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Archived News:
A new single-player demo for SWAT 4 is now available, offering the chance
to get all Hondo with some bad-guys in a sample of Irrational Games' imminent
law enforcement shooter. The 183 MB download is available on
3D Gamers,
ActionTrip,
AusGamers
(Australia),
Boomtown (registration required),
ComputerGames.Ro,
Filerush (torrent),
FileShack (registration required),
Fragland.net,
Gameguru Mania,
Gamer's Hell,
GameSpot DLX
(registration required), and
Worthplaying.
This
Irrational Games Press Release announces completion of development on
Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich, Irrational's superhero prequel set during
World War II. Here's a bit:
BOSTTON, MA (Feb., 22 2005) Irrational Games is
proud to announce that Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich, the follow up to the
popular heroic tactical RPG Freedom Force, has gone gold. Freedom Force vs.
The 3rd Reich marks Irrational's first foray into self-publishing. The
official Freedom Force website,
www.freedomfans.com, has expanded to include an
on-line store where the much anticipated sequel can be pre-ordered directly
from Irrational. Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich will be distributed to
retail stores by Vivendi Universal Games throughout North America. Freedom
Force vs. The 3rd Reich will be available in stores on March 8th.
Valve sends word on upcoming plans to beta test Day of Defeat: Source:
Day of Defeat: Source Approaching Beta
Day of Defeat: Source, Valve’s World War II-themed multiplayer action game,
is approaching beta and will be available early this spring via Steam. A
team-based multiplayer game that cast players in the Axis vs. Allies battles
of Western Europe circa 1944, Day of Defeat: Source leverages the power of
the Source engine to introduce integrated physics simulation technology, all
new audio, updated maps, enhanced effects and more. More information about
Day of Defeat: Source will be released in the coming weeks. For more
information on Steam, please visit
www.steampowered.com
Icculus.org now
offers downloads of the MacOS X and Linux versions of the new version 3355 patch
for Unreal Tournament 2004. Word is: "You may patch from any prior retail
version directly to 3355. Linux users that want to use the Editors' Choice Bonus
Pack should install it before 3355. The Mac 3355 patch includes the Bonus Pack
to simplify installation. This patch is only for UT2004 retail; it may not be
used with UT2003 or the UT2004 demo."
Some recent web-based stories have had purported Half-Life 2 expansion
info attributed to PC Gamer UK magazine. An update on
Shacknews clarifies
that the article in question is actually conjecture, and is identified as such
in its own text. Further word on all this can be found on
ComputerGames.Ro,
where they quote Valve's Doug Lombardi:
"Despite the rumors, Valve has not announced
any plans for an HL2 expansion."
Epic Games has released the sixth official patch for Unreal Tournament
2004, updating their first-person shooter to version 3355. Word from Epic's
Steven Polge is: "This patch is completely compatible with the retail version
and previous patches - servers and clients of any flavor can connect with each
other. This patch will not overwrite your ut2004.ini and user.ini files, except
to update settings as necessary." The 13 MB download can be found on
3D Gamers,
Boomtown (registration required),
FileShack (registration required), Gamer's Hell,
Gameguru Mania,
GameSpot DLX
(registration required), and
Worthplaying.
Here is an excerpt from the change notes, sent along by elvis:
- Fixed stuttering/snagging/sinking into static
meshes in some places on clients in net games
- Improved getting out of water
- Fixed FaceClassic teleporter exploit
- The Cicada hud indicators should now show up in all game modes.
- Fixed SPMA causing damage at world origin.
- Fixed not being able to exit Raptor when it's on the ground
- Fixed (for assault) the energy core always showing on the HUD even if it
not the current objective (thanks AngelMapper)
Computer and Video Games has a story up revealing plans for
Republic Dawn: The Chronicles of the
Seven, an upcoming MMO shooter sequel to Republic: The Revolution in the
works at Elixir Studios and Nicely Crafted Entertainment. Here's a bit from
the
press release announcing the game, which is due in 2007:
London, England 22 February 2005 Elixir Studios
today announced that their much anticipated sequel to Republic: The
Revolution, is underway as a joint venture with Cambridge based MMOG
specialist Nicely Crafted Entertainment with the working title of "Republic
Dawn: The Chronicles of the Seven".
The game, due for release in 2007, is set around a rich storyline based in a
distant galaxy and will give players access to a living, breathing universe
created using Nicely Crafted's proprietary AliceServer technology. Elixir
will be providing their world-class graphical technology and both companies
will be working on a new ground breaking Artificial Life engine.
"Teaming up with Elixir for Republic 2 is a fantastic way to start 2005.
With Demis and his team's experience in creating outstanding triple-A games,
Republic 2 is going to provide great gameplay and visual experiences -
offering players freedom and flexibility that is unparalleled in today's
MMOG marketplace", commented Toby Simpson, managing director of Nicely
Crafted. "With our server technology, we're creating a world where hundreds
of thousands of people will be able to take part in building a republic."
This DICE Financial Report (thanks
Battlefield Nation and Frans) reveals
a new release date for Battlefield 2, offering June 2005 as when to expect the
multiplayer shooter sequel, rather than the previous release date of Spring,
along with word to expect an upgrade to BF: Vietnam this Spring:
The release date of Battlefield 2 has now been set
to June 2005. This implies that Digital Illusions will not be making any
game releases in the first quarter of the current year.
...
During spring 2005 an upgraded version of Battlefield Vietnam will be
launched. It will include the actual game as well as additional material
released via internet.
NCsoft announces they are expanding the beta testing of Auto Assault,
their upcoming road rage MMORPG:
Due to the amazing number of requests and feedback
we received when we announced the US sign-up last week for our upcoming beta
test, the Auto Assault beta registration has now been expanded to allow
sign-ups from around the world. A free PlayNC account is needed for
registration, so visit
http://www.plaync.com and create an account or
sign in with your existing one. Once you’ve logged in to PlayNC, you can
follow the link provided to sign up for the Auto Assault beta.
There will be both US and European betas for Auto Assault, though exact
dates have not yet been released. Watch the official Auto Assault website
for more details as they’re available:
http://www.autoassault.com.
The Official Area 51 Website is
now online, dedicated to the upcoming UFO conspiracy game. Word is: "AREA 51 is
scheduled to ship for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox®
videogame system from Microsoft and PC on April 25, 2005." Also, a new
Crime Life: Gang Wars Website (thanks Frans)
is now online, including the first screenshots from the upcoming "beat 'em up."
A pair of new The Moment of Silence movies are now available, showing off
the upcoming adventure game from House of Tales (already available in Europe).
The clips can be found on
3D Gamers and
Gamer's Hell.
- City of Heroes
The City of Heroes Q&A
on Computer Games Magazine discusses the upcoming update 4 for the
superhero MMORPG with Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert: "Not really. There are
some powers that have been changed in how they affect other players, but the
powers themselves remain exactly the same in PvE. For example, if a player
taunts another, the taunted character will be forced to attack the taunter.
In PvE, Taunt is mixed in with damage done, debuffs, etc. to attract a mob’s
attention. In PvP, Taunt automatically changes targets. We do not want to
end up changing players’ PvE experience in the name of PvP balance."
- NASCAR SimRacing
EA Redefines
NASCAR Racing with NASCAR SimRacing on GameZone is a Q&A with EA's James
Hawkins about their stock car racing simulator: "PC gamers will like the
emphasis on absolute reality and attention to real world details such as the
authentic driver helmets etc. The biggest features that set PC apart from
the PS2/XBOX/NGC game are the ability to drive in the cockpit, high
resolution physics and vehicle dynamics using real data and test driven by
real drivers such as Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and last but by no
means least, the multiplayer game mode where it is possible for 43 players
to race against each other simultaneously."
- RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked!
Computer Games
Magazine's Roller Coaster Tycoon 3: Soaked! Q&A discusses the upcoming
Soaked! expansion for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 with Johnny Watts of Frontier
Developments: "Highlights for me are interactive ‘water’ coasters in a
similar vein to Hershey Park’s Roller Soaker where you can dump water on
other park guests (who may be shooting back at you with water cannons!), as
well as quite a few ‘classic’ flat rides that a lot of RollerCoaster fans
have been asking for a long time like the Octopus, and of course all the
wild water slides. But there really is a long list of brand-new stuff."
- Trip Hawkins
Xbox 2 News' Trip Hawkins Q&A
talks with the founder of EA, 3DO, and most recently, Digital Chocolate about
the gaming industry: "Yeah, we’ve all heard about EA Spouse! It’s a tough
problem on both sides. Hollywood has some of the same issues and of course
has been unionized for quite some time. Outsourcing is going to be another
factor in this story. Lower labor costs and tax benefits have, for example,
caused publishers like EA, UbiSoft, and others to move more production to
Canada. Digital Chocolate has 60% of its developers in Finland where the sun
never sets in the summer and there is nothing to do outside in the winter,
so we are very productive! ;-)"
A new Universal
Combat: A World Apart Product Page offers publisher DreamCatcher Games home
for the upcoming continuation of 3000AD's space and first-person combat game.
Freedom Force
Universe now offers downloads of a new beta version 1.3 patch for Freedom
Force (thanks Shacknews).
Here's word on the "as is" patch: "Freedom Force version 1.3 fixes a problem
where the game would not run successfully under Windows XP Service Pack 2."
The
Purge
Jihad Forums offer a new patch for Purge Jihad, updating Freeform
Interactive's online shooter to version 2.50 in what's described as the game's
final patch. Thanks Frans.
ATARI
Deutschland's Locomotion Page now offers a new patch to update all European
editions of Chris Sawyer's Locomotion. Thanks
The Patches Scrolls and
Frans.
A new version 0.15 of the Operation
Peacekeeper Battlefield: Vietnam modification is now available. The mod
centers around a fictitious conflict between Serbia and Germany. The new version
adds one new map and tweaks several others, while also adding several new
weapons and vehicles.
RPG Vault's
World of Warcraft Tips of the Week #12 discusses the possible uses for
ranged weapons for warriors, as well as tips on having more fun in Blizzard's
MMORPG.
Yesterday of course, was President's Day. After shoveling a ton of snow
it just seemed like a William Henry Harrison sort of a day... in honor of the
president who died of pneumonia after a month in office. Today is George
Washington's actual birthday, but don't feel bad if you didn't get him
anything... once you get to be 273, you don't necessarily like to be reminded of
your age.
Yakety Yak.
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