Archived News:
The Vampire:
The Masquerade - Bloodlines Designer Diary #1 on GameSpot is written by
Leonard Boyarsky, joint-CEO of Troika Games, and producer on Vampire: The
Masquerade - Bloodlines, their upcoming RPG based on White Wolf's pen and
paper RPG. In this introductory installment, Leonard offers some background on
White Wolf and their table-top RPG, before giving a little history lesson about
Troika, and what he feels they are bringing to the table on this project. Also,
the TRIBES Vengeance
Diary on IGN is written by Michael Blake, 3D artist on TRIBES Vengeance
at Irrational Games Australia, who "expounds on the artistic differences
between the past future and present past of Tribes." Finally, the fifth Civilization
III: Conquests Diary on IGN looks at the Age of Exploration in Civilization
III: Conquests, the upcoming turn-based strategy sequel expansion.
This Warcraft III
Webpage now features downloads of a new bonus multiplayer map for Warcraft
III. The medium-sized map is called "Haven of the Damned," described
like this: "Forged from the remnants of Draenor, this long-forgotten island
was once a haven for outcasts. Now all that remains are relics of ancient
battles and lost souls."
Vivendi Universal
Games Announces Worldwide Release of 'Ground Control(TM) II Operation Exodus'
is a press release reiterating distribution plans for Ground Control II:
Operation Exodus, Massive Entertainment's upcoming RTS sequel. The announcement
specifics a second quarter 2004 release date, and describes the game like this:
"'Ground Control II: Operation Exodus' combines the fast-paced action and
stunning graphics of an action game, with the tactical thinking of a real-time
strategy game. In a departure from traditional RTS games, 'Ground Control II:
Operation Exodus' focuses on tactical combat with minimal time spent on resource
management. Instead of harvesting resources and building bases, the game keeps
the action hot and heavy by immediately rewarding players for accomplishing
objectives. Additionally, the unique multiplayer drop-in mode allows players to
instantly join an ongoing game at any time, for any length of time."
- Halo
The Halo
Q&A on The Adrenaline Vault talks with Gearbox Software's Randy
Pitchford about the performance anxiety some users have experienced with PC
Halo, describing a variety of reasons for performance problems, and what's
being done about those that can be addressed.
- XIII
Game
Designer Speaks on Computer and Video Games is a Q&A with
"Gallic smoothie and tres bon XIII games designer" Thomas
Mainnemare to discuss XIII, the conspiracy-laden cel-shaded first-person
shooter. Thanks Frans.
- H&D2
Action
Vault's Hidden & Dangerous 2 Q&A is their conversation with
Graeme Struthers of Gathering about Illusion Softworks' imminent World War
II tactical combat sequel.
- Dark & Light
RPG
Vault's Dark and Light Q&A, Part 1 talks with Stephane Quilichini,
who "introduces NP Cube's highly intriguing game in a huge, 40,000
square kilometer online world."
Start a War is a new Flash-only Worms
3D website from Sega, the publisher of Team 17's wiggly strategy sequel. To hold
folks over until the game is available, the site offers some mini-games true to
the offbeat nature of the series.
The
Battlefield 1942 Website (thanks Frans) is offering downloads of a beta
version 0.9a of the Mod Development Toolkit for DICE's World War II shooter.
Here's the deal: "The Mod Development Toolkit v.9a is ready for open beta
testing. The MDT introduces tools and guides for both the beginning and advanced
Battlefield 1942 modder. The MDT is designed to help you make a mod that works
with Battlefield 1942. If you are interested in contributing to the development
of the MDT please download v.9a and post your comments and suggestions on the
open beta forum."
The
Adrenaline Vault has a follow-up to the earlier report from publisher CDV
that Psychotoxic: Gateway to Hell was cancelled ( story). They
sought out developer Nuclear Vision to ask the musical question, Psychotoxic,
Qu'est-ce que c'est? They received the following reply from Nuclear Vision's Tim
Bruns: Psychotoxic has been delayed until February 2004 to give the
developers time to implement improved gameplay and advanced physics. The game's
name will also change.
A patch for Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death is now available, updating Rebellion's
comic-inspired action game to version 1.01. The update includes general changes,
game type-specific changes, as well as bug fixes. The 12.4 MB patch can be found
on 3D Gamers,
mirrored on Gamer's
Hell and Worthplaying.
As promised, the playable demo of the PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved is now
available from Microsoft
Game Studios and IGN.
The trial version of Gearbox's port of Bungie's shooter is a 131 MB download.
Here's the deal: "In the trial version, gamers can experience both single
and multiplayer gameplay, including limited vehicle combat. In the single player
campaign level 'The Silent Cartographer', gamers assume the role of
super-soldier Master Chief as he takes on the fierce alien faction known as the
Covenant. In the multiplayer map 'Blood Gulch', up to 16 human opponents can
light each other up with devastating weaponry and combat vehicles, including the
new Rocket Warthog and the Banshee, either online or via LAN connection."
Additional mirrors can now be found on 3D
Downloads, 3D Gamers, Boomtown
(registration required), Computer
Games Online, FileFront,
Filerush.com,
FileShack.com (registration required), Gamer's
Hell, GameSpot
(registration required), GameTab, Pixelrage.ro,
and Worthplaying.
Strategy First
and Paradox Entertainment Present Victoria – An Empire Under the Sun is
the press release announcing that this Europa Universalis-engine strategy game
set during the industrial revolution is gold, and slated for release on November
18. The press release, which mentions "crush the Zulus" as one of the
game's features, has this to say about the concept: In Victoria – An
Empire Under the Sun your ultimate goal is to become one of the eight great
powers of the era. To achieve this goal you must master the art of Diplomacy,
Warfare, Economy & Industrialization, Colonization, Technological Research
and Politics. Achieve global supremacy, by spanning the globe to become the
dominant empire of the period and recreate history as you wish. While striving
to simulate the conditions and prerequisites of the time period, Victoria - An
Empire Under the Sun still leaves all the decision-making to the individual
player.
A post on CDV
Software Entertainment AG has a status report on some upcoming titles
(thanks Frans), offering a November release date for Combat Mission 3, word of a
delay on a pr0n game, and confirmation that both Psychotoxic and Sabotain have
been axed. Here's the word: The Karlsruhe Publisher CDV Software
Entertainment AG announced today that "Combat Mission 3 - Arika Korps"
is anticipated to be available for sale in stores around the end of November.
The release of the erotic action title "Lula 3D", however, has been
postponed until the new year. Not until the beginning of 2004 will Lula be able
to "satisfy" her many fans with her new adventures, although there
will still be a few surprises in store for all those faithful admirers of our
buxom blonde this year.
No more release information will be made public for the titles
"Psychotoxic" and "Sabotain". A final analysis of current
product pipeline revealed that both titles have been cancelled.
An updated version of yesterday's Korea: Forgotten Conflict Demo is now
available. No details are available about what's new or changed in the updated
demo, which is available on the Korea:
Forgotten Conflict Website, and mirrored on 3D
Gamers, Gamer's
Hell, and Worthplaying.
- FF vs. Third Reich
HomeLAN
Fed's Freedom Force Vs. The Third Reich Q&A talks with Irrational
Games' lead designer Jonathan Chey about the recently unveiled upcoming game
that will pit the superheroes of Freedom Force versus the Axis forces of
World War II.
- Valve
The Valve
Q&A on OzForces talks with Alfred Reynolds about his position as a
software Engineer at Valve, his work on Half-Life 2, as well as his history
with the community as creator the Half-Life Admin Mod.
- CS: Condition Zero
HomeLAN
Fed's CS Condition Zero-Turtle Rock Studios Q&A talks with Michael
Booth of Turtle Rock Studios about their work completing Counter-Strike:
Condition Zero for Valve Software.
- EverQuest 2 on IGN.
- Empires: Dawn of the Modern World on IGN.
Electronic Arts sends word they have completed "the acquisition of Studio
33, a globally recognized developer of games in the racing genre. The team of
roughly 30 Liverpool-based employees will join the existing team at EA Northwest
in nearby Warrington. Both teams -- a total of 75 employees -- are scheduled to
move to a new facility in Warrington shortly."
This announcement
outlines how the Forgotten Hope and Pacific Shores modifications for Battlefield
1942 have joined forces. Thanks Ant.
Alias
Systems Maya Personal Learning Edition 5 Now Available for Free Download
(thanks William Reed). Also, " Turbo
Squid, the world's fastest growing online digital marketplace, (yesterday)
announced that all Discreet Certified 3ds max Plug-ins have been re-engineered
to work with Discreet's
revolutionary new 3ds max 6. In addition, all registered users of Discreet
Certified 3ds max Plug-ins will receive an email instructing them how to upgrade
current DCP products to work with Discreet's 3ds max 6 software."
There was a pop-up running here that popped up another window when you clicked
the (mislabeled) "close" button... I think this has been addressed,
and hopefully this issue is closed for good. Sorry about any aggravation this
has caused.
Man has this baseball post-season been fantastic! And no, I'm not a Yankees fan,
so this is not about their victory... these have just been some amazing games
with all sorts of plots and subplots. It's hard to outdo the events of the 1986
post-season for drama, but depending on the outcome of the World Series, this
year has a real shot.
I figured out a simple solution to walking the two dogs after writing about it
yesterday, it was my comment about what a little gentleman Sparky is that
prompted me to realize that I could keep him off the leash to avoid tangles...
maybe not a bit of wisdom worthy of Solomon or solving the Gordian Knot, but it
didn't involve cutting anything (or anyone) in half either.
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