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Archived News:
More MMORPG testing madness, as
The Matrix
Online Beta Registration is now underway, open to residents of the U.S. and
Canada. According to the website they will choose several thousand applicants to
test Monolith's upcoming MMORPG, with those selected to be notified of their
participation sometime this month. Word is: Those fortunate few in the
beta will take an active role in continuing the saga, created by the Wachowski
Brothers in The Matrix movie trilogy, set immediately after the end of The
Matrix Revolutions.
Beta testers will engage in "wire-fu" combat and action in an immense urban
environment. The game will be a re-creation of the virtual world of The Matrix,
employing cutting-edge 3-D graphics, networking and server technology. Gameplay
in The Matrix Online will be based an extensive mission structure, social
interaction and a completely customizable skill and ability system.
Just Adventure has news from Gabriel Knight designer Jane Jensen that Gray
Matter, her planned adventure project also known under the codename Project
Jane-J, is on hold. Word is she will turn her attention to Booby Trap, a
follow-up to her Oberon Media's downloadable debut
title Inspector
Parker, and it's possible that a success with it could resurrect the
Gray Matter project. As for the reason for Gray Matter's current state, they
quote Jane as saying: "Dreamcatcher’s big adventure game titles like Broken
Sword: Sleeping Dragon and Syberia have not been very profitable and they could
not justify putting a large budget into the title so the game was put on hold."
Activision sends news that the PC edition of True Crime: Streets of L.A.is now
gold: Santa Monica, CA – May 3, 2004 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI)
announced today True Crime™: Streets of L.A.™ for the PC has gone gold and will
soon be shipping to retail. The new version takes the driving, fighting and
shooting action to a new level with sleek new PC graphics, new weapons,
unlockable characters, and all-new multiplayer features. Building on a slammin’
soundtrack featuring original hip-hop music from Snoop Dogg, Westside
Connection, and many others, the PC version adds an additional 32 tracks from
rock artists such as Alice In Chains, Queensryche, and 2004 Grammy Award
Nominees Spineshank and Stone Sour. True Crime: Streets of L.A. for the PC is
rated “M” (“Mature” – Blood and Gore, Mature Sexual Themes, Strong Language and
Violence) by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $49.99. The title
is scheduled for release this May.
As promised ( story), sign-ups to beta test
EverQuest II are now
being accepted (thanks Fazumar Faelcree), though they are currently only seeking
North American testers for the MMORPG sequel ("European customers who wish to
participate in a localized beta program may begin the beta application process
on June 1, 2004."). There is still no indication of how many testers are being accepted, nor is there an explanation of how testers
will be chosen.
The trend of E3 announcements and content actually appearing prior to the show
is now to the point where this debut round-up is over a week in advance of the
show. Soon we may be able to wrap things up before the expo even begins.
- Half-Life 2
Any thoughts that Half-Life 2 would be
released prior to the show probably end here: "At
this years E3 Expo, there will be not one – but TWO – Half-Life 2 theatres
to get a look at two different demonstrations with ALL-NEW content... After
checking out the demo at the VUG booth, then head over to the ATI Booth
#1608 - also in South Hall - for another ALL NEW Half-Life 2 demo."
- Army
Uncle Sam will be in attendance as well: "Offering
unique understanding into the elite Special Operations Forces through its
America's Army PC game, the U.S. Army will showcase at the upcoming E3 show
the rigorous training, high-tech systems, and new technologies that place
the Special Forces at the forefront in the Global War on Terrorism."
- GameSpot
The early achievers award goes to the annual E3
maniacs at GameSpot, where they have already posted "Preshow Impressions"
of
Sid Meier's Pirates! and
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, as well as a bunch of console titles.
- Atari
There are screenshots of Atari's E3 Lineup on
GameSpy.
Dungeons & Dragons
Real-Time Strategy on GameSpy and the
Dungeons & Dragons RTS E3 2004 First Look on GameSpot unveil plans for
another Dungeons & Dragons real-time strategy game in the works at Liquid
Entertainment. Here's a bit from GameSpy on the as-yet untitled game, which will
be unveiled at E3: From a gameplay standpoint, the Dungeons & Dragons RTS
(yes, it doesn't have a name yet) will explore multiple levels of combat. You'll
be able to fight your enemy on the main map, as well as under the map in
a whole subterranean dungeon network. The fiction has it that an immense sunken
city, destroyed long ago, lurks under the surface. Parts of the city still reach
up to the ground level. You might see a spire sticking out of the ground that
you can break into, opening up a stairway into the city ruins below. Or, you
might see the top of a dome that you can shatter, sending your flying creatures
within to attack a massive underground temple. Can't reach your enemy on the
surface? Tunnel under his village and attack him from behind!
Another pair of movies are now available, showing off Shadow Ops: Red Mercury,
Zombie's upcoming first-person shooter. One clip is another short movie set in
Syria, and the other shows off 90 seconds of urban combat. The movies are
available on 3D Gamers.
In an odd, semi-related note,
The
Washington Post (thanks
HomeLAN Fed), debunks
the story of the writer for this series, who apparently lied about his military
service.
THQ Closes Acquisition of
Relic Entertainment (thanks Frans) has the follow-up on the THQ & Relic deal
( story), saying: "THQ Inc. today announced that it has completed
its previously announced acquisition of leading PC development studio, Relic
Entertainment. The all cash transaction closed on Thursday, April 29, 2004."
Matrix Games now offers a new version 2.2.86 patch for Highway to the Reich:
"The new v.2.2.86 includes fixes and improvements to the AI and the interface as
well as a scenario balance tweak for the 'Molenhoek Counterattack' scenario and
some minor changes to US Airborne Infantry Company and Battalion HQ
establishments."
Yup, it's a cold I have... the illusion that this was allergies prevented me
from making proper use of that Cold-Eze stuff. Though since last time I used it
the cold ended up choked off, but I ended up with a week-long sore throat, I'm a
little dubious about it at this point anyway.
Heartfelt condolences to Raven's Kenn Hoekstra, whose
.plan file describes the passing of his mom after a long fight with cancer,
offering details on how to contribute to a memorial scholarship fund he is
establishing in her name.
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