Archived News:
Steam News
(thanks Frans) has word that further preloads of Half-Life 2 content over the
online content delivery service are now underway, supporting a rumor of
Dubious Quality suggesting a
gold announcement nears. Here's word on the preloads: The sixth phase of the Half-Life 2 preload
begins to Steam account holders today. This will allow users to download the
Half-Life 2 maps in encrypted form. No purchase is required to pre-load
Half-Life 2, but is required to activate the game. The moment the game is made
available, those who have pre-loaded and purchased the game via Steam will be
ready to start playing.
This
ATI Driver Download and Installation Page now offers downloads of new
version 4.10 CATALYST reference drivers for RADEON accelerators running under
Windows XP (throwing a curve to those who think version 5.0 follows version 4.9).
The accompanying notes say ATI recommends Service Pack 2 be installed. Thanks
Cliff.
- Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
The
Prince of Persia:
Warrior Within Diary on 1UP is written by Bertrand Helias, producer on
the upcoming regal sequel, who discusses the addition of the bosses to the
game.
- Scrapland
The
Scrapland Designer
Diary on IGN is penned by Enric Alvarez of MercurySteam, covering the
topic of getting the controls right in their upcoming multiplatform action
game.
- NFSU2
A new
Need for Speed Underground 2 Diary on the game's official website
features Justin Wiebe, associate producer on the upcoming street racing
sequel, who discusses car customization in the game (thanks Frans).
- Wish
RPG
Vault's Wish Developer Journal #6 is online, offering: "A look at the
various aspects of Writer Michael K. Donovan's role in bringing Mutable
Realm's endeavor to fruition."
A pair of new trailers from Dangerous Waters are online, showing off some
of the combat from Sonalysts Combat Simulations' upcoming naval sim. The movies
can be downloaded from
the official website. Also, there are two new movies for download on the
official website
for Immortal Cities Children of the Nile Website (thanks Frans), offering
a sample of the additional content on a bonus pre-order CD for the upcoming city
construction game.
The Moment of Silence Website now
offers downloads of the first patch for the German edition of the Moment of
Silence. The file is 13.6 MB. Thanks YiYas.
War on Terror Video Game
Now Available ``Kuma-War The War on Terror'' at Retail Outlets Nationwide is
the press release announcing the retail availability of Kuma Reality Games' game
based on current and historical events. The retail version includes a free
month's subscription to the game. Also, the
Neocron Website has low-key
news that Neocron 2: Beyond the Dome of York has launched, which apparently
actually happened a couple of weeks ago (thanks Andy).
Monkeys,
Giraffes, Lions Rejoice -- Zoo Tycoon 2 Goes Gold! is the press release
announcing the completion of development on the sequel to the game that
simulates the path to riches represented by zoo ownership. Here's a bit on the
game, which is set to ship in the U.S. by November 8: Zoo Tycoon 2 will
get players up close to and interacting with the animals and the zoo, offering
intuitive controls and fun tutorials that allow players of all ages to enjoy the
game right out of the box. Players will be immersed in the zoo experience with
new features, including the Zoo Guest mode, in which players can walk around and
enjoy the game like visitors on a day at the zoo; Zoo Keeper mode, allowing
players to interact with their animals as never before; and a new Photo Safari
Mode. Players can take pictures of their favorite animals and guests and share
them online with friends. The Zoopedia, chock full of entertaining and
interesting facts about animals, rounds out the new and improved features of the
upcoming game.
Eidos Announces Commandos Strike Force is the press release officially
announcing an upcoming World War II first-person shooter based on the Commandos
series that was first revealed this summer ( story). The first
screenshots from the project can be found on
GenGamers.
Here's a bit: Eidos, one of the world's leading publishers and developers
of entertainment software, announces the return of the legendary Commandos in
the World War II first person shooter Commandos Strike ForceTM. Developed by
Pyro Studios, Commandos Strike Force will be released worldwide in spring 2005
on PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.
In a new direction for the multi-million selling series, Commandos Strike Force
takes you right into the heart of the action from a first person perspective.
Take control of the three members of the 'Strike Force' unit, each with their
own play style. Switch between the Green Beret, always at the heart of the
action with his expertise in combat and the use of heavy weaponry, the Sniper
with his nerves of steel and expert marksmanship, and the Spy, stealthily
striking at the heart of the enemy. However, it is up to you how you execute
plans of attack by combining the Commandos' unique skills.
Set in war torn Europe amid the backdrop of World War II, you must take your
elite group of Commandos behind enemy lines on a series of linked missions
through France, Russia and Norway. Destroying a Nazi ship, ambushing enemy
troops, freeing French Resistance prisoners and kidnapping a general are a few
of the large range of missions. As well as a compelling single player campaign,
the game features a variety of original online multiplayer modes. In the most
fearsome war ever fought emerged the most fearless soldiers.
Seven new Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory movies are now available, showing off more
of the action/stealth sequel in the form of four quick high-rez clips and three
related 3D screenshots. The files can be found on
Ubisoft's FTP server, or
mirrored on 3D Gamers.
Also, a trailer from FlatOut is online, showing off the ragdoll physics in
BugBear's upcoming racing game, the high-resolution movie is available on
3D Gamers. Finally,
a new MTX Mototrax clip that shows off the mud-slinging in the upcoming
motorcycle game is now available on
3D Gamers and
Worthplaying.
As the console versions
ship to stores, a release date for the PC edition of BloodRayne 2 has been
added to
Majesco Games' Website for the game (thanks Frans). Previously presumed to
be shipping along with its console counterparts, the new listing announces the
PC version of the game will ship in early 2005.
Whiptail Interactive reveals they will be publishing Psychotoxic in North
America and several European territories: "Developed by NuclearVision
Entertainment GmbH, Psycho Toxic shipped earlier this year in Germany where it
enjoyed a warm reception from both press and consumers alike. The gritty
First-Person title will ship in the US late in the first quarter of 2005 for the
PC." Also, Battlefront.com announces
they will be the online distributor of Dangerous Waters, Sonalysts' naval
strategy game, word is: "The game will not be sold in stores, but will only be
available via mail order from
www.battlefront.com. S.C.S. - Dangerous Waters will be entering beta stage
in October and is scheduled for a release in Fall 2004." Finally, "GMX Media and
Tri Synergy Inc. today announced a North American distribution partnership for
Will of Steel, the trend-setting Gameyus Interactive military Real Time
Strategy game for PC – CD ROM. Will of Steel is scheduled for a November 2004
North American release."
MCV
(thanks Mike Martinez) has news that: "Eidos shares dropped to a record low of
89 pence yesterday, prompted by mounting fears over a potential slip into 2005
for key PC release Championship Manager 5... Eidos today slammed the speculation
as rumour, but then failed to ease fears with any concrete pledge." Also,
the latest SEC filings by Interplay (thanks
HomeLAN Fed) has word
the embattled publisher may not have enough cash to survive the quarter. The
statement also mentions that Bethesda has rights to a couple more Fallout games
following Fallout 3 and that the rights to Redneck Rampage have been sold to VU
Games.
Austin Game
Conference Announced: "Game Initiative announced today that the third annual
Austin Game Conference (AGC) will take place Thursday and Friday, October 27-28,
2005 in Austin, Texas."
The Unreal
Tournament Website now offers the list of finalists in the Onslaught Maps
category for Phase 4 of the Make Something Unreal Contest.
A couple of errors, as always, of the avoidable/regrettable variety: In the
announcement of War Dogs the other day ( story), the project upon
which the game is based was incorrectly listed as Full Spectrum Warrior, rather
than the correct Full Spectrum Leader, the similar name for QuickSilver's game,
which, like FSW, was originally developed for the U.S. Army. Also, the
announcement of the planned King Kong Game ( story), originally
mentioned a release this holiday season, when in fact the game and its namesake
remake movie are both due for the 2005 holidays.
I can appreciate that the subtle complexities of creating a sports schedule for
a league with 30-something teams means that sometimes unusual conflicts will
arise. But when the playoffs have narrowed the season's participants to four,
making for a maximum potential of two games at once, it seems reasonable to
expect that scheduling conflicts could be avoided. Of course, this turned out
not to be the case last night, when not only were both Major League Baseball
playoff games opposite each other, but they were also on opposite the final
presidential debate. Perhaps the office of the baseball commissioner could
invest in some high-tech infrastructure to help prevent such problems in the
future... I would think a calendar, a newspaper, and a pencil with an eraser
would be all that's required.
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