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Archived News:
The Matrix Online
Website has news of a delay to Monolith's upcoming MMORPG based on the movie
franchise. The update puts the game's availability at January 18, 2005, cleanly
missing the holiday sales season the previous November release date had
targeted. The move is explained as a way to allow for a simultaneous North
American and European launch. The post also says pre-orders begin next week,
allowing entrance into the closed beta testing beginning November 18, as well as
a three day head-start on the game's official release. Meanwhile,
GameSpot
has a Q&A with WSIE's Jason Hall about the announcement: "I can assure you that
it’s going to ship on January 18. From a technical standpoint, if we really
wanted to not include other countries, we could have shipped it a little bit
earlier. This is why we’re very confident in our ship date."
A short post to the
Half-Life 2 Fallout Forums by Valve's Gabe Newell indicates a release
candidate for Valve's upcoming shooter sequel was submitted to Vivendi Universal
Games for approval yesterday. Thanks Andrew.
A demo for Call of Duty: United Offensive is now available, offering a chance to check out
the World War II shooter add-on. Though United Offensive is an add-on, the demo
is stand-alone, and does not require the original game to play. The demo is a
225 MB download, available on
3D Gamers,
ActionTrip,
Computer Games Online,
eXtreme-Players.de,
FileFront,
FilePlanet (registration required),
Filerush
(torrent), FileShack
(registration required),
Fragland.net,
FPSCentral,
Gamer's Hell,
Gameguru Mania,
GameSpot DLX (registration required), and
Worthplaying.
A Mortyr 2 demo is now available, a sample of the alternate-history World War II
shooter sequel. The 111 MB demo is available along with a new gameplay trailer
on the new Flash-y Mortyr 2 Website, and
the demo, and in some cases the movie, are mirrored on
3D Gamers,
Computer Games Online,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and Worthplaying.
A new patch for Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising is now available, updating
NovaLogic's online military shooter to version 1.4.2.7. The patch can be
downloaded from
NovaLogic's FTP or one of these mirrors;
3D Gamers and
Worthplaying.
Vivendi Universal Games sends word that
Leisure Suite Larry: Magna Cum Laude is gold, and is due for release for the
PC, Xbox, and PS on October 15. Here's a bit: Players will be able to
experience hilarious college moments as they explore 17 different locations on
and around the college campus, interacting with sexy female characters and play
dozens of mini-games, including Quarters, Tapper, Trampoline and Wet T-shirt
Contests. With more than 90,000 words of dialogue, players can create custom
conversations in real time as Larry speaks with more than 15 beautiful girls, as
well as interacting with a host of other characters.
NovaLogic announces plans for Joint Ops:
Escalation, an expansion for their multiplayer FPS due this November:
JOINT OPS: ESCALATION
Tanks & Apaches & Dirt bikes.. Oh my!
LONDON, UK (September 16th, 2004) - November 16th 2004 should be marked on the
calendar of all Joint Ops fans, as that date sees the release of Joint Ops:
Escalation, the first expansion pack for the Number 1 Selling, world record
breaking, large scale FPS.
The conflict in Indonesia has spilled over to other parts of Asia where rebel
troops have gained support in the war against the newly reinforced Joint Ops
forces. Set against a backdrop of South East Asia that includes Airports, Radar
Tracking Stations and Rocket launch facilities, players enlist once more to take
part in intense large scale modern FPS combat, in games of up to 150 players
online.
As the battles shift to different locations, new vehicles enter the fray: Attack
Choppers and Battle Tanks make their debut, along with Mobile SAM Launchers and
Dirt Bikes. Players will also be able to make airborne insertions into hot zones
via Parachute.
Joint Ops: Escalation will also feature:
• Ceramic Body Armor.
• Optional 3rd Person weapon view for select vehicles.
• New emplaced weaponry for enhanced base defense.
• Over 25 new maps, including new Co-Op and Training
missions.
Set in Indonesia in the near future, Joint Ops is the record breaking, largest
multiplayer Modern Combat FPS game ever released. Developed using NovaLogic's
enhanced Black HawkTM engine, with superior multiplayer technology, Joint Ops
lets gamers play revolutionary 150 player games, across vast terrains online
over NovaWorld.
Joint Ops: Escalation ships in November on PC CD ROM. For updated info on the
game, visit the Joint Ops web site:
www.jointopsthegame.com .
The Saga of Ryzom Website (thanks Frans) has
news that today is the launch, officially at least, of Nevrax'
MMORPG: The official SoR release date is today, the 16th of September. We
know that some distributors are not selling the boxes yet. We're doing our best
to boost this process and are sorry for this trouble. See you soon on Atys
A playable demo for Shade: Wrath of Angels is now available, offering the chance
to sample Black Element Software's third-person action/adventure. The 85 MB
download is available on
Tiscali Games
(here's the read me),
where they point out: "Details about content of demo are not known yet, because
it installs (without any warning) StarForce3 protection driver to system and
requires restart of Windows before first start of the game." Other mirrors are
available on 3D Gamers,
ActionTrip,
Computer Games Online,
FileFront, and
Worthplaying.
Global Star and TimeGate Studios announce plans to release a demo next week for
Kohan II: Kings of War: Global Star Software, a publishing label of
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), and TimeGate Studios are
pleased to announce plans to release a playable demo of Kohan II: Kings of War
next week. The demo, which will contain both single and multiplayer content,
will debut on FilePlanet on Monday, September 21st [sic]. It will be made available to
other online download sites on Wednesday, September 23rd [sic], the same day the game
appears on store shelves nationwide.
The demo will feature a tutorial and one single player campaign mission, as well
as a limited version of the powerful random map generator in Kohan II: Kings of
War, allowing gamers to try out three of the game’s playable races in
head-to-head online multiplayer for up to four players. The retail version of
the game will feature a total of six playable races, contain 25 single player
missions and allow for multiplayer battles for up to eight players.
Kohan II: Kings of War for PC-CD-ROM is rated T for teen and will be released on
Wednesday, September 23rd [sic] for a suggested retail price of $39.99. For more
information on Kohan II: Kings of War, please visit its official website at
http://www.globalstarsoftware.com/kohan2/.
The
Official Sacred Website has new version 1.7 patches for the English
(International, US, and Australian) and French editions of Ascaron's fantasy RTS
game (thanks Frans). Word is the multiplayer lobby has been updated to version
1.7 as well, so an update is required to play online. Word is: "Please note that
patch 1.66 is no longer supported, and "Patch 1.7 download links for Czech,
Poland and Russia will follow shortly."
A new patch is now available for the German Edition of Medieval Lords: Build,
Defend, Expand is now available, updating the construction game to version 1.01.
In addition to the game update, some new bonus maps are also now available. The
downloads are available on
3D Gamers.
The Xpand Rally Website
(thanks Frans) has word that Techland's rally game is racing into stores
in France.
Aspyr sends news that a
Macintosh edition of Call of Duty: United Offensive is in the works, and that
Mac gamers will be recruited for more World War II missions before the end of
the year. In other Mac gaming news,
Aspyr also announces that
the Mac edition of Sim City 4: Rush Hour has begun its commute to stores, and
should be available sometime after September 27.
The
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault Designer Diary #4 on GameSpot features
thoughts from producer Matt Powers about the upcoming World War II shooter
sequel, discussing the online "Multiplayah" experience. Also,
The
Matrix Online Guided Tour #13 on GameSpy is written by the MO team offering
a virtual tour of the international district in the upcoming spoon free MMORPG.
A new Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault "Flythrough" movie is now available,
showing off more of the upcoming military shooter sequel. The 84 MB movie can be
found on
GameSpot and mirrored on
3D Gamers,
FileFront, and
Worthplaying. Also, a new City of Heroes "Shadow Shard" trailer is
now available, showing off upcoming features in the superhero MMORPG. The
trailer can be downloaded from
Boomtown (registration required). Also, a new "Professor Trailer" is now available for
Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude available for download on
3D Gamers,
FileFront, and
Worthplaying. Finally,
the Official
Website for Elite
Starfighter (thanks Frans) now offers a new gameplay movie from the space
combat game.
- Star Trek Online
HomeLAN
Fed's Star Trek Online Q&A communicates with Joe Keene of Perpetual
Entertainment about the upcoming Trekkie MMO game: "The scope and complexity
of the Star Trek fictional universe is certainly daunting, but it’s also a
source of enormous strength and creative opportunity. As with all licensed
properties, it’s critical to remain true to both the essence of the fiction
and to the thousands of details that define the world embodied in the
fiction. At the same time, we're constantly struck by how open and
innovative Star Trek is. Once you 'get' the fiction and the way the world
works, you find that the amount of material that has already been embodied
in the TV series and the movies is a fraction of the material to be
explored."
- The Sims 2
Controlling
'The Sims' on CNET (thanks Mike Martinez) discusses the new edition of
the little people game with creator Will Wright: "Their personalities are
far more fleshed-out; they're really three-dimensional characters now. They
have aspirations, memories, a much more detailed social landscape and
knowledge of their social relationships with other Sims. They have tactical
goals; depending on the aspiration you set for them, they have intermediate
things they want you to attain for them."
- Will of Steel
There's a
Will
of Steel Q&A on Strategy Informer talking with Uros Rogulja of Gameyus
about their upcoming RTS/RPG hybrid: "The story plot follows the career path
of William 'Will' Steel, a young Marine officer and the son of the highly
decorated USMC General, late, Thomas Steel. Will’s military duty takes him
to Afghan mountains and Iraqi desserts where he has to fight for his, and
the lives of soldiers under his command."
- UFO Aftershock
The
UFO Aftershock Q&A on Computer Games Online hunts down ALTAR
Interactive's Jiri Rydl about their upcoming xenophobic strategy game sequel:
"The engine is almost completely new and offers many new features that the
previous one lacked, including dynamic lights and shadows, daytime changing,
different weather effects and improved resolutions. We wanted to give a more
complete experience for the players."
- Rome: Total War
There's
a Rome:
Total War Q&A on The Adrenaline Vault talks with composer Jeff van Dyck
about the music in the strategy game: "My tastes are extremely diverse. I
like Frank Zappa, William Orbit, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles. I could
almost say I like all styles of music, but I suppose I have to draw the line
at opera, some country, and predictable formula mind melting pop music."
- Port Royale 2
Port
Royale 2 Has What it Takes to "Hook" Players on GameZone talks with
Ascaron Entertainment's Alan Wild about their upcoming pirate-themed trading
simulation sequel: "English, French, Spanish and Dutch nations are all
actively competing within the game world. Everything is real time. If you
sit and watch your screen, then you can be sure that you competitors and
others are all trading away in the background, or making and breaking
alliances, declaring war, running short of goods, building new plantations,
and so forth." Thanks Frans.
- World of Warcraft
There's
a World of
Warcraft Q&A on WorldofWar.de (thanks Ant) discussing Blizzard's
upcoming MMORPG: "The hero classes will be connected with the talents. You
can achieve hero points and distribute them. There will probably be a forth
tab in the talent menu for the hero class. The game is constantly under
balancing issues so we will surely try to balance the hero classes out when
they are available." There's also
an article on
WorldofWar.net recapping details revealed at a press event for the game
in London.
- The Saga of Ryzom
RPG
Vault's The Saga of Ryzom Modular Action System Q&A talks with David
Cohen Corval about Nevrax' upcoming MMORPG: "Each civilization has its own
special knowledge of magic. The Zorais for instance are users of
electricity, and the Fyros are one with fire. The Trykers have mastered the
wind, and the Matis are known for their uncanny abilities with poison."
The Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion
Website (thanks
GameSpot)
is the home of a new MMORPG in the works at Square Enix. No English details are
yet available, but there is a movie on the site along with a batch of
screenshots.
The Armies of Exigo beta on
FilePlanet is now
open to all their registered users, not just the paying variety. Word is the
limited number of available slots will be distributed on a first-come,
first-served basis.
The French Codename Panzers Website
now offers downloads of a new version 1.09 patch for the French edition of the
World War II strategy game. Thanks Frans.
Free Monkey
Interactive has posted some new screenshots from the upcoming Unreal
Tournament 2004 version of the XMP bonus pack.
Epic sends word of a new wrinkle for the Make Something Unreal competition: "If
you've submitted an entry for phases 1, 2 or 3 of the Make Something Unreal
Contest and would like to be considered for the Educational category email me at
jeff@epicgames.com. This call is only
for phases 1, 2, or 3. Phase 4 was given an option to indicate this during entry
submission. To be eligible for consideration students or faculty members will be
asked to provide the name of their educational institution and the contact
information for the school. Schools must verify that they will accept the
computers and provide them for student use. For consideration in this category,
the mods do not have to be school projects, but the students or faculty must be
presently enrolled or employed by the institution."
-
EB Games Credit Card Warning. Thanks Halsy...
- Some more of the
Wish Story is online for Mutable Realms' upcoming MMORPG. Have you ever
heard of a wish sandwich?...
-
PM backs violent game inquiry. Thanks Mike Martinez. I think they should
conduct their inquiry peacefully, but what do I know?....
- A
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 pre-order program is in effect. Thanks Mike
Martinez...
- Aspyr announces
that Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell for the Macintosh is gold, and expected in
North American stores on October 2...
- Kuma Reality Games announces plans for Kuma\War: The War On Terror, a
retail version of their current events game due in North American stores
next month...
- Planetwide Games is
running an open North American beta of Risk Your Life, their upcoming
MMORPG...
Turns out I was the one that broke my net connection. Without giving the matter
enough thought, I plugged in a modular phone cord without a splitter or a DSL
filter, and this turned out to be the cause of my connectivity woes. Luckily I
finally made the connection, and things returned to normal immediately.
Speaking of returns to normalcy, I believe we finally got the Tickle ad campaign
removed (after a couple of failed attempts) after they slipped a decidedly
non-work-safe image (bewbs) into one of their personals. Sorry about that.
R.I.P.:
Ramones Guitarist Dies at 55 in Los Angeles. Thanks Halsy.
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