Archived News:
More on Black
Isle on IGN (thanks Frans) has further details on the closure of Black Isle
Studios ( story) from an unnamed former member of the studio.
Here's a bit recapping how quickly things can change in the world of game
development: By Black Isle's account, the demo as delivered was 95% done,
including all game functionality but only one finished demo level. (Work on the
rest of the levels was approximately halfway complete; all that remained to be
done was to populate and script the maps.) The next day Interplay began laying
off people at Digital Mayhem. Since the Fallout demo was so polished,
employees at Black Isle felt (relatively) secure.
Two weeks later, all but two members of the Fallout team were laid off
and the project was cancelled. Interplay apparently believed the game could not
be finished by 2004. Interestingly, the two members of the team not laid
off were those who were previously working for the head of Digital Mayhem on a
separate console title prior to moving to Black Isle Studios.
After a mishap that caused the version 1.60 patches to be pulled ( story),
they are now once again available in the same locations, with a bumped version
number, so here's the appropriately resurrected news item: A full assortment of
Neverwinter Nights patches are now available, the version 1.61 patch for the
original game is on this Atari
Support Page, and there is also an accompanying version 1.61 Hordes
of the Underdark patch, as well as a new Shadows
of the Undrentide 1.61 Critical Rebuild Patch. Thanks Frans.
A demo of SpellForce: Order of the Dawn is now available, offering a sample of
Phenomic's strategy/role-playing game. The demo offers one single-player mission
along with a multiplayer map, all for a 307 MB download. Downloads can be found
on 3D Gamers, Gamer's
Hell, GameSpot
DLX (registration required), Loadedinc
(registration required), and Worthplaying.
As promised ( story), the Massive
Assault Demo is now available, providing the chance to check out
Wargaming.Net's turn-based strategy game of global warfare. The 140 MB download
features five Training Missions, three Scenarios, and four "Epic
Replays." the download is mirrored on 3D
Gamers, FileShack
(registration required), Gamer's
Hell, Loadedinc
(registration required), and Worthplaying.
The first One Must Fall: Battlegrounds retail patch is now available from
this page, updating Diversions'
game of robotic fighting to version 2095. The 9 MB patch is mirrored on 3D
Gamers and Worthplaying.
Also, a service pack is now available
here for Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004, updating Auran's game of
virtual railroading to version 2035. The service pack is a 94 MB download to
update version 690 or a 102 MB download to update version 668, both files also
available from 3D Gamers
and Gamer's Hell.
As noted on Battle.net, the WarCraft III
version 1.13 patch is now live (thanks WarcraftIII.Net).
Word is: "We are pleased to announce that the 1.13 patch for Warcraft III
is now available. Just connect to Battle.net from within the game to
automatically download the patch. This update contains a number of fixes and
enhancements, as well as two additional acts for the bonus orc campaign. See the
Frozen Throne patch text
and the Reign of Chaos
patch text for a list of all the changes that have been implemented. The
standalone version of the patch will be available
here in the near future." Also, this Codemasters
downloads page features a new beta version of IGI 2: covert strike, saying:
"This is the 1.3 beta executable that will allow you to play IGI 2 at
version 1.3. It will run international versions except Scandinavian." The
international patch is mirrored on 3D
Gamers, ActionTrip,
GameCenter.cz, GameSpot
DLX (registration required), and Worthplaying,
and that elusive Scandinavian version can be found on 3D
Gamers and GameCenter.cz.
Update: the dedicated server beta 1.3 patch is also now available from 3D
Gamers.
Worldwide
Blockbuster Game Hitman Contracted for Third Hit (thanks HomeLAN
Fed) has the latest news of Io Interactive's plans to continue their Hitman
franchise with more of the stealthy adventures of the assassin codenamed
"47" in a game to be titled Hitman: Contracts. Word is the Hitman
Contracts Website is online, featuring a game trailer for the game, which is
due "Spring 2004." Here's the deal: Eidos (Nasdaq: EIDSY -
News), one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment
software, today announced the eagerly awaited return of the world's deadliest
assassin in Hitman: Contracts. The game is the third installment in the
critically acclaimed, multi-million selling Hitman series. Hitman: Contracts is
being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PlayStation®2
computer entertainment system, the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, and
PC in spring 2004.
Hitman: Contracts delivers more action-packed and suspenseful missions, with a
greater variety of ways to make the perfect hit and an increased arsenal of
firearms and close-combat weapons. A new graphics engine showcases Hitman's
'work' in brutal detail and brings new locations to life. An improved control
system and more gradual learning curve will ensure that the game is accessible
to all aspiring hitmen.
Open Letter on Exclusive
Demos on 3D Gamers is a follow-up that can also be found on a number of
other gaming sites, recalling the open letter that prompted the non-exclusive
release of the Call of Duty demo ( story). Upon the recent
exclusive Armed & Dangerous demo ( story) the websites who
have signed on to this coalition have made the following commitment: "Therefore,
in an effort to end this once and for all, the following gaming websites
(together representing 19 million unique visitors per month) have agreed not to
host any exclusive demos anymore, even after they eventually become public."
We (the editorial we) believe this cause is in the best interest of the gaming
community and game developers/publishers as well, so here's hoping it has the
desired effect.
Computer
And Video Games (thanks Frans) has a confirmation from Illusion Softworks
that they are at work on a sequel to Mafia, their gangster themed
action/adventure/driving game. No details other than the project's existence are
provided at this time.
Neverwinter
Nights 1.60 nuked Use these to revert (thanks Maximus)
has word that yesterday's version 1.60 upgrade for Neverwinter Nights and its
expansions has been pulled. There are no details from BioWare about the reasons
behind this move, which is accompanied by the following note: "Sorry for
the confusion. Once we are all in the office in the morning, we'll figure out
what went wrong and build a fixed 1.60."
POSTAL 2 Share the
Pain Available NOW (thanks Frans) announces: "With noses red from their
victims' blood, Running With Scissors announced the release of POSTAL 2: Share
The Pain. The brazen videogame developer's Christmas balls were hanging with joy
as they landed their first title as a publisher onto the shelves of retailers
across North America."
- Blitzkrieg II
The Blitzkrieg
II Q&A on Strategy Informer talks with George Ossipov, project
leader on Blitzkrieg II about what to expect from the upcoming World War II
RTS sequel. Likewise, HomeLAN
Fed's Blitzkrieg II Q&A also talks with George about the game.
- Mythica
The Mythica
Q&A Part Two on Mythica Realms Forums offers 22 questions that are
answered by Microsoft about Mythica, their upcoming MMORPG.
- Atriarch
Atriarch
Vault's Weekly Q&As continue with another pair of questions about
Atriarch answered by Serafina, lead designer on the upcoming MMORPG.
- Knight of Honor
HomeLAN
Fed's Knights Of Honor Q&A talks with the folks at Black Sea Studios
about Knights of Honor, their upcoming historical real-time strategy game.
- Online Roundtable
RPG
Vault's Online Worlds Roundtable #9, Part 1 is online, in which:
"Representatives of NCsoft, Dragon Empires, PlanetSide, Sony, Mythica
and Darkfall on the vital topic of stickiness."
- Gaming in 2004
HomeLan Fed continues to ask developers about
the present and future of gaming, this time out tracking down Zied
Rieke of Infinity Ward, William
Fisher of Quicksilver Software, Bryan
Dillow of Running With Scissors, and John
Whitmore of 2015.
Computer
And Video Games (thanks Frans) has word straight from Illusion Softworks on
the status of cooperative multiplayer support in the World War II sequel,
confirming that co-op is in the works, quoting level designer Martin Babarik as
saying: "There will be a co-op mode in the mission pack, but just for the
missions that are to be included in the mission pack. There'll be no co-op play
for the original game. It would be very difficult to re-make the current
missions from Hidden & Dangerous 2 to use the co-op mode because it would
mean making extensive changes to the code."
- Antec Performance One P160 Case on PCAbusers.
- Creative Labs Sound Blaster Extigy Sound Device on Geeklyreview.
- E-digital Odyssey 1000 20 GB MP3 Player on Ascully.
- Maxtor 5000DV Hard Drive (USB 2.0 vs. FireWire) on X-bit
labs.
- Micro Solutions Backpack 120 GB Hard Drive on Bjorn3D.
- SoundMAX 4 XL Audio Codec on Hardware-Unlimited.
- Thermalright ALX-800 Heatsink (in video) on 3dGameMan.
- Thermaltake Lanfire VM2000 Aluminum Case on Legit
Reviews.
- Transcend USB 2.0 Internal 6-in-1 Card Reader on Hardware
Pacers.
Spot On Top
retailers to nix PC games? Is a GameSpot article with a bunch of quotes
reflecting on the future of PC games at retail based on the latest spate of
rumors casting doubt on their ongoing viability. Here's a bit: "Statistics
from a recent SEC filing of GameStop supports her comment. In documents filed
with the SEC last month, the company revealed of its retail sales for the
thirteen week period ending November 1, 2003. The company reported just seven
percent of its total sales were PC games, compared to 64 percent of revenues
coming from console games. Year-on-year percentage of sales derived from PC game
accessories dropped two percent in the same 13-week period."
A follow-up on yesterday's EA Image of the day is that the photo was actually
originally shot by Dave Martindale of Radical Entertainment.
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