Archived News:
A post to the Interplay
Entertainment Forums (thanks RPGDot
and PC Games Online) has word from Black
Isle Studios' lead designer J.E. Sawyer that he is resigning his position.
Here's the post: I figured I'd post this here before DAC and NMA got the
scoop! I am resigning from my position as lead designer at Black Isle Studios. I
will not discuss those reasons here, but I will state that they are my reasons.
I apologize to those who may be disappointed by my decision and congratulate
those who rejoice at it. My last day will be November 21st.
From this point forward, I will not be discussing any aspect of Black Isle
Studios projects that may be currently in development.
HomeLAN Fed is
reporting having received confirmation that Digitalo closed its doors on Monday
of this week, leaving the last eight employees of the Florida-based developer
looking for work. The cancellation of a couple of projects and disappointing
sales of Devastation, their Unreal-engine shooter, are among the factors
mentioned contributing to the company's demise. Word is that the Devastation
forums remain open, but there will be no other future support or patches for
the game.
DreamCatcher games sends along an announcement that Pax Romana has shipped to
stores. This news was actually first sent out yesterday, but some glitch
prevented its arrival here among other places. Here's the deal: "Pax Romana
is an historical strategy game set in ancient Rome, designed by the creator of
Europa Universalis. There are two sides to this epic game political and
strategic. The strategic side is very much a battle of cunning and well-planned
military tactics, whereas the political side involves the manipulation of
senators and generals alike, as politicians seek to gain military and financial
power."
EA sends word that the latest installment in the Need for Speed series is gold,
and will be racing into North American stores on November 17. Here's the news:
EA today announced that Need for Speed Underground has gone gold. The
game will begin to ship in North America on November 17 under the EA GAMES brand
for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from
Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and PC.
Need for Speed Underground thrusts players into the adrenaline-filled world of
urban racing, challenging gamers to win cash, cars and respect as they put their
driving skills to the test in their own fully-customizable urban exotic
supercar. The game features 20 of the most sought-after tuner cars from
manufactures including Nissan Motor Co., Honda, Toyota, and Mitsubishi Motors.
Gamers will be able to customize their cars with hundreds of aftermarket parts
from 52 manufacturers, including NOS, Sparco, HKS, and more.
The game also features online play for the PlayStation 2 (broadband connection
and network adaptor required) and PC – and even allows the two platforms to
seamlessly compete online for the ultimate in bragging rights.
A demo of the PC version of the game and more information is available at:
www.needforspeed.com
The promised Temple of Elemental Evil demo is now available via GameSpot's
new DLX dealie (registration required). Word on the 233 MB demo is that it: "lets you
explore the moathouse map with precreated characters and also includes a
tutorial." The demo is also available on
Atari's FTP server (direct link). Mirrors can be found on Gamer's
Hell and Worthplaying.
Also as part of their new DLX service, XP
Extras on GameSpot DLX offers downloads for XP users of desktop themes and
the like. Included is a TRON 2.0 update that includes three multiplayer maps.
The update is described like this: "Get digitized into TRON 2.0 with new
multiplayer deathmatch gameplay. Battle up to 16 rogue "users" inside
the system in explosive multiplayer combat. Defrag your hard drive from the
inside with an arsenal of powerful digital weapons, including the deadly disc.
Do you measure up to the benchmark, or will you be blown to bytes?" In
spite of the XP theme, there's no indication that this update is not compatible
with other flavors of Windows. The 19 MB download is mirrored on 3D
Gamers, FileFront,
and Worthplaying.
Activision and id Software send word that Return to Castle Wolfenstein: The
Platinum Edition is now available, bundling the original RTCW with Enemy Territory, the free
Wolfenstein game. Here's the announcement: Santa Monica, CA - Nov.
7, 2003 - id Software(tm) and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today
the release of Return to Castle Wolfenstein(tm): The Platinum Edition. The
Platinum Edition is an all-new compilation of the award-winning Return to Castle
Wolfenstein plus this summer's hit multiplayer follow-up, Wolfenstein: Enemy
Territory(tm). The title is currently available at retail outlets nationwide for
a suggested retail price of $29.99 and is rated "M" (Mature) by the
ESRB.
"If you haven't played Return to Castle Wolfenstein, now is your chance to
experience the best of World War II single and multiplayer action," said
Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. "By incorporating Enemy Territory, one
of the most widely played online multiplayer games, with the critically
acclaimed Return to Castle Wolfenstein, we're offering gamers an almost endless
battle through the trenches of these not-to-be-missed games."
Strategy First
announces new Jagged Alliance game for Q1 2004 is the official press release
announcing the new Jagged Alliance 2 game that answers the question raised when
the product
page came online ( story) clarifying that it is a stand-alone
expansion in price ($19.99) and packaging (the original JA2 will be included).
The release includes further details on the project's war on drugs theme, and
indications that Strategy First plans to continue extending the JA franchise in
spite of the demise of developer SirTech: “Moving forward with the
Jagged Alliance series is one of our major focuses for the next few years,”
says Don McFatridge, President and CEO of Strategy First. “Teaming up with
Serge ‘Wildfire’ Popov was an obvious move on our part as he is truly one of
the best known modders in the JA community and we couldn’t be happier with our
partnership.”
Kenn
Hoekstra's .plan file has word from the Raven Software Project Administrator
of new Audigy drivers that address sound issues some are experiencing in Jedi
Academy. Here's the deal:
Creative just released new sound drivers for its Audigy 2 cards last
night and they resolve the issues that some people are having with the EAX/sound
in Jedi Academy.
We've received reports of high pitched squealing while running the game on
Audigy hardware. These new drivers (EAX enhancements, really) fix that problem
and several other EAX problems found in many of the newer games out there. Sound
performance, in general, seems to be greatly improved.
You can download the new drivers here:
http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
As noted on the Desert Combat Website,
their Downloads Page
now offers new beta version 0.5 of the popular modern warfare modification for
Battlefield 1942. There is a new client, a new dedicated Windows server, and a
new dedicated Linux server of the mod, with the update adding some new weapons
and vehicles, including Harrier jump jets. The 542 MB client file is mirrored on
3D
Downloads, Boomtown
(registration required), FilePlanet
(registration required), Filerush,
and Gamer's
Hell.
There's an Atriarch Development
Update offering details on a number of aspects of gameplay in World fusion's
upcoming MMORPG, including grouping, NPC pathing, NPC death, and more. Also, the
November Letter from the Team on the Middle-Earth Online Website discusses
the classes in the upcoming Tolkien MMOG. On a related note, there's also a new Middle-Earth
Online Diary is written by "Keeper," who describes her role as a
model/texture artist on the game. Thanks Frans. Finally, Game
Director Updates Players on Game Status on the Anarchy Online website talks
about the state of the Shadowlands expansion for Funcom's MMORPG.
- Max Payne 2
There's a Max
Payne 2 Q&A on Beyond3D chatting with Remedy Entertainment's Markus
Maki about the recently released third-person shooter sequel. They discuss
the development cycle, the PoV, DirectX, changes from the first game, and
more.
- Pirates of the Burning Sea
The Pirates
of the Burning Sea Q&A on Warcry News Network chats with Taylor
Daynes, the lead game designer at Flying Lab Software about their upcoming
MMORPG set on the flaming high seas.
- Leisure Suit Larry
The Leisure
Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude Q&A on GameSpot chats with Josh VanVeld
of High Voltage and VU Games brand manager Alex Rodberg about the upcoming
revival of the lecherous adventures of Larry Laffer.
The Falcon 4 Gold
Website now features the first trailer from the upcoming jet flight
simulator, a description can be found on 3D
Gamers. There's also a new Celtic
Kings: The Punic Wars movie in executable Bink format.
This NOLF 2 FTP Directory
features the patches to bring the international versions of Monolith's FPS
sequel up to the latest version 1.3. Details can be found on 3D
Gamers. Also, Microsoft
Game Studios' Dungeon Siege Downloads Page now offers international versions
of the version 1.11.1462 patch released last year for the English version of Gas
Powered Games' RPG. Also, Nival
Interactive's Silent Storm Website now features downloads of a new version
1.11 patch for the German version of this World War II turn-based
strategy/role-playing game (thanks YiYas).
Details are available in the
translated read me on 3D Gamers.
There's a
chat log on Mythica Warcry recapping an IRC session with the folks at work
on Microsoft's MMORPG. The chat is edited into an orderly Q&A format. In a
related note, Mythica
HQ Forums - Mythica the Movie? is a thread that speculates about the
upcoming MMOG's upcoming cinematic potential. In further MMO chat news, Horizons
Vault has details on an upcoming IRC session with Artifact Entertainment on
Wednesday, November 12.
"Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading software industry publisher and
developer, announced that RoadKill(TM), a mission-based, post-apocalyptic combat
driving game, has shipped for the Nintendo GameCube(TM). Set in a
post-apocalyptic world destroyed by a plague and ruled by gangs, RoadKill allows
players to unleash havoc in 40 vehicles with weapons such as machine guns,
guided missiles and homing rockets. Assuming the role of the mercenary, players
must build a gang following as they battle rival gangs, city guards and anyone
else that gets in the way."
Sierra's No One Lives Forever Website
(thanks Frans) has undergone a makeover, and now offers coverage of Contract
J.A.C.K., the upcoming NOLF 2 prequel that takes the player out of H.A.R.M.'s
way and onto its payroll.
This Warcraft
III Files Page features new art tools for Warcraft III for those looking to
import their own creativity into Blizzard's RTS sequel. The tools are a set of
plug-ins for Discreet’s 3ds max 4.0, and thus require a licensed version of
that program. A Warcraft
III Art Tools Discussion Forum is online to chat about this. Also, the Digital
Reality Homepage (thanks Frans) briefly offered the mod tools for
Hegemonia/Haegemonia, but they've been yoinked due to a problem, so expect them
to return at some point in the future.
Wristwatch
phone turns your finger into an earpiece (thanks Mike Martinez) is my
favorite techie story in a while, as all I can picture now is a guy walking down
the street with his finger stuck in his ear while shouting 'Speak up, I can't
hear you!!!" Also from the world of science is NightSky:
Friday Coming Nov. 8 Second Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003, with word of a
second chance for those of us rained out earlier this year. Unfortunately, the
forecast is for wet weather around these parts again, but there's still hope, as
the weatherman is off base far more often than once in a blue moon, much less a
red one. Hey, I wonder why Mitsubishi didn't call the convertible version of
their sporty car a Solar Eclipse? And the coupe with a moon roof could be the
Lunar Eclipse! Oh well, if it rains maybe I'll find a dealership and ask them
these burning questions.
|
Twitter 
