May 2001

Jedi Knight 2 info....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:14 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
At the newly launched Jedi Knight II.net is some new Jedi Knight II information, including a list of Raven Software people developing the game. It looks like they have put together quite a team.

UK Games Industry Booms....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:02 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
While Eidos may have announced disastrous results today, the UK games market in general is actually booming. A new report from ELSPA today confirmed what we had all suspected already, with games sales said to be up 24% by volume and over 5% by value in the first three months of 2001 compared to the same period last year. This good news comes despite the bungled PlayStation 2 launch, the demise of the Dreamcast, a growth in budget releases on older systems, and heavy discounting at retail which has led to high street stores slashing each others wrists and then whinging to publishers about poor margins. (More at the Source: eurogamer.net)

Operation Flashpoint Gets September Release ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:58 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
It's going to be a long summer for Operation Flashpoint fans: Codemasters has announced that it will ship the game to retail stores in the U.S. and Canada this September, though Europeans will be able to purchase the title on June 15. To assuage stateside supporters of the modern tactical warfare game, the September release will include additional online features, including enhanced net code. A free patch that will upgrade the European version with the same features will be released when the U.S. product ships. (Source: The Adrenaline Vault)

Gateway Price Matching....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:52 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
Gateway has said that it would match the lowest prices offered by competitors. Rather than just meet competitor prices, Gateway said that it will beat them. If customers shopping at Gateway stores and its websites or by telephone find a lower competitor price, the company said, its sales advisor will beat that price. To be eligible, customers will be required to present a current ad from Compaq, HP, Dell, IBM, Sony or Toshiba for a new PC or server with minimum specifications at least equal to Gateway's minimum specifications. (More at the Source: gateway.com)

Is Undying Done?....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:46 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
There's a report out from Brady "OJ" Bell, the Producer on Clive Barker's Undying, that mentions the entire franchise is dead. According to his statement The PS2 version was canned and the franchise is on its way out as sales 'sucked'. (More at the Source: voodooextreme.com)

Copy Protection Editorial ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:43 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
Gamer's Pulse has an editorial on CD copy protection. Here's a nibblet:

Copy protection. It’s been that nagging little thing in games for as long as I can remember. It started out to be quite simple and easy to work around. Pirating games was a breeze in the beginning. The only thing you needed was a photocopy of the book/ manual (Ed Note- I remember the horrible pink paper/blue text ‘un-photocopy-able’ manuals of the mid to late ‘80’s) and shove the game on a few disks and you were up and running. Now it’s an intricate process of serial numbers and registration numbers, and registering products in the future doesn’t look any easier. Just where did all this get started though? Let me take you, if I may, on a strange journey.

Ask Sweeney....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:39 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
After a little break Tim Sweeney, code-master over at Epic Games is back on Voodoo Extreme for another action-packed edition of Ask Sweeney, where readers such as yourself are able to send in questions for him to answer. (More at the Source: voodooextreme.com)

Counter-Strike Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:32 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
Gamasutra.com has conducted an interview with Minh Le, who is better known simply as Gooseman to the legions of Counter-Strike fans out there. Minh talks about the development of the mod-turned-retail game, and he also comments on cheating, whether or not he'll ever work on a game in another genre, his experience firing some of the guns that are represented in CS and more. (More at the Source: gamasutra.com)

Return to Castle Wolfenstein....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:28 AM MDT Thursday, May 31, 2001 [Comment on news]
PC Zone UK has a new E3 preview of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Here's a snip:

In 1998 there came a game known as Half-Life. Never before had we seen a title that so wonderfully flexed the fingers of non-player character AI. It had a great storyline, a perfect balance and combination of firepower and fantastic level design, but the one thing I remember most when I think back to my initiation into the world of the Black Mesa complex are the marines. Ducking behind cover and lobbing grenades in your direction, barking orders over their radios and running hell-for-leather when confronted with a flying MP5 explosive round; in short, they were incredible.

Strike Force 1.60 Public Release!....
Posted by [NewsStaff] @ 6:09 PM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
At long last...Strike Force beta 1.6 by Xtreme Gaming has been released! Thiseagerly-anticipated version of the popular team combat mod for UnrealTournament is packed with new features, weapons, models and maps and isnow available for download!

- New real-life weapons and equipment: Beretta M92, Glock 18, Benelli M3,Benelli M1, HK MP5-Navy, HK MP5K
- Mac-10, HK G36K, Colt M4A1, Remington M40A1, Claymore Mines, Knives andNightvision goggles: over 22 in all!
- Updated weapon models for the Frag Grenade, Flash Bang and Kalashnikov AK-47
- 3 additional game modes: Hostage Rescue, Escape and Deathmatch
- 48 brand-new maps from our award-winning team of mappers for all game types
- New original player models and skins for both the Strike Force and Terroristteams
- Realistic new gameplay features, including prone position, scope wobble,encumbrance and more
- Improved online code to reduce lag and improve speed
- New code specific features to prevent online cheating
- An advanced new reticule voice command system for both online and offline play
- Communicate using the new wave and whistle feature
- Updated bot pathing and AI to enhance the single-player experience
- All new and updated sounds for firing, reloading, zoom and weapon adjustment.
- New animations for both first and third person including prone, firinganimations and aiming!
- A customizable HUD and new character selection interface
- New and improved character biographies and descriptions
- New art by professional artist Jay Faircloth and new music by professionalmusician Tim Jenssens
- All new online manual with information for veterans and newbies alike..(More @ the Source: strikeforcecenter.com)

Firestorm Dual Power Gamepad ....
Posted by [NewsStaff] @ 10:04 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
Thrustmaster has always been a well-known name in the computer peripheral business. After all, they were the ones that practically started the dedicated flight sim peripheral business. Sadly, the company fell under a lethargic spell after Guillemot Corporation bought them. Still, their flight sim joysticks and throttle systems are highly regarded in the flight sim community. (More @ the Source: techextreme.com)

Intel cuts Pentium III and Celeron prices....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 9:58 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
Intel has once again taken the price scalpel to its Pentium III and Celeron lines of processors.

The fastest sold Celeron now can be had for $86, a full 38% less than before the cuts at $138. Now a 1GHz Pentium III has dipped below the $200 mark, also because of the cuts. Reduced prices are also in effect for the Mobile Pentium III chips. Read all about it in this here: (More @ the Source: cnet.com)

New Strike Force UT....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 9:54 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
Version 1.6 of theStrike Force mod for Unreal Tournament has been released. This latestrelease contains a large number of new features, including new weapons andequipment, three new game modes, 48 (!) new maps, a customizable HUD and lotsmore. All of these features come at a price of course, as the mod is a whopping254 MB. Separate downloads are available for PC, Linux and Mac users. (More @ the Source: Bluesnews.com)

IBM, Japan PC Makers Team on Linux ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:22 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
IBM and three big Japanese computer makers--NEC, Fujitsu and Hitachi--agreed to join forces to speed up development of software based on the open Linux system, NEC said Wednesday. The companies, with a combined total of about 500 engineers working on enterprise-related Linux software development, will share information and divide tasks with a view to making products available over the next year or two, an NEC spokesman said. (More at the Source: news.cnet.com)

Favorite E3 Moments....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:13 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
GameSpy's Mark Asher has posted a new GameSpin column where he takes a trip down 'memory lane' and reports on his favorite E3 moments - the games that were most impressive, and ones to look forward to. (More at the Source: gamespy.com)

Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:59 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
PC Zone UK offers their thoughts on Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix. Here's a snip:

You may not have been a fan of the original's simplistic gameplay, but Raven's plans for the sequel should have you wetting your pants. The original Soldier Of Fortune met with mixed reviews. There were fans of the game's über-violence and its regional-body-part-damage GHOUL system, but there was an ever-growing group who craved a little more from a shooter. Well a couple of years have passed since, and developer Raven Software has had plenty of time to reflect on the game's shortcomings, and the plan for this sequel is to... well, rock.

Star Wars: Jedi Outcast - Jedi Knight II ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:58 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
JediKnight.net has had Raven's Ryan Fulton stopping by their forums the past couple of days to answer questions on the Star Wars: Jedi Outcast - Jedi Knight II demo. (More at the Source: jediknight.net)

Unreal II ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:52 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
Well Rounded Entertainment has "the straight scoop" on Unreal II, the upcoming first-person shooter sequel by Legend Entertainment. Here's the intro:

"Legend's Mike Verdu wants to make one thing exceedingly clear: You will not need a GeForce 3 to play Unreal II. He's got reason to be frustrated. The stunning visuals of the game have sparked a flurry of press reports that in order to run the next installment in this action series, you'll need nVidia's top of the line card. And even though the game won't see store shelves for at least a year (probably more), that's still going to be more than most gamers are willing - or able - to pay."

PlanetSide - A Massively Multiplayer Orgy of Fragging! ....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 2:33 AM MDT Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Comment on news]
Imagine playing Quake or Tribes online with up to three thousand other people. Imagine graphics that look as smooth as pre-rendered movies. Imagine running into battle, with hundreds of other players, against another team of the same number. You’ve just imagined PlanetSide, the world’s first massively multiplayer first person shooter. (More @ the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)

Interplay In Buyout Talks ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 3:10 PM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
According to both Well-Rounded Entertainment and Eurogamer, Interplay is in talks to sell themselves to an "unknown" third party. Speculation is leaning toward Microsoft, who loaned the company $5 million to assure that the Matrix game will be Xbox only for 6 months. Interplay has put out such games as Giants, Baldur's Gate, Sacrifice, and much more over the years. You can read more about it in this press release.

Global Operations....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 3:06 PM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
FGN Online speaks to Barking Dog about what the developer took away from Counter-Strike and implemented into Global Operations. (More at the Source: fgnonline.com)

Warren Spector Q&A ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 3:01 PM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
Joystick101.org has conducted a Q&A with Warren Spector. The questions don't deal specifically with any of his past or present projects, but instead focus on the art of game design and the future of the industry as an art form. (More at the Source: joystick101.org)

Talk with Silicon Ice Development ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:19 AM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
Thanks to ITG Radio there will be an Urban Terror discussion with some of the members of Silicon Ice Development taking place on Thursday, May 31 starting approximately at 6pm PST [0100 GMT]. The host, Blankz will start spinning the tunes at 5pm and the discussion session will start approximately an hour later. You will need to go to #itg on irc.enterthegame.com using IRC, from that channel you will receive all the necessary information to listen and even participate in the Q&A. Beta 2 will not be released during this session. Urbanterror.net is also mentioning the manual's release and also news of when the game's release party will be. (More at the Source: planethalflife.com)

Going Beyond the Game....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:05 AM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
Searching for collectibles to erect that shrine dedicated to your favorite game? Look no further. GameSpy looks at the process of marketing gaming gear and where to get it. (More at the Source: gamespy.com)

ATI Unveils TRUFORM....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:04 AM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
ATI Technologies Inc. has unveiled TRUFORM, a new rendering technology developed for future generations of graphics processors that will help to deliver the smoothest, most natural 3D images ever seen on both existing and next-generation 3D games and personal computers. (More at the Source: planethalflife.com)

Destination Games....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:54 AM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
While at E3, Voodoo Extreme got a chance to chat with Richard "Lord British" Garriott and Starr Long, as the two former Origin team members talked about their new start up company Destination Games, where they and a large number of the former Ultima Online 2 team will work on what they are calling the first true second generation online game. Check out the Destination Games E3 report to see what they revealed about their plans.

E3 Awards....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:50 AM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Game Critics Awards site has been updated with the list of E3 Awards Nominations. Winners will be selected on June 18. The full list of 2001 nominees can be found here. The Game Critics Awards are independent E3 awards, voted on by editors from nearly every major online and print magazine and newspaper that covers games.

Operation Flashpoint Infantry Guide ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:43 AM MDT Tuesday, May 29, 2001 [Comment on news]
There's a new infantry guide for Operation Flashpoint on OperationFlashpoint.net, here's the intro:

Grunt. Dogface. Groundpounder. Footslogger. Leg. Quean of the Battlefield. All names for the most important branch of the military, the branch which all others support, the Infantry. The mission of the infantry is to close with and kill in the enemy in direct combat. The battle is not over, and the war not one, until the infantry finally rises above the final stronghold and puts the flag over it. All other missions are subordinate. The average infantryman has to be well-trained, equipped, and led if he is to have any hope of successfully completing his mission without becoming a casualty. This guide pertains specifically to multiplayer in OFP, and on a general basis to all realistic tactical games.

Today is Memorial Day....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:46 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
Well, today's Memorial Day, folks. A special day for all Americans here, because for its call of remembrance; to keep alive the memory of all the American soldiers who fought and died while serving this country and democracy around the world. And I guess it's tradition on this holiday, to take a trip somewhere and have a nice little picnic. Basically, to enjoy the freedom that good men have died for.

Well, I could go on and make a five-paragraph speech about duty, honor and country but I wont, I think other men can do a better job. Click here: (More @ the Source: washingtontimes.com)

SOF 2 Double Helix Multiplayer Information....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:32 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
Here's A news item I saw over at evilavatar.com talking about an email they received from Kenn Hoekstra at Raven about the decision not to include Multiplayer in the initial release of Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix:

Basically we are waiting to see how the game is received and what the demand for multiplayer is like in the community. We’re holding off on making the final decision until such a decision can be more of an informed one. It’s also possible, given our current slate of games and game offers that we won’t have the staff or the time to do multiplayer. All the more reason we are taking the “wait and see” attitude. (More @ the Source: evilavatar.com)

Deus Ex Playstation 2 Press Release....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:26 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
San Francisco, CA - (May 17, 2001) - Eidos Interactive, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced that multi-award winning first person action adventure title Deus Ex is currently in development for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Developed by Ion Storm-Austin, Deus Ex has won numerous gaming awards, including PC Gamer magazine's coveted "Game Of The Year" prize in its annual best-of awards. Deus Ex is slated to arrive in stores in winter of 2001, completely revised for PlayStation 2. (More @ the Source: planetdeusex.com)

Top Ten Songs to Frag By....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:26 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
PlanetHalfLife is proud to present the Top Ten Songs to Frag By, compiled by the adoring PHL readers! They sent in their nominations and now the votes have been tallied, counted, and verified by an elite panel of highly qualified people who could do the addition in their head, and finally have set the results in stone! (More at the Source: planethalflife.com)

Electronic games on the rise ....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:21 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
A growing number of people will use the Internet to play games as a wider choice of systems--including improved game consoles, TVs and PCs--becomes available, according to a report released Friday by London-based publisher Informa Media Group. (More @ the Source: cnet.com)

A Look Into FPS Games @ E3....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:17 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
Frag-girlie looks into a few hot FPShooters, she also gives you the low down on the poll we ran all last week. Here's a little snip:

My personal favorite is Medal of Honor so I agree with all those who voted that way. From what I have seen of this game, it is incredibly realistic. I have even read articles that described it at "startlingly" realistic. (More @ the Source: pcshooter)

Tex Atomic's Big Bot Battles....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:10 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
Tex Atomic's Big Bot Battles is the newest FPS to come our way from Monolith Productions, another LithTech-powered game. 3DAction Planet has posted up a look at the demo:

The story behind Tex Atomic is very simple: You're a robot fighting in a tournament run by Tex Atomic, your very annoying announcer. It's a multiplayer game in the same sense as Quake 3 Arena and Unreal Tournament. In each level you fight a bot, and you win by getting the fraglimit or scorelimit. So simple, a newbie could learn it. The four gaming modes are also easy to learn, and will be familiar to those who have been playing other multiplayer FPS games.

GameSpot's Top 20 PC Games from E3 2001....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:03 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
GameSpot presents the top PC games at this year's E3 convention. Here's a snip from their intro:

Many attendants felt that this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo was the best to date since E3 started seven years ago. Besides the presence of so many great games at E3 2001, there was something different about it: There was less nonsense--fewer actors and actresses hired to hawk wares they'd never even heard of, and many more playable games on the show floor. To say the least, this was a positive development for the industry. Moreover, all the various great-looking games that were on display at E3 are a great sign of things to come. The sheer volume of impressive games at E3 made it challenging for GameSpot's editors to select the best of the best. But we have, and we present them in this, our annual Top Games of E3 awards feature.

E3 2001 Conference Recap - "PC Games: The Future Looks Bright"....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:56 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Stratos Group has posted up a summary of another E3 conference, this on the subject of the future of PC games featuring Epic's Cliff Bleszinski, Shiny's Dave Perry, and Gas Powered Games's Chris Taylor. (More at the Source: stratosgroup.com)

Max Payne....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:49 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
There's a Max Payne gallery on the Daily Telefrag offering a mix of old and new screenshots from the upcoming shooter, as well as a photo of the Remedy employee who served as the inspiration for Max's look. (More at the Source: gallery.dailytelefrag.com)

Red Faction Interview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:46 AM MDT Monday, May 28, 2001 [Comment on news]
There's a Red Faction interview on Voodoo Extreme talking with James Tsai, an associate producer at Volition, about progress on the PC version of Red Faction, their Geo-Mod engine first person shooter that was recently released for the PS2. In addition to discussing the contrasts between the PC and console versions, the conversation also covers what they hope will make Red Faction stand out from other shooter titles, the game's reception at E3, engine licensing plans, system requirements, and more. (More at the Source: voodooextreme.com)

Atlantica by Lonely Cat Games....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 12:04 PM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
Lonely Cat Games has recently redesigned the website for their FPS game, Atlantica. Here's a bit on the game:

The story takes place in a past, about 3000 B.C. Two great nations on the Earth - the Incas and Atlantis are rivals. The Atlantis are on a greater evolution level, while Incas have dominance in citizen count. The situation is balanced until an alien space ship lands on the tenth planet of the Solar System. Aliens are interested in earth's raw materials, and for this reason they start to communicate with the Inca nation. In return for trading the ore from the earth, Incas receive alien technologies and weapons.

Meet the Future: the 'X Internet'....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:58 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
Calling today's Internet "dumb, boring and isolated," Forrester Research is playing a funeral dirge for the Net as we know it, predicting that the World Wide Web will soon be replaced by a richer, interactive "X Internet." The X Internet will not be a new invention, but rather the evolution of today's Internet of static Web pages and cumbersome e-commerce mechanisms into a Net that relies on executable software code to deliver more interactive experiences. (More at the Source: techextreme.com)

Official DoD League Preview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:47 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
Zeroping.com has posted a exclusive preview of the Offical Day of Defeat League, ETO (European Theatre of Operations). The creators, Kratzer and Forsaken, have stated that this league will be Unique in many ways. Here's what Kratzer had to say about it:

"ETO is NOT a traditional league, but rather a campaign which tries to add some of the strategical elements of a game like Axis and Allies to the squad combat of DoD. Teams choose to fight the campaign as either the Axis, or the Allies - and the victory is a victory for either of those sides, and not just for a single clan/squad."



Unreal Fortress: Behind the Mod ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:44 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
Successful mods don't just happen. It takes work, dedication and talent. GameSpy gets a behind the scenes look at the team that developed the UT mod Unreal Fortress. (More at the Source: gamespy.com)




The Best Collection of E3 Booth Babes from Past to Present....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:31 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
I found a new site for all those E3 Booth Babe lovers out there. Here's a little bit about it:

"Welcome to our Grand Opening, we hope you enjoy our free growing archive. Our concept is simple create a trading floor for all E3 fantics to upload and share their E3 babe pictures, because we all know - you didn't only play the games!"
Check all the babes out here.



Wolfenstein E3 Trailer Never to See the Light of Day Again?....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:26 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
I spotted this at Actung! Wolfenstein where Return to Castle Wolfenstein executive producer Greg Goodrich made some comments on the chances of the E3 trailer being released to the public.




Take Two in the Black....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:21 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
According to Euro trade rag MCV, Take Two Interactive (the owner of the Gathering of Developers) has reported record breaking earnings netting some $93.3 million last quarter. Here's more:

Net sales for the quarter were $93.3 million compared with $70.0 million for the same period a year ago, representing a 33 per cent increase. Net income was $3.9 million, excluding non-recurring, non-cash impairment charges of $24.9 million relating to the company's investments in Gameplay.com and eUniverse.com and certain related Internet assets, compared with $3.4 million for the same period a year ago.



Max Payne Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:13 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
Voodoo Extreme has posted an interview with Remedy Entertainment's Petri Järvilehto about Max Payne, its soon-to-be released "Matrix" inspired third person perspective action game that also won their best of E3 award this year. Here's a little something to get you started:

Voodoo Extreme – What is the current status on the game’s progress?

Petri Järvilehto - Right now, we’re close. We are very, very close. We’ve started beta testing the game. It’s all there; all the gameplay. All the maps are done and we are now polishing and tweaking, polishing and tweaking. We are adding more cinematics and get more things out of the combat. But as of now, everything has merged up very nicely. It also depends a lot on 3D Realms. Their feedback is something we value very highly. So we will have to see how that works out, but we are not far.
You can check out the rest here.



There's No Business Like Game Business....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:05 AM MDT Sunday, May 27, 2001 [Comment on news]
CliffyB has posted a document called You've Been Given a Job Offer! (Let's Try to Avoid Getting Screwed) with practical hints and tips on how to help make sure you are going to be taken care of after you accept a job in the gaming industry. Cliffy says the article is based on "horror stories" he's heard, so we can't even assume the worst about his employers.


Saturday, May 26, 2001

Gaming Getting Bigger....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:12 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
According to a new study from London's Informa Media Group the size of the games market could jump by a massive 71% over the next five years, making us an $86bn industry by 2006. Mostly this will be thanks to a wave of new console systems such as the Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 3, as well as the spreading of games to interactive TV set-top boxes and next-generation mobile phones. "The big difference over the next few years will be a move away from the image of gamers as 'nerds'", according to report co-author Adam Thomas. "Games will move very much into the mainstream - something that will see 'ordinary' people playing games much more, using their mobile phones and TV sets." (More at the Source: eurogamer.net)




Hardware Showcase at E3....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:04 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
E3 is the largest annual convention for the gaming industry, so it's natural that upcoming games are the main focus of the show. But this doesn't mean that hardware doesn't have its own place on the show floor. In fact, since game publishers want to show their games in the best possible light, the demonstration stations they set up are generally impressive, from the large plasma displays and HDTVs to fast PC systems and high-quality controllers. (More at the Source: gamespot.com)




E3 2001 Part 2....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:58 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
FiringSquad has posted up part 2 to their E3 report, which covers the following: Unreal 2 and Unreal for X-Box, Max Payne, Medal of Honor, and Bioware's upcoming Star Wars RPG/action. (More at the Source: firingsquad.gamers.com)




Hitman 2 Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:53 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
Too all you evil-doers out there, you better start looking over your shoulder, because guess who is back? That's right, it's good ol' 47. The sequel to the cult hit of last year, Hitman 2 has much going for it: amazing freedom when it comes to mission objectives, plus a sexy new engine. HitmanHQ's Tech21 takes a look at this upcoming title. The game is still very early in development but they do reveal a little info on the game (which will apparently not be published by Eidos). (More at the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)




Max Payne E3 Report....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:51 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
The guys out at Action Vault have posted up a Max Payne E3 Report, basically taking a look at Remedy's upcoming 3rd person shooter based on their recent viewing of the game at this year's E3.




Behind the NVidia Graphics ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:47 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
Without the right team showing off new video chips, they are just a piece of silicon. GameSpy chats with Curtis Beeson of the Nvidia's demo engineering team about his job. Here's a snip:

"GameSpy: How long have you been doing graphics demos for NVIDIA?"

Curtis Beeson: I have been at NVIDIA for three years. Originally, I worked at SGI back when that was the cool place to be. When the world started crashing down around us, I interviewed at NVIDIA and was immediately impressed by the talent and drive these guys had. They were 1 out of maybe 7 companies, and everybody could see a shakedown on the horizon. I put my money on these guys and I chose wisely... ;)"
Check out the rest here.



Transmeta & AMD ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:42 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
AMD and Transmeta announced that they have signed licensing agreements that promote industry standards for next generation microprocessors. Specifically, Transmeta has licensed AMD's x86-64 technology and AMD's HyperTransport interconnect technology for their future x86 processors and technology initiatives. HyperTransport interconnect technology is an innovative solution that moves information faster, enabling the chips inside of PCs, networking and communications devices to communicate with each other up to 48 times faster than with existing technologies. AMD's x86-64 technology is a straightforward approach to 64-bit computing. It builds upon the x86 instruction set, and seamlessly integrates into the current 32-bit computing and support environment. Compatible with today's 32-bit computing environment, AMD's x86-64 technology approach will enable enterprises to transition to 64-bit environments while preserving the billions of dollars in 32-bit hardware and software investments. Check out the press release here.




Hidden and Dangerous 2 ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:34 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
An unofficial Hidden & Dangerous 2 site has posted their version of a Hidden & Dangerous 2 FAQ sheet. (More at the Source: hidden-and-dangerous2.co.uk)




Team Factor Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:32 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
A six question Q&A with the Team Factor development team at 7fx is up at Xenofex.net. The questions deal with the level of realism the developers are aiming for, as well as how their sniper rifle functions and how the game differs from Counter-Strike.




Halo Update....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:29 AM MDT Saturday, May 26, 2001 [Comment on news]
The weekly Halo update is up at Rampancy.net. This week's update contains details on the new multiplayer modes, graphical enhancements and everything else the team has been working on this past week.


Friday, May 25, 2001

UGO Ripping Web Sites Off....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 12:50 PM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
Damn! Damn damn damn damn! A friend of mine just sent me this link on SlashDot and I can't believe what UGO is doing. Very insane. They are witholding paying, paying people at half the rate. Very interesting. Be sure to click the link and check it out. (More @ the Source: slashdot.org)




Hitachi CM715 19" monitor Review....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 9:01 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
Hitachi, known for it's excellent technological products, has made available to the public an affordable, outstanding 19" monitor - the CM715.

With a super-low .22mm dot pitch, you get an outstanding picture of crisp, sharp text and images. The display features black matrix with Invar Shadow Mask for superior brightness, sharpness and color purity. The high contrast screen is treated with an anti-static, anti-glare coat and is PC and Mac compatible. Competitively priced, this monitor provides outstanding images at a great value. (More @ the Source: lucidbreed.com)




10 Types of Gamers....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:58 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
Throughout the gaming community, you will come across 10 different types of gamers. The Low Ping Bastard. The Screamer. Oh, the list goes on and on .. and CitizenC is right there to list them all. What, did he miss one or two? Tell him! Tell us! Sharing is good. (More @ the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)




Online Advertising ....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:55 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
Avault has an interesting article up taking a look at online advertising and why it doesn't seem to be such a hot idea anymore. There's an emphasis on gaming/hardware websites, so this applies to pcshooter as well as many other sites out there. Lately we've been seeing a lot of gaming networks falling apart, what with Daily Radar, eFront, and even the GameFan network. (More @ the Source: avault.com)




VE's Best of E3....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:11 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
After untold hours of reflection, much debate, some coin tossing and other proven scientific methods of picking winners Voodoo Extreme has assembled their top 20 picks of the 2001 Electronic Entertainment Expo, which even includes their pick for best overall console game. Included (to spice things up) are a bunch of new (and some exclusive) screen shots of more than a few of the games.




CDV Breeds....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:59 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
German publisher CDV has announced that it will be publishing Breed, the debut game from British start-up Brat Designs. A sci-fi shooter featuring both first and third person views, the game will include on-foot and in-vehicle action on the ground and in space. (More at the Source: eurogamer.net)




GearGrip-CRT....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:54 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
CaseAce Products has recently announced a new product, their GearGrip - CRT, which allows you to easily transport your monitor (great for LAN goers). The new product retails for $26.95 and will fit most monitors up to 21.




A Gamer's Rig: Setup and Software - The Basics....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:46 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Gamer's Rig series continues on the Adrenaline Vault, with Paul Sullivan explaining the basics of system preparation and software setup. From installing the OS to preparing the hard drive, it's all here.




Urban Terror Release Date....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:44 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
Silicon Ice Development let us know that they have set their official Urban Terror Beta 2 release date for Friday, June 1, 2001. You can keep your eye on their website for more release details and party info. (More at the Source: urbanterror.net)




George Broussard Interview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:35 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
The guys over at VoodooExtreme has posted up a new interview with George Broussard, President and Co-founder of 3D Realms. Most of the interview talks about the Duke Nukem Forever Trailer which was released during E3. Here's a sample:

Voodoo Extreme - First, are you and the 3D Realms team pleased with the way the game video turned out?

George Broussard - We're completely pleased with it. Especially considering we recorded the footage and editied the video within about a 5 day window. We were a little annoyed that the CNN version leaked a day early, but that concern was quickly put to rest once we read the online response.
Check out the rest here.



No One Lives Forever 1.003 Patch ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:28 AM MDT Friday, May 25, 2001 [Comment on news]
Monolith sends along the new patch for No One Lives Forever, bringing their acclaimed first-person shooter to version 1.003. The patch addresses a multiplayer exploit, and fixes several other multiplayer issues as well as a few gameplay bugs. You can pick it up here.


Thursday, May 24, 2001

World War II Online website updated....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 4:56 PM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
The WorldWar II Online website has been updated with nine new first person shooter screenshots from Cornered Rat Software's massivelymultiplayer shooter/sim game. The game recently went gold and should be instores in June. (More @ the Source: stomped/playnet.com)




Klipsch Reveals Plans for 5.1 Speakers....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:18 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
While four-point surround speakers can sound great, to get the full experience of DVD Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, you need a true 5.1 speaker system. So to fill the gap at the top of its high-end speaker lineup, Klipsch has announced the ProMedia 5.1 speaker set. Like Klipsch's acclaimed ProMedia 2.1 and 4.1 speakers, the new system is THX-certified and undeniably powerful, rated at 500 watts for its four equally sized satellites, new center-channel, and powered subwoofer. The center channel speaker is magnetically shielded to sit near a monitor and, like the satellites, uses a two-way design that combines a horn tweeter and a midrange three-inch driver. (More at the Source: gamespot.com)




Graphics Article....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:13 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
Max Payne artist Peter Hajba published an article at Gamasultra called The Power of the High Pass Filter which deals with texture art in games. It's an interesting read if you're into this type of thing, and Max Payne, as you might already know uses photo-realistic texures, which I think look really great.




Mass Market Gaming ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:08 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
It's Diablo versus Deer Hunter as hardcore gaming clashes with casual PC users. The Adrenaline Vault examines the mainstream gaming phenomenon and discusses its impact on the future of interactive entertainment. (More at the Source: adrenalinevault.com)




Best PC Action Game of Show: Medal of Honor: Allied Assault....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:02 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
PC.IGN has posted their best of E3 Awards, and our congratulations go out to the Medal of Honor team. Here's what they have to say about it:

"All a good shooter needs is a decent physics model, cool level design and good graphics. But a truly great shooter goes one step further and adds a healthy does of style and atmosphere. This WWII era shooter's got it in spades. With cinematic action in a fully fleshed out world, Medal of Honor raises the standards for the genre. It's even more impressive given the quality of all the other shooters at the show."
You can see the rest of the winners here.



SoF 2 Diary....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:55 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
GameSpy has published the first of their Soldier of Fortune II Developer Diaries, contributed by Zach Quarles, which discusses creating the sounds for Soldier of Fortune 2. (More at the Source: gamespy.com)




New RTCW Movie!....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:53 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Return to Castle Wolfenstein fan site Achtung Wolfenstein! have scored themselves a third movie showing off more RTCW action from this year's E3 show! You can check it out here.




Massively E3: PlanetSide....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:49 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
PlanetSide It's always an assumption that "massively multiplayer" is intimately linked with the words "role playing game". But Sony Online is hoping to change that with the first massively multiplayer first person shooter, PlanetSide, and PlanetSide's associative producer Steve George took 3DActionPlanet through the game. (More at the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)




Unreal II E3 Report....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:46 AM MDT Thursday, May 24, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Action Vault continues its E3 coverage with their impressions of Legend Entertainment's and Epic Games' Unreal II. The preview covers some development background, game features, and impressions. (More at the Source: actionvault.ign.com)


Wednesday, May 23, 2001

3D Realms/Gamestar.de E3 Pics....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 6:18 PM MDT Wednesday, May 23, 2001 [Comment on news]
The 3D Realmswebsite has their infamousE3 pics posted from last week's E3. There are around 240 pictures for their first batch of pics and they all have captions. George Broussard's pics are expected to go up later in the week. In related news, Gamestar.dehas booth babe pics up..

(Source:Stomped.com)




Don't Believe the Hype?....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:06 AM MDT Wednesday, May 23, 2001 [Comment on news]
3DActionPlanet reader Dr. Foxy talks about E3, hype, and gamers' quick nature to judge a game too early. Hype can make or break a game, even before it is released. Do you believe it? (More at the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)




Tommyguns Everywhere!....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:45 AM MDT Wednesday, May 23, 2001 [Comment on news]
Here's the latest from molotov_billy from the Day of Defeat Mod Team:

"That's right, we're still working on 1.3/2.0. Still no release dates, except "hopefully soon." And just to make sure you all know, these weapon remakes are not holding back any releases. They're simply extra stuff Agent~0 and I are working on while others get the release together. I know the render is cheesy, but you get a good view of Agent's reskin of the tommy gun. The new model is in game, complete with new animations and new reload sounds."




Urban Terror Q3 Update....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:20 AM MDT Wednesday, May 23, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Urban Terror folks have an update to their Quake 3 military mod website. They have posted three in-game videos showing three different levels and a little bit of action. Quicktime 5 is required, so it will prompt you to install it when running the file. The videos range in length from about 1 1/2 minutes to 3 minutes long.




Operation Flashpoint Hi-Res Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:11 AM MDT Wednesday, May 23, 2001 [Comment on news]
OpFlash.com has posted 10 high-resolution screenshots from Operation Flashpoint, the team based shooter in development by Bohemia Interactive/Codemasters. They were taken at 1600x1200 with 32-bit color. But then how many will actually be able to play at that resolution...hmmm. The game is due out in Europe within the next couple months and shortly thereafter in the U.S.




The Fall of Online Advertising....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:07 AM MDT Wednesday, May 23, 2001 [Comment on news]
Adrenaline Vault publisher Brian Clair discusses the harsh realities behind recent gaming site closures before turning his thoughts to what the future holds for online gaming media and their readerships. (More at the Source: adrenalinevault.com)


Tuesday, May 22, 2001

E3 Exploitation of women!....
Posted by [NewsStaff] @ 11:55 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
The soft-porn fixation embarrassingly displayed at computer gaming's biggest convention, E3, is dooming the $6 billion industry to the nerd-geek ghetto.

Welcome to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the annual showcase for the latest in computer and video gaming. And if you're wondering what a stripper's sticky business on a steel pole has to do with video games, well, then you haven't been paying attention to just how big -- and sleazy a boy-toy party the computer gaming industry has become. (More @ the Source: salon.com)




EA 2001....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:17 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
With the chaos of E3 over for another year, EA Europe's press extranet site has been updated with release dates and screenshots for their 2001 line-up, and as you would expect from the world's biggest publisher, it's quite a list. (More at the Source: eurogamer.net)




Q3DMHellchick: The E3 Confessions....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:11 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is all about games, but the people are exhibits, too. 3DActionPlanet's Hellchick struggles with the need to be a writer and the urge to be a fangirl. (More at the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)




Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:06 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
You want to see SoF2 in action? Well come on in says pc.ign.com. (More at the Source: pc.ign.com)




In the future, Eidos looks to bring PC games to Consoles first, PCs second....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:03 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
In an interview with the director and producer of Ion Storm Austin, IGN learned that Eidos and many of its development teams are re-focusing the priorities and order of their PC games to consoles first. They were told that Thief III and Deus Ex 2 are now being planned as console games first, and will then follow as PC games. These two first-person shooters, both of which originated on the PC, had begun development as PC games in the sequel forms, but are now being re-prioritized. Thief III is coming to Xbox, and Deus Ex 2 has not been announced for a specific console yet. The reason behind these changes is apparently developer driven. They were told that because of the particular restraints of the consoles, whether it be RAM, or otherwise, that by programming a game with more restrictions first, it will be easier to open up the games to PCs, which give developers much more freedom, particularly in the RAM department. (Source: PC.IGN.com)




E3 2001 Hands-on: Red Faction....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:58 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
A first-person shooter from the developers of the Freespace games, Red Faction features a graphics engine that allows for dynamic terrain deformation - you can blast the cover right out from in front of your target. Here's a snip from GameSpot:

THQ gave us a new look at Volition's futuristic action game, Red Faction. In the game, you assume the role of Parker, a man who leads a revolution in a mining colony on Mars. Parker begins the game with only a small electric prod, designed to keep unruly miners in line, which he managed to wrestle away from a guard. Through the course of the game, you will come across more-powerful weapons that can actually destroy parts of the environment. This feature is made possible by the game's advanced engine, called geo-mod, which lets you destroy anything designated by the developers as destroyable. This includes rock walls, concrete towers, doors, walls, floors, and almost everything else.
Catch the rest here.



Unreal 2 Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:43 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
MGON has posted up their preview of Unreal 2 from their behind-closed-doors look at E3. Here's a snip:

This engine is defintely what dreams are made of, Scott Dalton, lead level designer at Legend, was showing off the sniper rifle and zoomed in on one of them Big Dragon like things, their wings were flapping, their heads moving and the clouds moving behind them in a smooth sanguine motion, I almost cried. As if that weren't enough, my soul howled out in bliss when I saw the delicious particle effects which breathed life into the running water of a Water Fall. The whole point is that the whole enviroment is totally 3-d. Scott played a nifty lil trick and took away the textures and left the wire frame for us ingame and boasted "Our Walls have more poly's than a regular game has in it's whole map". As far as the game play goes, we were shown mostly the single player aspect as that's the way Legend is trying to go with this, but we did get to check out one CTF map full of asteroids, and not like just one asteroid, a field FULL of asteroids, and a prototype of a grapple, not fully implemented yet but could make Low G maps a whole lot more fun. Included in the release they will have DM, TDM, LMS, CTF and a new gametype referred to once as XMP or Xtreme Multi Player.
Check out the rest here.



Electronic Entertainment Expo – 2001 - Hardware....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:36 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
For many, heaven would be a fabulous place, where around every corner a new wonder is waiting to be absorbed. To the avid gamer, this mythological place is embodied in the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in sunny Southern California. Littering the show floor are upcoming titles for PCs, consoles, and even the occasional hardware vendor, rounding out the package. (More at the Source: sharkyextreme.com)




Half-Life mod Holy Wars Review....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:31 AM MDT Tuesday, May 22, 2001 [Comment on news]
NightStrike has a new review of the Half-Life mod Holy Wars. Here is a bit from the review:

On first impressions of the Mod, you cant help but feel this is VERY similar to all the other half-life mods. However the plot to this one is a lot more original than most. As you can gather from the introduction the theme is that of ultimate redemption. You enter the game as a sinner, your objective: to grab the halo, gain 'saint' status, and hold it...meanwhile all the other players attack you. Needless to say on a busy server this can be a mission impossible in itself, the small level sizes just adding to your already hyper-intensive, panic driven reactions.
You can catch the rest here.

Monday, May 21, 2001

Activision E3 Press Kit Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 3:02 PM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
I received an E3 packet from Activision with some more screenshots from Soldier of Fortune 2 that I thought I would share with you. Personally I like the shot of the soldier in camouflage with the piercing blue eyes. You can see it and the others here.




Software Piracy Rises....
Posted by [NewsStaff] @ 10:35 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
This ie Magazine news blurb mentions that a computer software maker trade group announced today that 37 percent of the programs used by businesses worldwide are illegal copies. That is reportedly the first time piracy has grown in more than half a decade. The losses are estimated at $11.75 billion a year. Of course, that assumes the pirates would have bought the software if they did not pirate it. (More @ the Source: iemag.com)




Pentagon Under Daily Attacks from Hackers ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:23 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
Unidentified hackers have been trying to break into Defense Department computer networks in a constant push to disrupt U.S. military forces, the Pentagon's chief information officer said Thursday. The Defense Department is "probed on a daily basis by those who are trying, or planning, to disrupt our nation's military capabilities," acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Linton Wells told a House Armed Services subcommittee. Last year, attackers pierced unclassified Defense Department networks 215 times, up slightly from 1999, but classified systems remained inviolate. (More at the Source: news.cnet.com)




Wolfenstein Screenshots ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:07 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
Activision and id have released 10 new Return to Wolfenstein screenshots in celebration of the game’s strong showing at E3. (More at the Source: adrenalinevault.com)




More E3 2001 Booth Babe Coverage ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:03 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
3D Retreat has posted their E3 2001 Booth Babe Coverage ... just in case you didn't get enough of them from the link above our news title bar. :o) (More at the Source: 3dretreat.com)




Unreal 2 Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:59 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
Over at VoodooExtreme this morning, you'll find JCal's latest preview which takes a look at Epic and Legend's Unreal 2. Legend team members took them through the demo and gave them a first hand look at the progress being made on this FPS. (More at the Source: voodooextreme.com)




Operation Flashpoint Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:49 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
OpFlash.com has posted up a bunch of screenshots. Here are a couple for you:

  You can check out the full size shots and others here.




Operation Flashpoint Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:40 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
OperationFlashpoint.com recently contacted Jan Hovora aka Ohara, one of Operation Flashpoint's developers working at BI Studio, to ask him some questions. Here's a sample:

Helza: There are some concerns of OFP fans about the possibility of cheating in OFP. Can you tell us what kind of measures you’ve taken to prevent this?

Ohara: We’re putting allot of effort in preventing people from doing this. One of the steps we’ve taken is a sort of unique identification code in OFP at which people who host games can see who “really” joins the game so they can stop cheaters from entering. There are also some precautions to prevent people from modifying the files (for online games). Those are only a few from a longer list of steps we’ve taken to stop this kind of abuse.
Check out the rest here.



Windows 2000 - Improving Compatibility/Performance Guide....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:29 AM MDT Monday, May 21, 2001 [Comment on news]
Windows 2000 is the future of all Microsoft Operating Systems, while admittedly great, it does have a few problems. Compatibility issues happen to be one of them for many people, as does poor WDM drivers. This guide posted up at 3DSpotlight.com will give you tips on how to improve application/game compatibility & performance in Windows 2000. (More at the Source: 3dspotlight.com)


Sunday, May 20, 2001

Logitech Gamer Line-up....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 2:07 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
Just in time for Spring (or should I say in time for E3), Logitech has announced their line-up of gaming controllers, featuring the WingMan Formula GP, WingMan Attack 2 and WingMan Precision USB. All three USB-enabled products will be available from retailers this summer. (More at the Source: logitech.com)




Anistropic Filtering Article (GeForce3)....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 2:06 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
The GeForce3 is capable of anisotropic filtering. It is a "hidden" feature in that various NVIDIA driver versions starting from the 11.01 on up :

1) has an official "Enable Anisotropic Filtering" checkbox in its OpenGL control panel but this does not work ; while at the same time2) the GeForce3 is capable of various anisotropic degree (16, 32 and 64-tap)

In order to access and enable the various anisotropic filtering modes, registry editing is needed at the moment when it comes to the 11.01 (and beyond) driver versions. This is explained in my review of the VisionTek GeForce3 at Beyond3D. Please refer to that review if you want to know the registry details. (More @ the Source: 3dpulpit.com)




Global Ops Preview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 2:04 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
An updated preview of Crave/Barking Dog Studios' upcoming team-based action game Global Operations is on the grill over at pc.ign, offering up a pretty good look at the game (including a few screenies.) Here's some of what they saw:

The demo that they had up and running had little targets set up made out of the different materials in the game such as wood, metal, and stone. Designer Jaime Taggart took me through the demo bringing out several different weapons and shooting them into the different materials demonstrating the different ways that the weapons react. All I'm saying is the high-powered sniper rifle went through the metal and then the stone wall behind it. I can't wait to shoot through a couple of people that are stupid enough to stand right next to each other.
You can read the rest here.



Preview of Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:54 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
PC.IGN has a newly updated preview of Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix, Raven's upcoming sequel to their original uber-realistic action shooter. This new one, of course, includes a bit more info taken from checking out the game at this year's recently-concluded E3, and also offers up 3 new QuickTime movies showing off some in-game footage. (More at the Source: pc.ign.com)




Hands-On With Wolfenstein at E3 ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:48 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted up a hands-on with Wolfenstein at E3. Here's a sampling:

The name Wolfenstein is one dear to the hearts of many gamers. Back in the early days of first person gaming, id's shareware shooter Wolfenstein 3D was installed on just about every PC around. With replayability in the form of hidden secrets, great enemies, and an easy to get into story (Nazis = bad) Wolf3D went down in history as one of the most important FPS games of all time. Many players think that it's about time there was another Wolf game, and apparently Activision agrees because they're publishing Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Until this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo getting any new info on Return to Castle Wolfenstein was impossible. The public was shown some nice screenshots and given a preliminary description, but the usual hype associated with such a high-profile game just hasn't been there. Well, start the hype machine because RTCW was on display at E3 and we were there for a hands-on play test of the game.
(More at the Source: homelanfed.com)



B&W - Evidence of a Patch....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:45 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
For those playing Black & White, the Black&White Center has updated with some "patch evidence" news. As many gamers were in doubt of the patch actually being a reality, Daniel Deptford sent in a picture of his desktop with some proof. Black&White Center also mentions that the release date is still supposed to be set for Monday. (More at the Source: bwcenter.com)




Allied Assault E3 Movie....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:33 PM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
EA has updated their Medal of Honor: Allied Assault E3 webpage to include the new E3 movie. The movie is available in both high (18 MB) and low (6.26 MB) res QuickTime format. AlliedAssault.com has also posted versions of the movie, which you can also download here.




C&C: Renegade Review from E3....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:55 AM MDT Sunday, May 20, 2001 [Comment on news]
Gamerspulse reviews Command & Conquer at E3. Here's a snippet for you:

Command & Conquer: Renegade is a fast-paced 3-D action game set in the gripping Command & Conquer universe. For the first time, experience the Command and Conquer universe up close and personal as you fight it out on the ground among the structures, vehicles and weapons made famous in the original C&C. You assume the role of Havoc, elite GDI commando who fights and explores from a first or third-person viewpoint. Battling through exotic indoor and outdoor environments, you're free to use both brute force and stealth in your mission objectives against the evil Brotherhood of Nod.
Check out the rest here.

Saturday, May 19, 2001

Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction ....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 6:20 PM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
Blizzard release a bunch of new images and concept art from their upcoming expansion pack.


 (More at the Source: gamespy.com)




Jedi Knight II....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:27 PM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
In the tradition of the multi-award-winning Jedi Knight, rebel agent Kyle Katarn returns in exhilarating first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force powers to languish for fear of falling to the dark side, Kyle entrusted his lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, vowing never to use it again. But when a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future. Jedi Outcast is being developed in partnership with Activision's critically acclaimed developer Raven Software. Players assume the role of Kyle as they employ a unique mix of weapons, Force powers and your lightsaber in both single and multiplayer modes. (More at the Source: gamespy.com)




Hidden & Dangerous 2 Site Launched....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 12:08 PM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
Talonsoft/Take-Two Interactive has launched a new web site for one of their upcoming game titles, Hidden & Dangerous 2, a first and third person tactical shooter that builds on the tremendous success of Hidden & Dangerous.

You lead a small squad of Allied soldiers deep behind enemy lines, to carry out secret missions during World War II. The gripping story line takes you to Europe, Africa, Burma, and other locations scattered across the globe. Each critical decision impacts you, your men, and your country. This unique blend of action, strategy, and tactics forces you to use your brain just as much as your trigger finger. (More at the Source: handd2.godgames.com)



Operation Flashpoint Preview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:58 AM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
GameSpy has posted up another preview from E3: Operation Flashpoint. Here's a taste:

"Ever play a tactical first-person shooter only to be disappointed that you couldn't drive the vehicles, or that the environment was too limiting? Operation Flashpoint, currently under development by Bohemia Interactive Studios and being published by Codemasters, looks to remove the restrictions - delivering the most visceral, real-time tactical first person shooter to date."
Check out the rest here.



GeForce 6 and 10?....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:51 AM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
Nvidia's president and CEO has delivered a tantalising glimpse of the kind of performance he expects future generations of Geforce boards to give. Addressing a group of European System builders, Jen-Hsun Huang's made a presentation which included slides suggesting the GeForce 6 will be out in 2003 and built using 100 million transistors and running at 500MHz. The board will shift between one and five million polygons per frame. Looking beyond, his spiel suggested that by 2006 there could be a GeForce 10 boasting 300 million transistors and running at 750MHz. Again this would render between one and five million polygons per frame. (More at the Source: eurogamer.net)




Quake III Arena Patch Update....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:38 AM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
id Software's Robert Duffy updated his .plan with a brief status report on the upcoming point release patch for Quake III Arena, which was originally anticipated a week or so ago. Here is what he has to say:

"Early next week". Did I say that ? The point release is coming, we continue to update and tweak things as well as fix some issues. Mod Authors have and have had the source etc and it is in the testing loop at Activision. Soon is the best I can say, but we hope this will address all of the cheats, hacks, adds a multitude of new things request wise, fixes lots of bugs etc. A Linux beta will be available right around the same time too as well as Mac. I did not attend E3 this year but it looks like it went great. Lots of neat looking games from the look of the movies and the word back from everyone there.
(Source: Blue's News)



Global Operations....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:35 AM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
With our recent addiction to Tribes and the horrible addiction that many suffer in many team based shooter games, it's no surprise that there are a whole lot of companies that will be trying to jump onto the wagon and create masterpieces of their own. Barking Dog, the creators of Homeworld: Cataclysm, have put themselves firmly on the list with their own entry into the race with Global Operations. Thanks to the wonderful E3, IGN got the chance to take a look at the game for the first time and check out how it's coming along. (More at the Source: pc.ign.com)




GeForce 2 vs. GeForce 3:....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:33 AM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
Am I mad?, GeForce 2 vs. the GeForce 3? Okay, it's like the Lakers vs. the Clippers but bear with me. Nvidia almost does itself a disservice by releasing too much product. As I read most reviews of the GeForce 3 and look at the benchmarks I lock on how the GeForce 3 compares to the GeForce 2 Ultra. Since the GeForce 3 is really a DirectX 8 card and doesn't greatly distinguish itself in todays' benchamarks it is easy for one to dismiss the card. But what if you don't have a GeForce 2 Ultra? So I decided to concentrate on the next generation cycles and not the refreshes, hence GeForce 2 vs. GeForce 3. (More @ the Source: daytonsmisc.com)




Pop Goes The Newbie....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 11:30 AM MDT Saturday, May 19, 2001 [Comment on news]
In today's fast-paced world of online gaming, newbies get a lot of flack for not knowing their way around. What can be done? Jelan over 3DActionPlanet has a few ideas. (More @ the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)


Friday, May 18, 2001

Getting Her to Play....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:27 PM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
GamersClick has posted up a nifty little editorial which discusses how you can Get Your Woman to Play. While this certainly isn't representative of all women, perhaps you might still find a good bit or two in the editorial if you're having problems getting your better.. (err other) half to play games. (More at the Source: gamersclick.com)




PlanetSide Movies....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:22 PM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
Now shooting someone in the back isn't just for you, it's for the good of the people. Your people. IGN managed to get two movies showing off the vehicle and foot based battles you'll be taking part in in PlanetSide. You can check out them out below:

car vs. feetses here and
fee vs. cars here.



Gold Blue Shift....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 7:16 PM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
According to an update on GameSpot all the blue in the world has not prevented Blue Shift from going gold, as they have news that Gearbox Software's upcoming Half-Life follow-up that puts players in the role of one of the security guards in the ill-fated Black Mesa Research Facility actually went gold a few days before E3, and is expected on store shelves by June 12. In a slightly ironic twist, only the PC version is complete, while work on the Dreamcast version continues, even though the project was originally planned for the Dreamcast only. (More at the Source: gamespot.com)




Day of Defeat Interview - PCShooter Exclusive....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 2:09 PM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
After many nights of playing the latest Half Life mod: Day of Defeat, Luckee and I finally caught up with Molotov_billy from the DoD team for an interview. Here's a snip:

PCShooter: What new things are you working on for the 1.3 patch and the future 2.0 release?

Jakob Jungels: Beta 1.3 is mostly a bug fix patch, with a few pieces of eye candy thrown in. Beta 2.0, however, will completely change the way DoD is played. I can’t really go into specifics, but expect DoD 2.0 to be a completely different game. Sounds, models, code, gameplay, maps; everything will be changed.
You can catch the rest of the interview here.



Chaser Site Goes Online....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:20 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Cauldron Team has launched their new website for the upcoming first person shooter, Chaser. Along with a few updates, they have posted the first six screenshots of the game (not tech screens). Chaser will be distributed by Fishtank Interactive.




THE BEST FPS GAME OF ALL TIME???....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:19 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
One of the most sought-after games at this year's E3 will undoubtedly be Electronic Arts' Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Currently in development at the Oklahoma-based 2015, this first-person shooter will mark the first time that the respected Medal of Honor series ventures away from the PlayStation and onto the PC.

This World War II-based shooter, including its impressive Quake III technology, detailed environments, and its inspiration from the movie Saving Private Ryan. Since that time, the game has come a long way in its promise to deliver the realism of World War II while still conforming to standard first-person shooter guidelines. (More @ the Source: gamespot.com)




Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Media!....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:19 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
Alls I can say Is Ohhhhhhhh My Goodnis:)) You will want to check these links out!

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Movie 1

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Developer Interview

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Interview2

All the Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Screenshots you can bare (Source:gamespot.com)Thanks:)




Open Quartz Demo Review....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:19 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
Are you tired of ordinary first person shooters? Interested in trying something a little more unique? Then you've come to the right place! Today's demo review is of a little known gem by the name of Open Quartz. Unlike your average first person shooter, there are no complex AI driven humanoid enemies to blast away at, there are no structurally advanced levels, and your character doesn't even grunt when he jumps. (More @ the Source: 3dactionplanet.com)




Command & Conquer: Renegade Interview 2....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:18 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
Gamers are always clamoring for sequels to their favorite games. But they are rarely rewarded with a follow-up title that preserves the characteristics of the game world while taking the game into an entirely new genre. X-COM's tried it; Warcraft's tried it -- both titles failed.

The only titles that seem to make it are those that are based on an already established license -- all the Star Wars games from LucasArts, for instance. But with the upcoming release of Command and Conquer: Renegade, Westwood is giving us a rare chance to experience the world of Command and Conquer from the perspective of a single commando. (More @ the Source: pc.ign.com)




Yamaha Announces 20x10x40 CDRWs ....
Posted by [Luckee] @ 8:18 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
Man, How fast will BURNERS Get???????? 30X heheh:)

BUENA PARK, Calif., May 17--Yamaha Corporation of America announces the introduction of the industry's fastest internal and external ReWritable CD recorders. The all-new, multi-platform LightSpeed(2)(TM) CRW2200 Series models are capable of recording on CD-R discs at an industry-first top speed of 20X, writing a full CD in under four minutes; rewriting CD-RW discs at a top speed of 10X; and reading CDs at a sustained maximum rate of 40X. In addition, the CRW2200 Series allows users to rip audio CDs at a maximum speed of 40X-up to 66 percent faster than conventional CD-RW recorders currently in the marketplace-allowing digital audio extraction of a 74-minute audio disc in less than three minutes. (More @ the Source: euniversegames.com)




Report shows that games are a central part of American life....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 8:15 AM MDT Friday, May 18, 2001 [Comment on news]
The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), a trade organization representing computer and video game companies, released the results of its sixth annual consumer survey. According to the IDSA, computer and video games have become a central part of American life. The survey found that the typical family uses its console or computer to play games for an average of 10 to 11 hours per week, which is about an hour more than last year's figures. The average American household has two console game players and two an