Archived News:
RPG Vault's
Horizons Journal #25 is the latest entry in this long-running series of
diaries about the upcoming MMORPG penned by Artifact's David Bowman. This
installment discusses how Beta III is progressing, starting off by giving the
background on the previous two betas.
- Halo
The Halo
Q&A on Computer and Video Games subjects Gearbox Software's Randy
Pitchford to an interrogation about the upcoming PC version of Halo, which
we learn is the conclusion of this franchise's inclusion on one of its
original target platform: "No, no. Halo 2 is all Xbox. It's hardcore.
If you haven't got an Xbox and LIVE yet, you will do by the time Halo 2
comes out. I mean, I can't wait for it. I've seen a little bit of what those
guys are doing and it's awesome."
- Republic: The Revolution
The Republic:
The Revolution Q&A on ActionTrip talks with Elixir about their game
of political insurgency. Topics include the game's role-playing and
strategic elements, design challenges, features that have been cut, and
more.
- Mythica
Mythica
Realms' Mythica Q&A #2 is the second installment in their series
that poses questions from their forum regulars to the developers of this
upcoming MMORPG.
- Chicago 1930
Action
Vault's Chicago 1930 Q&A, Part 2 concludes their conversation with
Martin Kuppe of Spellbound Studios about their upcoming game set in the
great depression based on the early days of organized crime in the windy
city.
Following up on the recent German patch, the version 390 update for Devastation
is now available, which is said to add significant multiplayer performance
improvements. The file can be downloaded from 3D
Gamers, Gamer's
Hell, and FileFront.
A new version 0.2.0b of Legends,
an online multiplayer Torque-engine game is now available. Word is: "This
version completely replaces your entire Legends install, fixing numerous bugs
and adding several enhancements, including an auto-update feature." The new
version is a 62 MB download.
Beta 2.0 of the Snow-War
modification for Half-Life is now available. They have several mirrors listed of
the new version of this frost-bitten mod, which offers improved power-ups, an improved
HUD, 15 maps, nine player models, an improved grappling hook, improved bot AI,
and more.
The Game Development Kit for Star Trek: Elite Force II has been released,
offering the UberRadiant level editor, plug-ins for 3D Studio MAX, sample map
and model files, documentation, and more to aid in the creation of modifications
and such for the Trekkie shooter sequel. The package is just over a 10 MB
download, which can be found on 3D
Gamers, FileFront,
FileShack (registration required), Gamer's
Hell, IGN,
and Worthplaying.
Sierra sends word that they've opened the official website for The Hobbit,
the upcoming game(s) based on J.R.R. Tolkien's furry-footed phenomenon.
Though the game has already been unveiled, PlanetSide
Goes Underground This October With PlanetSide Core Combat, Its First Expansion
is the press release officially announcing the add-on for SOE's MMOFPS (thanks
Frans). Here's the product in a nutshell: "PlanetSide: Core Combat adds a
new style of gameplay to PlanetSide with head-to-head urban warfare, testing
players' skills as they react quickly to enemy troops in high-adrenaline
fire-fights in subterranean alien complexes. With six new underground war zones,
additional weapons, vehicles, and enhanced empire bonuses, Core Combat creates a
new dimension for players to master in PlanetSide's all-hours-of-the-day online
conflict."
The website for X2 - The Threat offers
news of a North American publishing deal for the space combat sequel: "Enlight
announced today that it has acquired the North American rights to the highly
anticipated space simulation game - X˛ - The Threat. Set release in
November 2003, X˛ - The Threat is developed by Egosoft and is the next
evolution in space combat simulation."
The Qtracker Homepage now offers a new
version 3.6 of this server browser software that offers a host of added
features. The new release adds support for Star Trek: Elite Force II as well as
an all new PlayerWatch., a new Auto-Installer, and fixes for music support and
various crashes. Word is Raven Shield and BF1942 support are not happening due
to issues with the developers (it's certainly not because their in-game browsers
are perfect) but that Valve is working to ensure Half-Life 2 support will be in
place when the game is released.
Though not yet featured on the corresponding
Buka Entertainment Product Page, a demo version of The Entente:
World War I Battlefields is now available on
Buka's FTP Site. The demo of the WW1 RTS game is a 275 MB download. Thanks
Frans.
The QuakeCon 2003 Coverage
on Gaming Horizon has more impressions from the event, as well as their
video of the BYOC area. Also, The Tech Report's
Doom 3 multiplayer impressions are online as are GameZone's
Doom 3 Preview and Games
Domain's DOOM 3 Preview, which is accompanied by their
Todd Hollenshead Q&A (thanks {fpv). HomeLAN Fed's
Far Cry QuakeCon Impressions are online. ELiTeD's QuakeCon 2003
has impressions of DOOM 3 multiplayer and a Q&A with Infinity Ward's Vince
Zapella about Call of Duty, and there's another Call
of Duty Q&A on Telefragged talking with Infinity Ward's Jason West &
Vince Zampella about their upcoming WW2 shooter. Also, QuakeCon 2003 Joins Video Game Fans
(thanks Peter Binazeski) is an AP story on the extravaganza. Finally, the Quakecon 2003
coverage on Amdmb.com includes a look at all the hardware on display at the
show.
- Chaser
Ownt.com's
Chaser Q&A talks with Cauldron's Marian Suran, lead programmer on
the imminent (in North America -- it's already out in Europe) shooter, to learn details about gameplay, the game engine,
system requirements, and more.
- Vivisector
HomeLAN Fed's
Vivisector Q&A chats with Anatoly Subbotin of publisher 1C to learn
more about progress on Vivisector: Beast Inside, the upcoming shooter in the
works at Action Forms, focusing on the move away from the H.G.
Wells-inspired Island of Dr. Moreau theme.
- Blake's 7
HomeLAN Fed's
Blake's 7 Game Q&A talks with Andrew Sewell of B7 Productions
Limited general terms about plans for games based on the BBC television
series.
Kuju In Train Simulator 2 Deal With Microsoft
(thanks Frans) announces: "Kuju said Monday that it has reached a mutual
and amicable agreement with Microsoft to transition its PC simulation technology
and the ongoing development of Train Simulator 2 to Microsoft."
Phantom.net from Infinium Labs now offers
the promised Flash movie showing off their upcoming PC game console system,
the movie is also available from Gigex.
On a related note, there's an
XGameStation Q&A on GameGossip.com talking with André LaMothe about
their upcoming console system.
Counter-Strike(TM) Players 'Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is' At Ultimate Arena
is the press release with word on Counter-Strike support at the
play-for-cash start-up. The release has quotes from U.A.'s Dennis
"Thresh" Fong and Valve's Doug Lombardi, as well as info on how
players are matched up according to their skill levels.
- Microsoft Game Studios announces that a free bonus comes with each
pre-order of Halo for Windows at EB Games come with the
"top-selling" Halo: The Flood novel, and at GameStop an
exclusive Master Chief three-inch action figure...
I've heard the comment repeated many times that many are surprised that in the
21st Century that 50 million people can be plunged into darkness by one
blackout. The thing I am marveling at is the number of fires that were caused by
folks using candles for light. We're a pretty high-tech crowd, so I doubt this
applies here, but if you don't even have a flashlight, what are you
prepared for?
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