Archived News:
GameSpot has posted their massive
guide to Unreal Tournament. The guide, which is available free online, or
as a paid download, covers every individual game type, as well as each weapon,
power-up, and map.
id Software's John Carmack updated his
.plan with word that the Quake III game source code has been pushed back
slightly (as well as word that the Quake 1 source has been released - see next
story): The Q3 game source code is getting pushed back a bit because we
had to do some rearranging in the current codebase to facilitate the release,
and we don't want to release in-progress code before the official binary point
release.
We still have a Christmas present for the coders, though:
http://www.idsoftware.com/q1source/
Happy holidays!
id Software's lead programmer John Carmack has released the full source code of Quake, including the WinQuake, GLQuake, QuakeWorld, and GLQuakeWorld versions. The archive can be downloaded from id's FTP site (which is always pretty busy) and its primary mirror at Walnut Creek (3.2 MB), as well as 3D Action Gamers. The code has been placed under the GNU Public License right from the start (this happened with the DOOM source only much later), and the accompanying text file can be downloaded separately. Here are the initial paragraphs:
This is the complete source code for winquake, glquake, quakeworld, and
glquakeworld.
The projects have been tested with visual C++ 6.0, but masm is also required
to build the assembly language files. It is possible to change a #define and
build with only C code, but the software rendering versions lose almost half
its speed. The OpenGL versions will not be effected very much. The
gas2masm tool was created to allow us to use the same source for the dos,
linux, and windows versions, but I don't really recommend anyone mess
with the asm code.
The original dos version of Quake should also be buildable from these
sources, but we didn't bother trying.
The code is all licensed under the terms of the GPL (gnu public license).
You should read the entire license, but the gist of it is that you can do
anything you want with the code, including sell your new version. The catch
is that if you distribute new binary versions, you are required to make the
entire source code available rce code available for free to everyone.
InsideMacGames has posted the version 1.3.1 patch for Descent 3 for the Mac, which fixes various crashes, controller and modem problems, and allows Mac gamers to play against the PC version on PXO. The patch is available as a full 4.3 MB download or as separate components.
Dynamix has released the first pair of TRIBES 2 skins, showing off the Blood Eagle Light armor in male and female forms with a high-quality image and a description. More of these skins are promised for the next few weeks.
The latest Delta Force 2 patch is available through the auto-update feature in the game, or via direct downloads here and here (4.4 MB). This brings the version number to 1.04.14 (thanks DF2-Base.de for this bit), and the changes include additional Voice-Over-Net features and "some animatics for the fixed gun emplacements, however you still cannot use the emplacements" (thanks Maagic for that one). This accounts for the patch being about 1 MB larger than the previous version.
The unofficial System Shock 2 FAQ has been updated, providing more tips and tactics for the acclaimed action RPG by Irrational and Looking Glass. This FAQ focuses on gameplay, but if it's technical help you need, try the official FAQ.
Spanish games site oneZone has posted a
writeup of a presentation that Shiny's Dave Perry gave in Madrid recently,
where he demonstrated their uber-secret title Sacrifice, on a p450 with a GeForce
256 card. There are several shots, although only the blurry ones taken with
a digital camera are new. As always, shove
a BabelFish in your ear to translate.
The Insomnia Software page has
been updated with word that their upcoming first person action title Decay will
be published by Interplay, as well as eight new screenshots (which, it would
appear will be the last ones for some time, as they're instituting a media blackout).
Thanks Voodoo Extreme for the tip.
GameFan has posted an
interview with Mike Leatham, lead texture artist at Digital Extremes on
Unreal Tournament. The brief interview has Mike discussing the world of texture
design, from his prediction for the future of the medium to specifics about
his design process.
id's Graeme Devine updated his
.plan with the details he promised earlier on the Quake III Arena point
release. Here's the scoop: Here's the cliffnotes version of most of the
bugs we're looking at. I'll make the actual feature database available as HTML
at somepoint soon so everyone can take a look as to what issues we're addressing.
- New scoreboard.
- New team scoreboard
- Voting can change the gametype if the new map doesn’t support the current
gametype
- Misc icon fixes
- Team overlay tidied up
- Spectators can go through doors
- Late player start on screen score display fixed
- Re-add mouselook
- Callvote nextmap
- Extra/different pakfile disconnect bug fixed
- Packetloss on the scoreboard
- Delay deferred loading of players until after death
- Server browser remembers “show full”/’show empty” status
- Server browser will not refresh on stopped lists
- Show IP address in server browser
- Compressed sound support
- JPEG from disk support
- Cache filefind results so we do not requery the filesystem every load
- Make 10.x.x.x and other public addresses not use auth server
- Protect CD key into a different file
- Improve overall error reporting to user
- Make sure everyone can command the bots
- Load/Save config re-added
- Bots don't start kill, hitnokill, or hitnodeath chats when there are nearby
enemies
- Awaiting snapshot/gamestate issues resolved
Dynamix has released new "balanced" missions for Starsiege: TRIBES,
which are available
for download on TRIBES Players. These new maps were created for the OGL
and other online competitive leagues, and are fully created and supported by
Dynamix.
Incite Games has posted a
brief preview of Rune, HumanHead's Unreal engine game of grog, mutton and
really big axes. While there are several shots posted, only one of them is new.
A new version of Q2Java, the
add-on for Quake II that allows mod authors to code in Java has been released.
As this is the first release since the summer, there are a number of changes,
including some general cleanup to make things run better.
Legend level designer Matthias Worch has released his combination deathmatch/domination
map Memento Mori for Unreal Tournament. The map features textures created for
UT that have never been used before (included with Epic's permission) and is
available for download on his homepage.
id software Designer Graeme Devine updated
his .plan with word on duplicatable problems in the upcoming full version of
Mac Q3A that he's fixed, resulting in a new release candidate, and a mention of
some unduplicatable problems with the demo that he's still uncertain about,
resulting in some confusion. The update also briefly mentions a planned Q3A
point release: While I've been out with the rest of the world trying to
get a Barbie Cash Register for my daughter, I have actually been doing a bit of
work!
Activision's release QA process found two bugs in the Mac build that I felt
important enough to fix. One bug was in the client, and the other in the
installer.
I fixed them both last night and Activision has a new master candidate.
I've heard sporadic reports that the Mac demo has problems, but I've yet to be
able to repeat that issue here.
I'll update my plan file today with the [long] list of things we're addressing
for the point release (yes, we've fixed the scoreboard).
With only one chat log, two previews, an interview, and three sets of
screenshots all related to Soldier of Fortune posted already today, your
appetite has just been whetted for more SoF skinny, right? Just in time, this SOF Center
interview with Eric Biessman talks with the Raven designer even more about
this upcoming shooter. So with all this talk about the game, when can we expect
it? This Q&A attempts to get to the bottom of that one: Q: How's
Soldier of Fortune coming along, still on track for a January/February release?
A: We are still on track for an early release in ’00. Of course I can’t say
a date, something we have been trying to keep clear of, since we are really
trying to just make this the best game possible. It’s coming along great, and
it should definitely be worth the small wait!
There's a
Soldier of Fortune preview on GameSpot UK with another hands-on
preview of the game (again, presumably from the Razor mouse OEM version of the
game). In addition to some commentary on gameplay, the piece offers up 16
new screenshots (and a couple we've seen already).
Easy Unreal has the release of
beta 0.2 of UtMap, the Unreal Tournament version of UMap, which can rename maps
that are downloaded while connected a server and save them to your map folder,
can build maplists for DM; CTF; Domination; Assault; and LMS training sessions
and servers, gives the ability to play DM or LMS on any CTF; Assault; or
Domination map (or even play CTF on a dm map), view the map author's text for
any custom-made map, or write your own map-text.
There is a hands-on preview of Soldier of Fortune on Daily Radar, based on "a special build of the game" which, according to Rick Johnson's warning ( story), is just the Razer OEM version of the game. Notwithstanding that, the article does include a set of new, hi-res screenshots.
Interplay has posted three new screenshots of Star Trek: New Worlds, and a bunch more over the past month that we haven't mentioned yet. Star Trek: New Worlds is a 3D real-time strategy game that allows you to play missions as the Federation, Klingons or Romulans.
A playable demo of Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun (~43 MB) is now available
in this Westwood
FTP directory. The file is also mirrored on 3DFiles.Com.
Word from Westwood is "The demo features two brand new levels of Tiberian
Sun. The first mission is a tutorial about how to play T-Sun. The second mission
gives you a heavy dose of C&C action." There are two files in the
directory: tsdemo
is for North America and tsdemoe
is for Europe. Both versions are identical except for the ordering phone
numbers.
There's an edited Raven
Chat Log on Voodoo Extreme giving the rundown of the IRC session with the Raven
crew discussing progress on Star Trek Voyager--Elite Force, and Soldier of
Fortune, as well as discussion of other, more general gaming topics.
Speaking of Raven, 3D-Unlimited
interviews Jake "MrGumby" Simpson talking with the Raven Software
programmer about progress on Soldier of Fortune, their upcoming Quake II-engine
mercenary shooter, and in particular SoF CTF, which Jake is currently working
on. To cap off the Q&A, they've posted the first two screenshots of SoF CTF.
Inside Mac Games Newsbriefs is
reporting that Brent Pease is no longer at Bungie Software. Brent was the
project leader on Oni, Bungie's upcoming anime-inspired third-person combat
game. Interestingly, Onicore dot com has
more on this, posting the official press release that they say they copied from
IMG (though I can't find it there at all). Here's what that has to say about
this: With the completion of the core components of the Oni game engine,
Lead Programmer Brent Pease is leaving the project. Completion of the game
design remains in the capable hands of the team, with engineering being managed
by Senior Programmer Michael Evans, one of the founding members of the team. Oni
development continues unabated, and new features for this unique action game
will be on display at the Macworld Expo in January. The parting was amicable,
and everyone at Bungie wishes Brent well in his future endeavors
Devilishone's Q3a Allbots Page
has a simple mod for download that will allow Quake III Arena to initialize all
of its bots for gameplay. The plan is to update the file to include future
user-created bots in the mix as well.
Subtitans.net interviews Raaj Menon
talking with the director of Ellipse Studios about Submarine Titans, an upcoming
underwater RTS. There is a Submarine Titans Beta Testing application form
up to select some beta testers for the game, and some of the Q&A deals with
details about the upcoming beta test.
S3 Moves to Consolidate IBM Business with Pending Acquisition of Number Nine's Assets
is a press release announcing a move by S3 designed to "strengthen the
competitive position of its Multimedia Division..."
In what seems to be a fairly safe promise of the last new releases before the
new year, the SpoonBot page has a new version
0.5h of the SpoonBot for Starsiege TRIBES, as well as the release of version 3.0
of TribesRacer. The new SpoonBot, which adds AI teammates and enemies to TRIBES,
offers bug fixes, including one so that the medic works again. The new
TribesRacer is simply said to make "gameplay even faster and more fun!"
There's an interesting article on the realism of the Sopranos on Mr Showbiz News
(thanks Jeff Magill). Speaking of the Sopranos, here's a VCR alert: I've started
seeing promos on HBO for a week-long marathon of the first season of The
Sopranos, which will run two episodes per night starting December 26.
Details are on HBO's The Sopranos site
where they also have a countdown calendar ticking off the days until the second
season starts on January 16, as well as a local copy of the new season promo and
word on where to order the soundtrack CD... "Woke up this morning..."
Link of the Day: The
Satanic Hampster Dance. Thanks Will Lawler.
Story of the Day: Cyber-Celeb Mahir Tours U.S..
I kiss you! Thanks Cyrus.
Bonus Story: Why Is Bill Gates Mad at John Vanderslice?
Thanks Steve Strickland.
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