attempting to create a
comprehensive resource for the entire C&C series.
Not only is Sammy Sosa a poor liar, he's not a very good physicist, if you buy
the premise of Probing
the Power of Corked Bats (thanks Mike Martinez). I guess if it's not
surprising that people cheat in Counter-Strike games where there's nothing but
pride (and anonymous pride at that) on the line, it should not even be remotely
shocking that cheating occurs in a sport where a great career can net one
hundreds of millions of dollars, huh?
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