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Archived News:
A
day in the life of A NICE artist on the Nicely Crafted Entertainment Website
offers a look at how a ship is created for Time of Defiance, outlining the
process of how a ship progresses from concept art all the way to a finished,
textured model. Included is a bunch of artwork showing off this process on
"the COG battle platform." There's a
diary on the Need for Speed Underground Website (thanks Frans) describing a
session where the press was schmoozed with a chance to check out the new
competitive racing trend of drifting.
Irrational
Games Announces Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich is the press release
officially announcing the World War II-themed Freedom Force sequel that was
recently revealed ( story). Here's a bit: "'Freedom Force vs.
the Third Reich' brings dynamic storytelling, fast-paced tactical role-play, and
larger-than-life characters from the comic book pages to the computer screen. In
this title, the league of heroes must travel back in time to defeat Blitzkrieg,
defender of the Reich and his homicidal henchmen. With action spanning from the
blasted battlefields of World War II to the dazzling depths of distant
dimensions, 'Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich' will give Freedom Fans
more than they can handle."
- BREED
There's an in-house BREED
Q&A on the official BREED website talking with Giovanni Vindigni
about his contribution to the musical score of Brat Designs' first-person
shooter. Thanks Frans.
- Ground Control 2
Ground
Control 2 Q&A on IGN talks with Massive's Henrik Sebring about
Ground Control 2, their upcoming 3D RTS sequel, describing the story, new
units, factions, improvements, and more.
- Need for Speed: Underground
There's another in-house Q&A
on the Need for Speed: Underground Website (thanks Frans), where
Michelle Frey, "audio lead and sound monkey" on the upcoming
racing game sequel, talks about her background, and her contribution to this
project.
- Race Driver 2
Computer
and Video Games' Race Driver 2 Q&A (thanks Frans) talks with
Codemasters' Gavin Raeburn about Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing
Simulator, their upcoming speed-crazed sequel. They discuss various aspects
of the game, including why it should be considered "ultimate."
A Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer Demo is available, allowing you to check out your
gnarliest moves from the comfort of your computer chair. The 90 MB demo can be
found on FilePlanet
(registration required) and mirrored on IGN,
Loadedinc.com (registration required), and Worthplaying.
Pirate
Hunter and Patrician III Ship on GameSpot has word that both of these
seafaring games from German studio Ascaron Entertainment, will ship to stores
"by week's end."
Halo Demo.
Tomorrow. on IGN is the report that tomorrow they will be debuting downloads
of the playable demo for Halo, Gearbox Software's PC version of Bungie's
first-person shooter. Word on the 131 MB demo, which is expected to go online at
1:00 p.m. EDT, is it "will feature 'The Silent Cartographer' from the
single-player campaign, 'Blood Gulch' with limited vehicles for your multiplayer
satisfaction, as well as support for up to 16 players in Slayer and CTF
multiplayer modes." Thanks Frans.
The Fire
Department Website now features downloads of a "Fire Department
maintenance pack," updating Monte Cristo's firefighting simulator (also
known as Fire Chief, Emergency Fire Response, and on occasion, Melvin) to
version 1.1. The update addresses random crashes to desktop and allows the game
to run even when the refresh rate on your monitor is below 60 Hz. The U.S.,
U.K., German, and French versions of the patch (each approximately 6-6.5
MB) are all mirrored on 3D
Gamers and the U.S. patch is mirrored on Worthplaying.
A demo for Battle Engine Aquila is now available, offering a chance to sample
the science fiction vehicular combat game from now-defunct ( story)
developer Lost Toys. The 106 MB demo is available on FilePlanet
(registration required), and mirrored on 3D
Gamers, GameSpot,
and Worthplaying.
DirectX 9 is included in the installer, and included in the system requirements
in the read me posted on Worthplaying is: "DirectX 9.0 Compliant Video
Card."
Atari
and Epic games Announce North American Rebate Program, Pricing for Unreal
Tournament 2004 has details on the different ways UT2004 can be purchased in
North America when the next installment in the multiplayer shooter series is
released (currently scheduled for this year's holiday season). In addition to
the standard retail package which will include UT2004 as well as UT2003 and its
mission packs, there will be a metal-boxed DVD Special Edition ($20 more at
$59.99) with Video Training Modules for mod authors, a chat headset, and an
Unreal window sticker. The announcement also includes word of a planned $10
rebate for owners of UT2003 that purchase either version of UT2004.
On the heels of today's playable UFO: Aftermath demo ( story), the
CENEGA Publishing Website
also now offers a new version 1.2 patch for the UK/US version of the xenophobic
strategy game. The 6 MB patch updates the game to version 1.2, and according to
the read me, it addresses save game problems, some crashing bugs, localization
issues, video problems, while also implementing some game play tweaks. Thanks
Frans.
The Chrome Website now features
downloads of a new version 1.1.1.0 patch for Techland's science fiction shooter
(thanks YiYas). Word is: "Check with www.chromethegame.com
for downloading the regional Chrome Updates for German language versions and
English (World Wide) language version released in Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and
Kuwait. You may also download these updates from the following locations: Germany,
World
Wide."
The CENEGA Publishing Website
has the promised demo for UFO: Aftermath, the "3D isometric, tactical
strategy game with a rich and compelling sci fi story." The demo is a 170
MB download, mirrored on 3D
Downloads, 3D Gamers,
Boomtown
(registration required), Computer
Games Online, FileShack.com
(registration required), FileFront,
GameCenter.cz, Gamer's
Hell, GameSpot,
IGN, Loadedinc.com
(registration required), and Worthplaying.
A Korea: Forgotten Conflict Demo is now available, offering the chance to check
out Plastic Reality Technologies' squad-based Korean War game. The 239 MB demo
contains a tutorial and a single rescue mission, available from 3D
Gamers, Boomtown
(registration required), Computer
Games Online, FileFront,
FileShack.com (registration required), GameCenter.cz,
Gamer's
Hell, GameSpot,
IGN, Loadedinc.com
(registration required), Tiscali Games,
and Worthplaying.
Atari Ships Sinbad Legend
of the Seven Seas (thanks Frans) is the press release announcing that this
adventure game tie-in with the movie of the same name is now available. Here's a
bit from the release, carefully dancing though the included Intel infomercial:
"Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is a PC action adventure game that allows
players to take on the role of the title character - the most daring and
notorious rogue to sail the seven seas. The game follows the storyline from the
film and features non-stop action, engaging gameplay and state-of-the-art visual
effects..."
- The Fall
HomeLAN
Fed's The Fall Q&A talks with Silver Style Entertainment's Carsten
Strehse about The Fall - Last Days of Gaia, their recently announced
upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG. The conversation covers all the basics of the
game, introducing the concept, the story, character generation, locations,
quests, characters, and more.
- EVE Online
The EVE
Online Update Q&A on HomeLAN Fed is a chat with Sigurður Ólafsson
of CCP about EVE Online: The Second Genesis, their science fiction-themed
MMORPG. They discuss the initial response to the game, and outlines plans to
introduce the game to a wider audience going forward.
- Machinima
HomeLAN
Fed's Machinima Film Festival Q&A tracks down Paul Marino of the
Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences about the upcoming second annual
festival to celebrate advances in the art of making movies using game
engines.
- Meridian 59
The Meridian
59 Q&A on Warcry News Network concludes their conversation with
Brian Green, CEO of Near Death Studios (and lead developer on Meridian 59)
about this seminal MMORPG and the MMO scene in general.
The Warlords
IV Developer Diary - Installment 5 on The Adrenaline Vault is online, in which lead
designer Steve Fawkner discusses how games are designed at Infinite Interactive,
relating this to the Speed Tactical System in their upcoming Warlords sequel.
The UnrealEngine2Runtime
(thanks TseTse) offers that version of the latest Unreal engine that can be
freely used for non-commercial projects ( story). Also, Nival
Interactive (thanks Frans) has released a new exe file for the map editor
for Blitzkrieg, allowing map authors to import aircraft models into the WW2 RTS
game.
- An English demo for Steamland is available
from Buka offering a sample of this RTS that's "easy to play both
for children and grown-ups without sacrificing keen gameplay." Mirrors
are available on Gamer's
Hell, FileFront,
Loadedinc (registration required),
and Worthplaying...
- The Adventure Company announces that The
Black Mirror has shipped, and the horror/suspense title is now available
in North America...
- IGDA's IP Rights White
Paper calls "misuse of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)...
potentially the single biggest threat to independent game developers
today"...
- A new update to Shattered Galaxy
brings the MMORTS up to version 1.57, offering new War and Power Rating
Systems, among other things...
- State
of Emergency 2 in development on GameSpot reports on plans for a
sequel...
- X-Plane version 7.15 is now
available (thanks Frans) along with word (written in AOL-friendly caps) that
the game is being sold for half-price for a limited time...
- Kids Play
reports some reaction from today's youth to yesterday's cutting edge games.
Thanks Ant...
The trip to Dr. Toothy was pretty easy, he did a little spackle job on the tooth
and sent me on my way... I trust him enough to suppress my fear that any
fix so quick and easy can be undone just as quickly and easily.
With our trip this weekend cancelled, Camp Hudson is in session, as Hudson the
wonder dog's Uncle Sparky (my dad's dog) is staying with us. He's the sweetest
little thing, but that's about the only trait he shares with his young niece,
it's an adventure walking a large active Airedale with this slower geriatric
little Eskimo dog... with the trouble this gives me, I can't even imagine how
those pro dog walkers with a dozen pooches on a spider-web of leashes manage to
move a step.
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