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Archived News:
RPG Vault's The War
of the Ring Diary #2 features Liquid Entertainment's Jasen Torres discussing
his role as a designer on their upcoming Tolkien-inspired RTS game, pointing out
that: "One of the poorest judgments I've ever made was thinking that being
a game designer would make me cool." He reflects further on the geekiness
of his chosen profession, and describes a couple of the dilemmas he has recently
encountered in the design of the game.
The promised demo of Homeworld 2 is now available, offering a sample of Relic's
now-gold space-based RTS sequel. The demo includes a tutorial, two solo missions
and a pair of multiplayer maps. Mirrors of the 141 MB demo can be found on 3D
Downloads, 3D Gamers,
Absolute Gamer's,
AusGamers, Boomtown
(registration required), Computer
Games Online, FileFront,
FilePlanet
(registration required), FileRush
(Bit Torrent), FileShack
(registration required), GameGossip, Gamer's
Hell, GameSpot
(registration required), Gaming Asylum, Happy
Puppy (registration required), IGN,
Jucaushii.ro, Loadedinc
(registration required), and Worthplaying.
A post on Relicnews relays a tidbit
posted in
their forums at 4:00 p.m. EDT on the status of today's expected Homeworld 2
demo (thanks Frans). Here's the deal: Vivendi Universal QC (in LA) have
just started to look at the demo. It may take them as much as three hours to
finish their testing (hopefully less). Assuming the game passes muster, it will
be on servers about 60 to 90 minutes after that (don't you love bureaucracy).
Gathering sends word that the Hidden
& Dangerous 2 Website has been relaunched (again - story)
offering a noisy introduction to Illusion Softworks' upcoming World War II
tactical strategy game sequel. Also, the official Legacy
of Kain: Defiance Website is now online, though unlike the previous Legacy
of Kain games, there are no plans for a PC version this time around. Update:
Though this last point seems to be in question, as that new webpage only
displays PS2 and Xbox logos, but this German Eidos
Webpage sent along by jd of Tiscali Games also proffers a PC-CD logo.
A Chrome demo has been released, offering a sample of Techland's upcoming
first-person shooter. Although this was released by Cidiverte, the Italian
publisher of the game from this Polish developer, word is the contents are
entirely in English. The demo is a 314 MB download, available from Tiscali
Games. Update: Mirrors are now available on 3D
Downloads, 3D Gamers, Boomtown
(registration required), FileFront,
FileRush
(Bit Torrent), Gamer's
Hell, Gaming Asylum,
IGN, Loadedinc
(registration required), and NWSGaming.
This Eidos
Interactive UK Support Page offers a new version 49 patch for Tomb Raider:
Angel of Darkness. The patch is an 8.8 MB download, mirrored on 3D
Gamers where they describe it as containing a dozen improvements and bug
fixes along with an unsupported benchmark feature. Update: Mirrors are
now available on FileFront
and IGN.
Celtic
Kings The Punic Wars Announced is the press release from Haemimont Games
announcing their plans for a follow-up to the RTS/RPG gameplay of Celtic Kings:
Rage of War. Word is: "Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars continues the
traditions of the award winning Celtic Kings: Rage of War and will be exploring
the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage in the period 264BC - 146BC which
includes the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus." The
release goes on to describe the nations that will be included, the two
complementary game modes (adventure and strategic), and more, but does not
provide a release date yet.
A post on PC Games
Online has word (in German) of plans for the release of a demo of Far Cry,
Crytek's upcoming first-person shooter. A rough Babel Fish
translation tell us the single-player demo is planned for release in late
September/early October, with the possibility that they will also release a
multiplayer demo at some point after that. Thanks Idzard Kwadijk.
EA Ships Highly
Anticipated PC Expansion Pack Battlefield 1942 Secret Weapons of WWII
(thanks HomeLAN Fed)
has word that the second add-on for DICE's World War II shooter is winging its
way into stores, where it may be available as early as today. Here's a bit:
"The expansion pack features powerful new vehicles and weapons rooted in
World War II history and many never saw actual combat -- until now. Players can
put these weapons to use in eight massive World War II combat campaigns
including Peenemuende, the V2 rocket research facility, and The Eagle's Nest,
Hitler's hideaway. All new battlefields offer unique settings ranging from
nightfall during the summer in Prague to a winter battle in Norway."
Take-Two Interactive
Software, Inc. Reports Record Third Quarter Fiscal 2003 Financial Results
(thanks Frans) has word that Take-Two has acquired TDK and its library of
licensed properties in a deal valued at about $22.7 million. Also,
"Take-Two and TDK Mediactive have also entered into a separate agreement
providing Take-Two with the exclusive North American distribution rights for
certain TDK titles, including The Haunted Mansion, currently scheduled for
launch in mid-October in connection with the Thanksgiving release of the Disney
feature film." There is also a release date info for Max Payne 2 (October
15) among other titles, as well as word on a GTA3/Vice
City bundle: Rockstar Games' products planned for release in the
fourth quarter include the launch of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, the
sequel to the hit franchise that has sold over 4 million units since its debut
in 2001. The title will launch on PC, and will be in stores in North America on
October 15th, with PlayStation®2 and Xbox(TM) versions planned for release in
the first quarter.
As announced today, Rockstar is introducing a double pack of Grand Theft Auto 3
and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for both the Xbox(TM) and PlayStation®2. The
Grand Theft Auto double pack will be in stores in North America on October 22nd
for PlayStation®2 and on November 4th for Xbox(TM). Rockstar also looks forward
to the late September release of Grand Theft Auto 3 for PlayStation®2 and PC in
Japan, under a license agreement with Capcom Co., Ltd.
Gathering's lineup of titles for the fourth quarter includes Railroad Tycoon 3
and Hidden & Dangerous 2, sequels to the popular franchises which have each
sold over 1 million units, and Space Colony, a new title, all for the PC. Gotham
Games expects to ship Conflict: Desert Storm II and Starsky & Hutch, both in
North America only, for PlayStation®2, PC and Xbox(TM). Gotham is also
launching MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for PlayStation®2, PC, Xbox(TM), GameCube
and PlayStation®.
- Half-Life 2
The Detailed
Email from Gabe. Re Play 2 Play on Halflife2.net discusses multiple
Half-Life 2 pricing options, as well as a response from Valve's Gabe Newell
to rumors that Half-Life 2 will feature some manner of pay-to-play feature,
reassuring us that this rumor that began with a faked interview is false.
- Mutant Chronicles
RPG
Vault's Mutant Chronicles Online Q&A, Part 1 is online, talking with
"Project Manager Marcin Kurczewski on Imaginations' persistent state
version of the popular techno-fantasy RPG."
- Battlemyth
HomeLAN
Fed's Battlemyth Q&A chats with Mergato Studios' Tony Cabe about
this combat game that won Auran's Next Year's Game competition.
- Ultimate Arena
HomeLAN
Fed's Ultimate Arena Q&A chats with Dennis "Thresh" Fong
about his new company that allows online game play for cash prizes,
explaining along the way why this doesn't technically constitute gambling.
The Slitherine Strategies Website now
offers downloads of a new official Chariots of War patch 1.14 (with map pack).
The official patch includes an installer for five languages (English, French,
German, Italian & Spanish). The patch adds a bunch of new features and bug
fixes.
The full SCRAPLAND Website has launched,
replacing the teaser site for MercurySteam Entertainment's science fiction 3D
action game with a stylized Flash-heavy website. Included is some game info as
well as 26 new screenshots. Thanks Frans.
Activision sends word that the soundtrack of True Crime: Streets of L.A., their
upcoming Xbox vehicular action game, will feature an original song by Snoop
Dogg, um, izzle.
I've been helping my neighbor's sister treat his cat for various ailments while
my neighbor is on vacation. These treatments include administering a
subcutaneous dose of saline every other day. The questionable joy of sticking an
unhappy cat with a needle has fallen on me since this is something I have
experience with, having provided the same treatment for my own cat when he fell
ill years ago. Of course, as immortalized in the Seinfeld where Morty goes to
work for Elaine at J. Peterman's, the elderly often like to get an early start,
and today's call came at the crack of dawn, so that cat managed to get her full
serving of saline before I had even a portion of my serving of coffee.
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