Last time in this space, we announced that the 1.1 Update had entered final candidate testing at EA headquarters. Since that time, it was decided to hold the update for an additional week of testing and polishing. We have since submitted a new build to the final candidate process.
So long story short, there was an unforeseen delay, but the1.1 Update should be ready for release quite soon. Stay tuned to this space for the pending release announcement.
After more than three years in development, massively multiplayer role-playing game Tabula Rasa is in “good hands” according to a spokesperson for its publisher, NCsoft North America. But, as of today, it's not in as many hands. Three of the higher-profile members of the TR team--lead designer Carly Staehlin, lead programmer Bill Randolph, and artist Scott Jones--have left the project and the company.
While he gave no reason for the trio's departure, NCsoft director of PR David Swofford confirmed to GameSpot that the three had made their exit. “Project development is a dynamic process,” Swofford said. “There is restructuring going on, and Carly Staehlin is no longer on the team or with NCsoft.” The cuts to staff occurred earlier this week, according to Swofford.
Staehlin spoke with GameSpot today, and, in effect, corroborated Swofford's "in good hands" assessment. "The role of lead designer will [now] be Richard Garriott's. Having him in this position means he will have tighter control over the game, which is a huge plus."
The current situation with Exarch is this. The Exarch project is currently on hold here at NCsoft.
At the present time, NCsoft is still determining how, when and if Exarch or any of its technology will be utilized in the future. For now the Exarch team, that was based in Phoenix, AZ under the company banner of Realm Interactive, has relocated to Austin, TX and is working on other projects at the NCsoft office.
(Los Angeles, California, July 22nd, 2004) – Waxploitation Records, a leading record company for hip hop and electronic music, announced today that it will release a limited edition vinyl 7" of the theme song to id Software's™ highly anticipated DOOM 3™.
Side A of the 7" will be the theme song, produced by noted producer-composers Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh. Side B will be a previously unavailable Teargas & Plateglass remix of Tweaker "Crude Sunlight" featuring Jennifer Charles (of Elysian Fields fame). The first 500 copies will be signed by Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh and will be available for pre-order at Noon PDT on Monday, July 26th at http://waxploitation.com/doom3/
Chertsey, UK. – July 23rd, 2004 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, today announced a worldwide strategic partnership to develop and publish a new game franchise with developer Crytek GmbH. The agreement builds on Crytek's success with its first title, the chart-leading first-person shooter, Far Cry, and brings together the creative talent of Crytek with the publishing expertise and unrivalled reach of Electronic Arts. The highly regarded German developer will create an exciting new game franchise for the PC based on original intellectual property. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"Bringing original intellectual property to the interactive entertainment market is a key focus for EA," said Frank Sagnier, vice president, EA Partners Europe. "EAP's partnership agreement with Crytek is a testament to our commitment to nurturing creative development and we are delighted to be working with one of the brightest talents in Europe to create what we believe will be an innovative gaming experience."
Cevat Yerli, president of Crytek said, "We are looking forward to this partnership with EA. Our advanced technology and creativity, together with EA's production support, marketing and sales, means that we have a great opportunity to bring an original gaming experience to our consumers, as well as grow our business. We are thrilled to see this development get underway".
The game marries fully-rendered, animated backdrops with a traditional adventure interface, resulting in once of the best-looking examples in the genre. Full motion video – created by the team that has worked on countless other games, including Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader – depict moments of high drama, putting the game on par with some of cinema's greatest thrillers.
In an even more troubling sign for id's future, Carmack has begun to give indications that he's getting bored. Married since 2000, he's expecting his first child in August. And he has spent the past three years devoting 40 hours a week to Armadillo Aerospace, his four-year-old company that is working to develop customized rocket ships. "If I wasn't doing what I'm doing in videogames, someone else would within a year or two," says Carmack. "In aerospace things are still being done the same as they were 50 years ago. I feel that I can really make an impact in that field."
As Techland - the developer of Xpand Rally - has today informed, the official multiplayer demo of the game will be published on the Internet on August 12th.
The demo will feature one car model and two tracks and the players will have the choice of two different car handling models: simulation and arcade. Besides of normal rally (time attacks) and head-to-head (with collisions) races the version will also feature the Free Style mode allowing for competition on the whole terrain with no restrictions to one set up track.
Thanks to the possibility of adjusting main car's subsystems it will be possible to tune the car for track's conditions as well as for one's own preferences. Additionally the demo will allow for hosting players' own servers - both Internet and LAN.
The full version of Xpand Rally will also offer a comprehensive career mode with over 70 races and more than 700 tuning parts for the cars. It will also feature a Single Race mode. The players will be given 35 racing cars divided into 8 groups. Photorealistic graphics of the tracks placed on 5 varied landscapes, fully dynamic and interactive surrounding of the tracks, realistic car damage model and driver's injuries, finally a set of editing tools allowing for creating players' own tracks - all are main game's features.
Techland has today confirmed that the release date of the title set to 2004-09-24 has not been changed.
R.I.P.: Oscar-winning composer Goldsmith dies. Thanks Mike Martinez.
Play Time: |
The Quest of the Golden Dragon.
Thanks LoonyBomber. Simon. Thanks Bradley Neumeister. |
Link of the Day: |
Federal Vampire and Zombie
Agency. Thanks Scott Rudi. Quote of the Day. Thanks ASLayerAODsk. |
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Army rations rehydrated by urine. Thanks Brian.
MRP? Personalized Plate Angers Moms. Thanks ImpUser. Crowds Flock To See Jesus Image In Window. |
Science!: |
Walking monkey apes humans. New martian meteorite found in Antarctica. Freak waves spotted from space. |
Media of the Day: |
Is it 5 yet?
Thanks ASLayerAODsk. Root Beer Commercial. Thanks Jim Chaney. |
Auction of the Day: | Go-karts Jet-powered unique design. Thanks Brian. |
Follow-up: | Clear Channel sues Stern distributor. Thanks ASLayerAODsk. |
Thanks Mike Martinez |