Archived News:
Move over Clint: A new Wanted
Guns trailer is now available for download, which is the alternate title of
Iridon's western-themed shooter also known as Wanted Dead or Alive. The movie is
accompanied by tune from the game's soundtrack in .mp3 format. This is available
in conjunction with the Wanted
Dead or Alive Preview on The Adrenaline Vault with a short look at the game.
The 35 MB Bink-format movie is mirrored on 3D
Gamers.
On the heels of the new patch, a new bonus map for Railroad Tycoon 3 is now
available. The "Eastern China" map is a 4 MB download, available on 3D
Gamers and Gamer's
Hell.
This week's Steam
update is live, with the major changes to the Steam server browsing function,
with the only direct gaming change being a load balancing tweak for the HLDS.
Thanks Frans.
The ATI Drivers & Software Page
now offers downloads of new version 3.10 CATALYST reference drivers for RADEON
video cards (thanks AutoSear). Word is: "Installing a new driver is only
recommended if you are having issues with your ATI product, including those
mentioned in the "Fixed
in this driver". For more details, please review the RELEASE
NOTES."
The public release of the Armed & Dangerous demo is now available, the more
widespread distribution of the sample of PlanetMoon's third-person action game.
It looks like the project's restricted release ( story) has caused
it to get the cold shoulder from all the download sites that promised to forgo
it in the recent open letter ( story), and the only mirrors of the
168 MB download so far are on GameSpot
DLX (registration required), Happy
Puppy (registration required), and IGN.
UC
Dev Status - Ship it or give it another month (thanks Frans) is an extensive
forum post from 3000AD's Derek Smart discussing his decision to delay the
release of Ultimate Combat, how publisher DreamCatcher feels about this, while
polling the forum for their opinions about when the game will be suitable for
release based on the contents of the RC
version control file. Here's a bit: "As it stands, the game is not GM
ready. It is very, very close, but not as close as I'd like it to be. For this
reason, I am still not at GM (Gold Master) status yet - though, depending on the
decisions made before Christmas, GM could be a reality within the next 7-10
days."
A patch for Railroad Tycoon 3 is now available, updating the mogul simulation to
version 1.03. The update implements bug fixes and balance tweaks. The download
is available from 3D
Gamers and Tiscali
Games.
Computer
And Video Games (thanks Frans) has a post up with a little speculation
about EA's plans to follow-up on their hints at another Lord of the Rings
project, describing a game based on the entire trilogy due for release next
year. According to their story: "The game will be appearing on both console
and PC formats, and EA has described it as 'the next evolution in
action-adventure titles'. Apparently there will be new characters to play as, as
well as an extended multiplayer mode and an online mode too." No source for
this information is provided.
Sony Online
Entertainment Unlocks the Gates of Discord(TM) for EverQuest(R) (thanks
Frans) is the announcement of plans for yet another expansion for EverQuest,
Sony Online Entertainment's MMORPG. Word is: This expansion will offer
exploration of a newly discovered continent; a new class (the Berserker) and
Alternate Advancement Abilities that will offer new and unique skills to master.
Gates of Discord will be available February 2004 at retail outlets such as
Electronics Boutique, Best Buy and Gamestop, and as a secure digital download
from SOE. The retail version of Gates of Discord will also come with a unique
in-box gift and special in-game magic item. By purchasing the retail version of
Gates of Discord, players will be able to claim the in- game item.
Turbine Entertainment
announces that they are acquiring the Asheron's Call MMORPG franchise they
developed for Microsoft Game Studios from the Redmond giant. Here's the deal:
WESTWOOD, Mass. – Dec. 17, 2003 – Turbine Entertainment Software
Corp., a leading developer and publisher of online subscription entertainment,
announced today that it signed a final agreement to purchase the complete
Asheron’s Call massively multiplayer online game franchise from Microsoft®
Game Studios. The franchise transfer includes all Asheron’s Call intellectual
properties, including Asheron’s Call®, Asheron’s Call®: Dark Majesty and
Asheron’s Call 2®: Fallen Kings™.
...
The complete change of ownership is expected to take nearly a year. During this
transition period, Microsoft will be less and less involved, eventually
transferring all of the services back to Turbine, including testing, customer
service and billing services.
...
In preparation for the franchise’s arrival, Turbine has been building a
customer service group to manage its games’ day-to-day operations. Over the
next year, the company will assume all responsibility for Asheron’s Call and
Asheron’s Call 2 game and player support, including customer service, tech
support, quality assurance and a new billing system. Specific details and dates
regarding on-going operations of the Asheron’s Call franchise will be
announced in the near future.
Larian Studios sends along a note confirming the recently reported name change
for Beyond Divinity, the game formerly known as Riftrunner ( story).
Recognizing that not using the name of the original game in the follow-up makes
it harder to identify the sequel, the move is to note the connection to Divine
Divinity, a game that also underwent a title change (from Divinity: Sword of
Lies), during development. Here's more on the new move: Previously
promoted as "Riftrunner", the creators felt that Beyond Divinity would
better convey the true spirit of the game while taking full advantage of the
success of the original game. While Larian Studios could have settled for riding
on the success of the original game, fans will be very pleased that Beyond
Divinity introduces an entirely new universe, new storyline and a new race.
Swen Vincke, the project leader for "Beyond Divinity" said "We
had a lot of people who didn't make the immediate link with Divinity when they
heard the name 'Riftrunner' so it made sense to put the word Divinity in the
title. The new name also reflects our attitude towards the game - a golden
opportunity to develop further the gameplay mechanics we started to explore in
Divine Divinity."
The
X Website now offers downloads of a new patch for X²: The Threat, updating
Egosoft's space sequel to version 1.1 (thanks Quboid). A full change log for the
update is here.
Registration, which includes proof-of-purchase, is required to download the
patch, and to keep this protection scheme intact, mirroring the file is
forbidden.
After a false start with a corrupted download yesterday, the Ghost
Master Website now offers working downloads of a new bonus scenario for the
U.K. (only) version of the haunting strategy game. The 144 MB scenario is called
"Class of Spook 'Em High, which "includes THE final showdown and gives
you a more conclusive ending to Ghost Master®." Thanks Frans.
Stardock has released a new patch for Galactic
Civilizations, updating the space strategy remake to version 1.13. The
update is available via their Stardock Central utility, described like this:
"1.13 mainly corrects bugs and glitches that have been reported over the
months. One AI change is that minor races now colonize much less than they did
in previous builds making them again more...well minor." Thanks Mike693.
The Neverwinter
Nights For Linux Page now offers the new NWN version 1.61 Linux client for
NWN Gold & the Hordes of the Underdark expansion, Linux client patches for
the Shadows of Undrentide add-on and the original game. Links to all download
pages can be found here.
And the full Linux standalone server is
here and the Linux server patches are
here. Thanks Frans.
" Ultimate
Arena, Inc., the leading skill-based action game web site, today announced
that Team3D has won the online Counter-Strike tournament sponsored by
ZipZoomFly. Team3D and the runner up teams United5 and Deadzone were
awarded prizes worth $10,000, including $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in
top-of-the-line AMD Athlon™ 64 processors and motherboards."
- "Whiptail Interactive, a global publisher of PC games, today
announced that the kung fu action role-playing game Blade & Sword has
gone gold. The game will ship on December 22, 2003 with an MSRP of $29.99
and has been rated M for Mature."...
- X-Prize
Progress Update is a /. post by John Carmack with more on that rocketry
stuff. Thanks Chris W....
It's raining today, washing away the accumulation of snow from our second
snowstorm of the season, just like the rain did after the first one. This would
be a great arrangement if one could count on it to continue, as it would save
tons of shoveling. Trouble is, it's not even winter yet, so this isn't something
to count on.
Today is LotR day... have a safe pilgrimage. Also, today is widely considered to
be the 100th anniversary of powered flight, as the Wright Brothers' historic
flight at Kitty Hawk was December 17, 1903. To commemorate to occasion I will
take a train(?) into Manhattan today and let Dr. Toothy install the new crown to
replace the one that cracked. Okay, that's not actually got anything to do with
the Wrights, but I can't figure out a practical way to fly to the dentist.
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