June 2002

Sunday, June 30, 2002

Day of Defeat Beta 3.0 Preview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:05 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gamehelper has posted a Day of Defeat Beta 3.0 preview, where they take a look at what to expect from the upcoming beta 3 of the popular DoD mod for Half-Life.


SoF2 Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:01 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

PlanetSoldierOfFortune has posted a SoF2 Q&A where they chat with Raven Software programmer, Bryan "Apoxol" Dube, about Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix. Topics include his background, problems they had to overcome during the development of SoF2, what will be included in the next patch, the reasons for release of the SDK simultaneously with the game, and more.


Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Movie ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:58 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

Tiscali Games has posted a 2 MB movie showing action from the upcoming tactical shooter in development at NovaLogic, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down.


Jailbreak Mod Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:54 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

BeyondUnreal has an interview with the Jailbreak development team about their mod for Unreal Tournament. Here's a nibblet on what this game is about:

    "...it's a mod that lets you and your friends frag each other on opposing teams. But instead of respawning after death, you end up in jail. That's right, your in the slammer until one of your mates can spring you. But if your entire team is captured, you all end up dying a horrible death, with everyone having a front row seat of justice being served.

    Along with with the basics of busting your mates out of jail, their are several mutators that'll add spice to your game. The Arena pits a convict from each team against each other to see who is the better fighter, with the winner given parole. JBFatboy makes convicts get thinner the longer they sit in jail, while llamas gain weight. The newest mutator, JBHammer lets you frag your cellmates and gives you better weapons as time goes on..."


Soldier of Fortune II Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:51 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

TechTV has posted a review of Soldier of Fortune II. Here's a snip:

    "This is not to say the game is horrible, or not improved in ways from the original. Weapon balance is much better than before. Shotguns are only effective at close range, and the weapons you choose at the beginning of a mission are pretty much what you'll be stuck with for the duration. No longer will you find yourself carrying an arsenal fit for a full platoon by the midpoint of a mission. There are fairly realistic limitations to the number of guns and the amount of ammo Mullins can carry. Weapons are also effective in certain situations and a liability in others, so some strategy is required when choosing your method of offense."


IGI 2: Covert Strike Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:47 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

Ferrago has posted a preview of IGI 2: Covert Strike. Here's their intro to get you started:

    "Out there, somewhere, are the ten commandments of gaming. These sacred tablets contain all that needs to be obeyed by development teams in order to create a great game. You know the contents, number 3 ‘thou must not get the work experience kid to design the levels in between making the tea’ that kind of thing. Unfortunately some nefarious developer has hidden the great text in a cupboard, probably surrounded by the skeletons of work experience kids. Thus, with no guiding beacon, games which should have been great (Project IGI step forward) are reduced to above average by design mistakes.

    Luckily for us then that Innerloop Studios, the game’s developer, have gone on an Indiana Jones style adventure to rescue the commandments. This time around it seems that most of the major gripes from the first outing have been addressed. Despite the frustration Project IGI was an enjoyable experience, with the new additions and fixes to previous mistakes Covert Strikes is something to be excited about."


Hardware News....
Posted by [luckee] @ 10:43 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
Today’s Tech reviews


Source Code for RtCW....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:42 AM MDT Sunday, June 30, 2002 [Comment on news]

Activision has released the latest game source code for Return to Castle Wolfenstein, based on code used in the recent 1.33 patch. You can grab it here.


Friday, June 28, 2002

Vietcong Announced....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:08 AM MDT Friday, June 28, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gathering of Developers, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, has announced Vietcong, its upcoming first-person shooter set during the Vietnam War. Players will assume the role of an elite US Special Forces soldier as they lead up to six other soldiers on a series of dangerous missions in the jungle. The game will feature more than 25 weapons, including M16 rifles, grenade launchers, and sniper rifles, and players will also have the option to call in air strikes and set up ambushes. The single-player storyline will span 20 missions, and the game's multiplayer mode will let players join either the US or the Vietcong forces. You can check out more on GameSpot UK.


Jungle Warfare Alpha 1....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:05 AM MDT Friday, June 28, 2002 [Comment on news]

Alpha 1 of the Jungle Warfare mod for Unreal Tournament is now available. The 35MB download has 15 new weapons, 10 new classes, 15 new maps, a jungle weather system, and more.


Operation Flashpoint: Resistance Today....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:03 AM MDT Friday, June 28, 2002 [Comment on news]

Codemasters has reminded us that Operation Flashpoint: Resistance will be today.

    Operation Flashpoint: Resistance Released This Friday June 28th 2002

    Official Expansion Pack to Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis

    Expanding the Flashpoint universe, Operation Flashpoint: Resistance creates an additional 100km2 island complete with industrial-style buildings and original landscape scenery.

    Requiring the original game to play, Operation Flashpoint: Resistance immerses players in a new campaign, with intriguingly different play style, that forms a prequel to the original game?s plot and is set years before Operation Flashpoint?s Cold War hit crisis point.

    Operation Flashpoint: Resistance casts the player as Victor Troska, an experienced ex-Special Forces soldier. Having turned his back on his military past, Troska has settled into a respectable civilian life on the island of Nogova, a short distance from the original game?s three islands. However, his situation changes when the Soviet force invades the island group and destroys Troska's idyllic dreams of a peaceful retirement.

    SUMMARY OF NEW FEATURES
    * Brand new 20-mission campaign.
    * New stand-alone and multiplayer missions.
    * Resistance reaches new levels of realism with a complete campaign set across a brand new 100Km2 island.
    * Incredibly enhanced and detailed graphics.
    * New weapons and new vehicles.
    * New gameplay elements - scavenge and steal weaponry from the enemy to constantly develop the Resistance force under your command.
    * Massively improved multiplayer functionality and performance.


Thievery UT Mod Released....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:59 AM MDT Friday, June 28, 2002 [Comment on news]

There's a new UT mod out today called Thievery. Here's a snip on what it is:

    "Thievery is the name of the project that hopes to bring the award-winning gameplay and style of Thief: The Dark Project and Thief II: The Metal Age to an Unreal Tournament based multi-player and single-player format, that does justice to Looking Glass Software's artistic vision for a Thief Multi-player game that was planned before they sadly closed due to financial problems."
You can grab the file here.


Operation Na Pali ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:54 AM MDT Friday, June 28, 2002 [Comment on news]

3DAction Planet has posted a review of the single player mod for UT, Operation Na Pali. Here's a snip from the intro to get you going:

    "When one thinks of singleplayer mods, Unreal Tournament usually doesn't come to mind. For most people it's either Quake or Half-Life. But wait, Team Vortex has been working for two years on a singleplayer mod for UT. That's right! A singleplayer mod for UT called Operation Na Pali, based on the Unreal universe.
    For those who've not played Unreal, Na Pali was the world in which Unreal took place after the ship you were a prisoner on crashed called the Vortex Rikers. This world is populated by the Nali, a peaceful race that are currently enslaved by the Skaarj. In Unreal you destroyed the mother of the Skaarj and get off the planet

    It is now much later and the Vortex Rikers 2 receives a distress call from the remains of the original ship. You are sent down to retrieve the survivors but are ambushed when you get to the surface.

    The game is actually two mods, Operation Na Pali and a smaller mod called Oldskool. Oldskool allows you to play Unreal level in UT. But it does much more than that. Oldskool allows you to configure the weapons and item settings, allowing you to interchange Unreal and UT weapons and items, creating an even greater combination of weapon modes."


Thursday, June 27, 2002

Defense Alliance Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:47 AM MDT Thursday, June 27, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gamehelper has posted a Defense Alliance Interview, where they talk with the folks behind the Defense Alliance mod for Unreal Tournament. Check it out!


Postal 2 AI Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:45 AM MDT Thursday, June 27, 2002 [Comment on news]

Action Vault has posted a Postal 2 AI Interview where they chat with Programmer Nathan Fouts. Here's a snippet:

    Action Vault: What are your high-level goals with respect to the AI component in Postal 2? How do they differ from those of a typical shooter?

    Nathan Fouts: The player generally only appreciates artificial intelligence in a game as much as he can directly experience it. The player doesn't know or care about what sort of odd calculations the NPCs are doing off-screen, and if they're weighing various paths based on past player tendencies, personal attributes, or just 'cheating' and using a random number to pick a path. What the player does care about is what they perceive. An obvious situation would be one in which the player runs into a room with multiple entry points and then aims at one door. As he stands there, his enemy charges in from an unguarded door and attacks him. Regardless of how the NPC came to choose the path through the other door, the player is likely to deem this as 'intelligent' and think it's cool. Usually in first person shooters, the NPCs can only demonstrate intelligence in a combat situation. This limits the NPC's choices, thus limiting the seemingly intelligence situations presented to the player and also making the player believe one game has worse AI than another.

    The great thing about Postal 2 is we're not limited to combat situations. In most games, everybody is 'in on the mission' in some way or another. In most games most characters are enemies and all will do their best to get you and attack you in more or less the same fashion. There is a limited number of things they can do with a gun to seem intelligent. Or rather, most games limit the number of things a character can do with a gun, thus making most enemy encounters from game to game feel the same. You might even have a fellow soldier, but he too, is fighting. Here the 'language' for the AI is limited to combat situations.


RTCW Game of the Year Ships....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:38 AM MDT Thursday, June 27, 2002 [Comment on news]

ID SOFTWARE AND ACTIVISION RELEASE RETURN TO CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN: GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION

    Mesquite, Texas - June 26, 2002 - id Software and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) have joined forces to enlist gamers in the ultimate blitzkrieg with the release of Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Game of the Year, a special edition of the blockbuster PC hit that has shipped more than 1.2 million units worldwide. The Game of the Year edition features the original award-winning Return to Castle Wolfenstein, new multiplayer maps, the WolfRadiant map editor, the making of Return to Castle Wolfenstein feature AVI and the full version of the game that started it all, Wolfenstein 3D. The title is currently available at retail outlets nationwide at a suggested retail price of $44.99 and is rated "M" (Mature) for blood, gore and violence by the ESRB.

    "Return to Castle Wolfenstein has been one of the most widely played and critically acclaimed games of 2001, including a ninety-percent or higher rating by over 35 different publications and multiple game of the year awards," said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. "By incorporating all of the new maps, updates, editing tools and bonus material, we've created the ultimate Return to Castle Wolfenstein package.

    Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Game of the Year offers all seven official post release multiplayer maps developed by Nerve Software and Splash Damage, including Chateau, Dam, Ice, Keep, Rocket, Tram and Trenchtoast. Plus, the special edition also features demos and trailers of several other popular titles powered by id Software's legendary Quake III Arena engine. For gamers craving even more Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Game of the Year also delivers "Behind Enemy Lines," the official making-of video as well as wallpapers, screenshots and cartoons for fans to savor the action on their desktop.

    "The original Return to Castle Wolfenstein delivered intense gameplay and thrilling action, now with Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Game of the Year edition, we've armed gamers for a new and long-lasting assault that is sure to give fans endless hours of Wolfenstein excitement," said Larry Goldberg, executive vice president, Activision Worldwide Studios. "With a full set of new maps, bonus material and even the original Wolfenstein 3D, Game of the Year has something for everyone."

    Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Game of the Year is a supernatural World War II adventure where gamers are thrust into a last ditch offensive against Himmler's SS paranormal division. In addition to an action-packed story-driven single-player experience versus the Third Reich, the title's multiplayer mode enlists gamers to hone their tactical skills in squad-based combat scenarios. Players will join the fight as an axis or ally soldier and be challenged to intense, realistic campaigns like storming beachheads, infiltrating military installations, holding strategic positions, and more.


PlanetSide Preview / Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:34 AM MDT Thursday, June 27, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpot UK has posted an updated preview / Q&A of Sony Online Entertainment's massively multiplayer first-person shooter, Planetside, where they chat with Producer Dave Georgeson. Here's a nibblet:

    GS: Have there been any major changes to the game's overall design from last year? Is the underlying premise of the game - team combat, overrunning enemy bases, and so on - still the same?

    DG: The underlying premise is still the same - total global war across 10 continents with thousands of players playing all the roles needed to achieve victory for their empire. But many details have changed. Since those details weren't discussed earlier, I'm not certain you'd notice the changes. A lot of work was done creating systems that would keep the players involved for an extended war, as well as economic systems and some reorganisation of the global tactics areas.


Unreal 2 Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:28 AM MDT Thursday, June 27, 2002 [Comment on news]

Well-rounded has posted some Unreal 2 screenshots.

    "Feast your eyes on six new shots from the action game we're expecting to rule the roost this holiday season. Doom III might have been the game that had people gaping at E3 this year, but Unreal 2 was the one that had the quiet buzz - and those are often the games that become the true triumphs when they hit store shelves."


The Sum of All Fears Demo Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:25 AM MDT Thursday, June 27, 2002 [Comment on news]

3DAction Planet has posted a review of The Sum of All Fears demo. Here's a snip:

    "The demo offers one mission in which you have to defuse a bomb, rescue two hostages and neutralize a whole lot of bad guys. When you start out, you are first presented with a 'planning phase' where you read the mission briefing and select the equipment for your three-man team. The equipment selection is pretty limited - you only get to choose a pre-determined 'kit' and there are only five such kits available. The kits are Stealth, Assault, Breach, Recon and Sniper, and include everything from submachineguns and flashbangs to sniper rifles and heartbeat sensors (tools that make nearby enemies show up on the mini-map). Every kit consists of four parts: A primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and two items such as grenades and flashbangs. After you've selected your kit and reviewed the mission objectives, you enter the actual mission."


Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Battlefield 1942 Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:47 AM MDT Wednesday, June 26, 2002 [Comment on news]

XGR has posted up another batch of Battlefield 1942 screenshots.


UT2003 Mod Summit ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:42 AM MDT Wednesday, June 26, 2002 [Comment on news]

Night's Edge has posted a write up on the recent UT2003 Mod Summit hosted by Epic Games. You can check it out here.


America's Army Release Date Announced....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:31 AM MDT Wednesday, June 26, 2002 [Comment on news]

The America's Army official site has announced the release date for America's Army: Operations. Players will be able to download this free first person shooter made possible by the United States Army on the U.S. Independence Day, July 4.


The Sum of All Fears....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:18 AM MDT Wednesday, June 26, 2002 [Comment on news]

LoadedInc has posted a review of The Sum of All Fears. Here's a nibblet:

    "Multiplayer is chock-full of different types of games. In solo mode, there’s Cat and Mouse, where it’s one vs. all and the single player is the only one who scores with kills. The winner in King of the Hill is the player who can stay in the central area of the map the longest. Last Man is obviously the last man standing wins and Sharpshooter is the person who has the most kills wins. Team games also have King of the Hill and Last Man Standing but also offers Search and Rescue (rescue three hostages first), Siege (defend or attack a base), and Domination (possess bases longer then the other team). The online co-op modes though are really where this game shines. Firefight has you and your buddies taking out as many foes as possible. Recon’s objective is to make it from the Insertion Zone to the Extraction Zone and Mission has you playing a full-blown mission. Ubisoft’s own online service is a simple way to get online quickly but it does suffer from occasional lag but not enough to discourage you from using it."


Iron Storm Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:12 AM MDT Wednesday, June 26, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpy has posted a preview of Iron Storm. Here's a snip from the intro:

    "What if the war to end all wars never ended?

    In France on November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m. local time the guns on the Western Front stopped firing and the Great War came to an end. The four-year conflict had changed the course of world history, and maps of the world were redrawn to reflect the defeat of the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungry. Tens of millions were dead, millions more displaced, and three old dynasties had faded into history -- but at least one of the worst conflicts in modern history was over. Which brings up a unique premise … what if the First World War didn't end, and instead continued for nearly fifty years? What would be left of Europe, how could the war go on for so long, and what would the fighting be like?

    Canadian publisher Dreamcatcher hopes to at least answer a few of these questions with Iron Storm, an upcoming action title from French developer 4X Studios. Set in central Germany in 1964, the "war to end all wars" has never ended, and from the original alliances two great factions have become locked in a titanic struggle (although it seems that neither side really wants peace). The bitter and cynical Second Lieutenant Weasal, whose role you assume through the game, narrates the introduction and sets the tone of what we can expect."


PlanetSluggo Vol. 17....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:03 AM MDT Wednesday, June 26, 2002 [Comment on news]

3DAction Planet has posted another edition of PlanetSluggo (Vol. 17). This week Sluggo talks about Battlefield: 1942, more on the Afterburner, and the PC games of 2002. Check it out!


Tuesday, June 25, 2002

UGO's Top Eleven FPS Games List....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:40 AM MDT Tuesday, June 25, 2002 [Comment on news]

UGO has posted their Top Eleven FPS Games list. Here's a snip from the intro:

    "Some senators might not like it, but it's a fact that there are few experiences that can bring as much joy as one that lets you blow away dinosaurs, aliens or 3D models representing human bad guys with a variety of lethal weapons. That said, we're always itching in anticipation for any new FPS game and after seeing what's in store for 2002 and beyond, we had to share our wish list. Here are the top eleven first person shooters across all consoles and PC that we'd do just about anything for, except the Truffle Shuffle. We don't do that no more."


SWAT: Urban Justice Site Launched....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:36 AM MDT Tuesday, June 25, 2002 [Comment on news]

Sierra has launched the official SWAT: Urban Justice web site, with screenshots, info, and the trailer that was shown at E3.


Unreal Tournament 2003 Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:30 AM MDT Tuesday, June 25, 2002 [Comment on news]

The Multi Player Zone has posted an Unreal Tournament 2003 Interview where they chat with Matt Powers, Tim Hess, Richard Iggo & Mark "Frodo" Rein. Here's a snip:

    [MPZ] : Many of the most successful games released in recent months have been successful due to the single player nature of the game. Examples of this are RtCW, MoH, JK2 etc. All these games do have popular MP features, but the emphasis of the games design has been on the SP aspect. Comparing this to games that were released over the past 2 yrs that were
    mainly MP biased such as UT, Q3, T2 etc, do you think there is a swing back to the popularity of SP games?

    Matt : I think both multiplayer and singleplayer games are both very popular (as evident by the games you listed).
    There has always been great games coming out that are more single-player focued. Not so long ago we had NOLF and Deus Ex. Both categories are popular and thriving.

    Richard : I think it’s cyclical. You’ll see a particular genre of games doing well and then, a new or different genre comes along and replaces it for a while. You see this kind of thing in movies too.


Gore Reviews....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:26 AM MDT Tuesday, June 25, 2002 [Comment on news]

There are another batch of Gore reviews online today. You can check them out at Gamezilla, GameZone, and The Electric Playground.


Rainbow Six: Raven Shield FAQ ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:23 AM MDT Tuesday, June 25, 2002 [Comment on news]

UbiSoft has published a Rainbow Six: Raven Shield FAQ that answers questions submitted by fans of the upcoming tactical FPS. Check it out!


Operation Flashpoint: Resistance....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:21 AM MDT Tuesday, June 25, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpot is reporting Operation Flashpoint: Resistance will be released this Friday. Here's more:

    "Codemasters has announced that Operation Flashpoint: Resistance will launch this Friday, June 28. Resistance is an expansion pack for Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, Codemasters' Cold War-era tactical action game, and it requires the original game. The expansion includes a new 20-mission campaign, a large new island environment, and new weapons and vehicles. It also comes with new individual and multiplayer missions, enhanced graphics, improved multiplayer performance, and new gameplay elements such as scavenging and stealing enemy weapons."


Monday, June 24, 2002

The Games of Summer....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 12:00 PM MDT Monday, June 24, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpot has posted an article where they take a look at The Games of Summer. Here's a snippet:

    "No matter what gaming platforms you own or what kind of games you're into, you'll find that the summer of 2002 has something to feed your gaming habit. Adventure games, sports, strategy, shooters--it's all coming up. In fact, your biggest problem may not be finding what to play, but trying to decide what to play first. Sure, the busiest months of the year for game releases are always those leading up to Christmas. But this summer is going to be no slouch, either. So start saving your pennies and get a summer job if you have to, because we both know your summer months will be spent with games.

    To make things easier on you, we've rounded up what we think will be the coolest new titles coming out over the next three sweltering months."


UT 2003 Mod Info....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:53 AM MDT Monday, June 24, 2002 [Comment on news]

The folks at Epic Games held an Unreal Tournament 2003 mod summit this past weekend with a number of mod teams attending the event to learn more about the next version of the popular multiplayer shooter. The mod site Polycount has posted up some info gleaned from the event that should be of interest to mod makers about UT 2003.


Where Do Games Go Wrong?....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:49 AM MDT Monday, June 24, 2002 [Comment on news]

EuroGamer has posted an article today called Where do games go wrong? Here's a nibblet:

    "Obviously nobody sets out to develop a bad game, but somehow dozens of them still find their way on to shelves each year. Explaining why bad games get made requires a long and very arduous chinwag though, if you actually want to emerge from the conversation with anything of consequence. In fact, you could theorise about it for weeks, but unless you’re talking to the people directly involved, it would be difficult to come up with anything of substance. Which is why we spoke to a number of developers both in the UK and overseas about their experiences across the years to find out exactly what makes a game turn out bad.

    Although our sources prefer to remain anonymous, we can reveal that their collective CVs include seminal titles such as Syndicate and Grand Theft Auto, and we'd like to thank all of the contributors for taking the time to help in the preparation of this article. "


New Remote-X....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:45 AM MDT Monday, June 24, 2002 [Comment on news]

A new version 2.1.58 of the Remote-X Half-Life remote server administration client is now available. "This version has a few bug fixes, as well as an updated 2D map system, new chat config options that were requested and makes use of the Windows XP theme system (for those of you running XP). This version is compatible with 2.1.57 servers."


Battlefield: 1942 Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:42 AM MDT Monday, June 24, 2002 [Comment on news]

The Adrenaline Vault has posted a hands-on preview of Digital Illusions' action-oriented war sim, Battlefield: 1942. Here's a piece of the intro to get you started:

    "Games based on the events of World War II have lately been tearing up the charts. From the excellent Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, to the favorably received Return to Castle Wolfenstein, developers are milking the Last Great War for everything it's worth, and producing some fantastic titles in the process. Next up to the plate is developer DICE, creators of the well-rated Rallisport Challenge for the Xbox console. Their upcoming offering, Battlefield 1942, takes the World War II experience onto the net, allowing players to duke it out from any side of the conflict.

    While World War II Online attempts to recreate World War II conflicts on a massively multiplayer scale, Battlefield 1942 focuses on more traditional online matches, with up to 32 players battling one another in authentic scenarios. The beta I received contained only two maps, though the finished title will contain sixteen from locations all over the war, including Asia, North Africa, and Europe. The two beta maps included a vast desert in North Africa, where German troops faced off against the British, and an island atoll in the Pacific, where Americans and Japanese forces went head to head."


Mobile Forces Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:30 AM MDT Monday, June 24, 2002 [Comment on news]

MonkeyReview has posted a review of Mobile Forces. Here's a snip:

    "This game is a lot of fun. The need to accumulate points to open new mission areas is not original, but is well done. Some missions are harder in the upper levels as they should be, but at no point are they undoable. The graphics are good enough to let you enjoy the scenery and the designers have worked some interesting twists in if you look for them. The environment is well done and there is a lot to work with regardless if you are an up close and personal kind of fighter, or if you prefer to hang back and deal your destruction from afar."


Saturday, June 22, 2002

Battlefield 1942 Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 4:27 PM MDT Saturday, June 22, 2002 [Comment on news]

XGR has posted a batch of exclusive Battlefield 1942 screenshots. You can check them out here.


Wolf Tactics (RtCW Mod) Interview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 4:24 PM MDT Saturday, June 22, 2002 [Comment on news]

HomeLan has posted an interview with Jared Larsen of the development team behind Wolf Tactics, a mod for Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Here's a nibblet:

    HomeLAN - What kinds of new classes, if any, are you creating for the mod?

    Jared Larsen - The classes that stand out the most from the classes present in Wolf MP are the Ranger, the Infiltrator, the Demolitions Expert and our version of the Engineer.

    The Ranger is a lightning fast scouting class specializing in movement and speed. He's perfect for Capture and Hold style maps and also for scouting enemy positions. The Ranger can burn stamina to give himself higher jumps and also grab onto the tops of ledges and boxes and pull himself up, giving him unprecedented vertical mobility. The Infiltrator is a stealth class. All his weapons are silenced and his ability to disguise himself allows him to penetrate enemy defenses rather easily. In addition, the Infiltrator can move silently and can, when standing still, blend into darker areas of the maps to make himself near-invisible. The Demolitions Expert can lay down mines that he manually detonates, making him a perfect defense class. The Engineer has changed quite a bit. First off, his dynamite moved to the Demolitions Expert and he acquired the ability to produce ammo and armor for his teammates. His biggest asset is his ability to build a Sentinel, an armored auto-firing machine gun that simply chews up the lighter classes. Smart Rangers will avoid a Sentinel like the plague.


Lithtech Technology Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 4:22 PM MDT Saturday, June 22, 2002 [Comment on news]

GamersClick has posted a Q&A with LithTech CEO Jeff Hutt where they discuss the various incarnations of his company's proprietary game engines. Here's a snippet:

    GC: The engine has proven to be very solid for 3D shooters such as NOLF and AVP 2. What other programs are in the pipeline that will be showcasing the engines talents?

    JH: The Jupiter system was designed to be much more flexible than the systems that were used to develop games like No One Lives Forever and Aliens vs. Predator 2. This has enabled developers to create 3rd person action/adventure games, RPGs, massively multiplayer games and other types of games that were less common for LithTech in the past. I'm sure you will see more news on these games as they get closer to completion.


Rainbow Six: Raven Shield Screenshots ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 4:19 PM MDT Saturday, June 22, 2002 [Comment on news]

Worthplaying has posted 24 new screenshots of Ubi Soft Montreal's and Red Storm's tactical shooter, Rainbow Six: Raven Shield. Check 'em out!


Gore Reviews....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 4:17 PM MDT Saturday, June 22, 2002 [Comment on news]

There are a bunch of Gore reviews online today. You can check them out at FiringSquad, Games Domain, and Gaming Age.


Leaked Demos, Good or Bad?....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 4:14 PM MDT Saturday, June 22, 2002 [Comment on news]

3DAction Planet has posted a point/counter point article where they discuss Leaked Demos, Good or Bad? Here's a snip from their intro:

    "First Unreal 2. Then Warcraft 3. Now Unreal Tournament 2003. What do these three titles have in common? They've all had extremely early versions of them leaked to the public. But do they do more harm then good? CitizenC thinks so. However, Dr Foxy does not."


Friday, June 21, 2002

SOF2 Map Shots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:53 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

ShackNews has posted eight screenshots from new levels found in an upcoming Soldier of Fortune 2 patch. There will be four new maps: Kamchatka Factory, Airport Warehouse, Hong Kong Streets, and Barn. No release date has been announced, the patch will also address several game issues.


British Army Using Half-Life....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:51 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

The US Army is not the only one using games as training devices. According to this BBC article, the British army is using a specially made Half-Life mod to train its troops. (Thanks Planet Half-Life.)


Sum of All Fears Tournament....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:47 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

Ubi Soft and Red Storm Entertainment are sponsoring a Sum of All Fears Tournament with posters, t-shirts, and strategy guides for the winners. You can sign up at The Clan Network.


AvP2: Primal Hunt Trailer....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:41 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSurf.de has posted a movie trailer of Aliens vs. Predator 2: Primal Hunt showing just under a minute of the upcoming FPS expansion by Third Law Interactive. Check it out! (Thanks Tiscali Games)


Gore Final Demo ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:36 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

Now that the retail game is out, DreamCatcher Games has released the final playable demo of Gore, the first-person shooter developed by 4D Rulers. The download (101 MB) offers the starting section of the single-player campaign as well as two multiplayer maps playable in Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Tactical and Capture the Flag modes. You can grab the file from Blue's News.


Battlefield 1942 Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:33 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpot has posted a preview of Digital Illusion's upcoming World War II action game, Battlefield 1942. Here's a nibblet:

    "Battlefield 1942 is scheduled for release late this year, so it's not surprising that the beta is still quite limited. EA added just 50 volunteers to the Battlefield 1942 beta this week, and there's generally just one server with an appreciable number of players, from 20 to the current maximum of 32. Just two of the game's 16 maps are playable, but given the variety of tasks a player can carry out, that's been quite enough to keep us busy. The maps give a sense of how the game uses historical flavor to up the ante in multiplayer competition. Both re-create historical battles: the Japanese assault of the Pacific island of Wake in December 1941 and the German siege on British forces that held Tobruk in North Africa for most of 1941. In the beta's conquest game mode, the mission goals are clear: Assault and capture control points or defend those points while taking out the attacking team's ability to fight. As a defender, you'll immediately recognize incoming Japanese Zeros and German Panzers. There's no better way to get motivated for a fight than to identify with the side you're playing."


IGI 2: Covert Strike Screenshots ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:27 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

Worthplaying has posted 18 new screenshots showing off some multiplayer action in IGI 2: Covert Strike, the FPS in development at Innerloop Studios.


NOLF2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way Interview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:23 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

The Armchair Empire has posted a NOLF2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way Interview with several members from the development team. Here's a snip:

    "When Monolith brought us the original No One Lives Forever (NOLF), they were in large part attempting to live down Blood 2. Possibly, they face a tougher challenge as they try to live up to (and exceed) NOLF with NOLF2: A Spy in HARM's Way. To find out what's what we sought out a Q&A with those up their necks in Cate Archer's latest adventure. We cover multiple topics and get answers from Monolith's Nathan Grigg (Composer), Samantha Ryan (Producer), Craig Hubbard (Lead Designer), Kevin Stephens (Director of Engineering), David Longo (Art Director), John Mulkey (Lead Level Designer), and Wes Saulsberry (Art Lead). Read on and discover the fate of the goat, the flexibility of the Jupiter engine, mod creation, tighter cutscenes, and much, much more. Thanks for your time guys!"


A Brief History of the FPS, Part 2....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:12 PM MDT Friday, June 21, 2002 [Comment on news]

3DAction Planet has posted an article titled, A Brief History of the FPS, Part 2. Here's a snip from their intro:

    "FPS gaming has come a long way in recent years. The days of pixelated graphics and no z-axis are completely over. Now, you get realistic graphics, physics, and more. Today, AsH looks at the immersive single-player experience, game engines, and more. Check out the final part of "A Brief History of the FPS" today!"


Thursday, June 20, 2002

Hardware News ....
Posted by [luckee] @ 1:13 PM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]
Today’s Tech reviews


Raven Shield Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:56 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

PC Arena has posted a Raven Shield Q&A, where they talk to Chadi Lebbos and Eric Begin of Ubi Soft about the third Rainbow Six game. Topics covered include the choice of using the Unreal engine, how often they get engine updates from Epic, changes they've made to the engine, AI abilities, how navigation works, mission types and more.


Breed Intelligence Report....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:38 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

Action Vault has posted a Breed Intelligence Report. Here's their intro to start ya out:

    "By the 27th century, science has advanced to the point where humanity can reach beyond the confines of our solar system and far into space to the neighboring Besalius binary star system. The colonies established on the habitable worlds there become home to millions of colonists, all of whom are threatened with extinction by the sudden attack of an aggressive alien race they nickname The Breed. Earth dispatches a huge fleet of United Space Corps attack cruisers, each carrying the latest weapons, fighters and assault vehicles as well as accelerated gestation pods used to grow a constant supply of expendable ground troops called GRUNTS from genetically engineered embryos. After many years, the USC forces ultimately triumph, but the colonies lie devastated, and only one solitary ship from the entire armada remains fit enough to make the long journey home.

    Breed picks up the tale when this vessel, the USC Darwin, arrives to find the Breed in control of the planet; the original attack was merely a diversion to draw away its forces, leaving it woefully vulnerable for the real invasion. The situation is truly desperate. Although the alien defenses are not yet fully prepared, humanity's hopes rest upon one cruiser and a few small groups of guerrillas who have so far evaded capture. In development at Britain's Brat Designs, this futuristic action title made a very positive impression at the recent E3 trade show where it was shown by publisher CDV. After seeing it there, we decided to pull together this Breed Intelligence Report to give you the facts on a title that could be well worth watching over the months to come."


Battlefield 1942 Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:36 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

HomeLan has posted a hands-on preview of Battlefield 1942. Here's a snip:

    "The major selling point of Battlefield: 1942 is the many vehicles that it allows the players to drive. The North African map is set in a vast desert with rolling rock hills where tank battles are the main order of the day. Light and heavy tanks can be used as well as big mobile artillery guns. The tanks are very easy to drive about and you can switch from first to third person mode if you feel like that will.improve your aim and a second player can even man the tank’s machine gun. Taking the tanks out is an achievement that nicely balances the toughness of the tanks with the fun of seeing them blow up real good."


Mobile Forces Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:34 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

The Trades has posted a review of Mobile Forces. Here's a nibblet:

    "...Mobile Forces has done something that many first person shooters have failed to do: Made single player almost as much fun as playing multiplayer. The single player option of Mobile Forces pits you against AI opponents that are sophisticated in their actions and strategies. Your first mission takes place in a warehouse. Your goal: complete three of the eight possible mission types with your single teammate to advance to the next location. The mission types are another aspect of Mobile Forces that sets it apart from other games. In addition to your typical Deathmatch/Squad Deathmatch, Capture and Hold (called Holdout) and Capture the Flag options, you have some new variations on them.

    Captains is a simple mission. Kill the enemy leader. Once dead, the mantle falls to another player and the goal continues. In Demolition, you first have to capture and hold the demolition key, much like Capture the Flag. Instead of taking this device back to the security of your own base, however, you must instead run it right into the heart of the enemy camp in order to set off a demolition blast. Very cool. In a similar mission, Safecracker, you must first crack open the enemy safe and then take the gold out and return it to your own safe. A bit like Capture the Flag, but there is a considerable amount of time needed to open the safe in the first place making it a bit harder than running into a room and grabbing it. The last mission type is one unique to Mobile Forces: You must drive a truck with a bomb hitched onto it into the enemy base causing it to explode. Talk about a wild ride."


IGI 2: Covert Strike Screenshots ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:33 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpyDaily has posted 14 new screenshots showing off the action in Innerloop Studios' upcoming shooter, IGI 2: Covert Strike.


Gore Patch....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:16 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

4DRulers have released a patch for their new fps, Gore. Check out this page for the list of fixes and the download link.


A Brief History of the FPS, Part 1....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:14 AM MDT Thursday, June 20, 2002 [Comment on news]

3DAction Planet has posted an article titled, A Brief History of the FPS, Part 1. Here's a snip from their intro to get you going:

    "Even now, with Doom III and Unreal II on the way, it's easy to lose track of our roots and where we first came from. We've witnessed the evolution of gaming throughout the last decade. Just what has changed in FPS's, and what's next for our favorite genre?"


Wednesday, June 19, 2002

SoF2 Tweaking Guide....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 2:01 PM MDT Wednesday, June 19, 2002 [Comment on news]

TechSpot has posted a Soldier of Fortune 2 tweaking guide. Check it out here.


Solider Of Fortune 2 : Double Helix Review....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:59 PM MDT Wednesday, June 19, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gaming Illustrated has posted a Solider Of Fortune 2 : Double Helix review. Here's a snip:

    "Another problem is the AI, mainly its impressive, enemies retreat, throw grenades, peer round corners during combat but there are several eyebrow-raising moments. Playing on the middle difficulty setting I found the AI simply too good on many occasion, when an enemy can bulls-eye you when your 100m away, lying prone in thick vegetation and on the other side of a hill you have to ask questions. Similarly the stealth missions are ridiculous…alarms are oddly set off on sight rather than on the trigger of a button and slicing some-ones throat with a knife is deemed raucous enough to set off the sirens."


Chrome Development Report....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:49 PM MDT Wednesday, June 19, 2002 [Comment on news]

Action Vault has posted a Chrome Development Report where they detail some of the implants that will be offered in this upcoming science fiction FPS. There are some screenshots and a 4 second movie as well.


IGI 2: Covert Strike Multiplayer Details....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:45 PM MDT Wednesday, June 19, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpot has posted an IGI 2: Covert Strike multiplayer details article. Here's a taste:

    "Codemasters has revealed new details about the multiplayer mode that will be featured in IGI 2: Covert Strike, its upcoming first-person shooter. Like many action games, IGI 2's team-based multiplayer matches will feature two competing teams with various conflicting objectives. Some of the objectives include hacking data satellites, launching space shuttles, bombing oil refineries, and escorting convoys, and some missions will involve reconnaissance and surveillance. Matches will take place in a series of multiplayer maps that include both indoor and outdoor areas, and each player will have access to a cash reserve that he or she can use to purchase new equipment."


Tuesday, June 18, 2002

The Top Maps Project @ CSports.net ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 2:39 PM MDT Tuesday, June 18, 2002 [Comment on news]

CSports.net sends word that they have started “The Top Maps Project.” Here's more:

    "...Apart from displaying the most played fps maps, there are top map lists for most fps games and the most popular modifications. The project is a collaborative effort to collate ideas on what makes a great map. Go here to confirm what you always new were the best maps in your favourite game and add your own words of wisdom.”
Check it out!


Devastation Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:36 AM MDT Tuesday, June 18, 2002 [Comment on news]

Games Domain has posted a Devastation Q&A with Vic DeLeon, the project's Senior Producer. Here's a nibblet:

    Games Domain: Can you give us an example of some of the AI commands used in Devastation? Also, what sort of behavior/actions do teammates and enemies display that makes them seem "almost too real"?

    Vic DeLeon: We have four major layers of AI: team AI, squad AI, player AI and micro behaviors. Actions that make the AI seem "almost too real" refer to micro behaviors. The highest level strategic decisions based on the state of the map, like when to attack certain objectives or when to fall back, is governed by the team AI. Squad AI controls the behaviors of characters running in a pack, how they cover each other, and split up or regroup when necessary. Player AI is a lower level that controls the rudimentary movement of how to navigate from point A to point B without bumping into objects. Then finally, micro behaviors emulate the finer details of human players. These behaviors include ducking behind cover while reloading, leaning and firing tactics, opening doors quietly, crouch walking for stealth, etc.


Wolfenstein GOTY Interview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:33 AM MDT Tuesday, June 18, 2002 [Comment on news]

HomeLan has posted an interview with Nerve Software's Brandon James and Splash Damage's Paul Wedgwood, where they discuss the Game of the Year edition of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Here's a taste:

    HomeLAN - How did you guys get the gig to create new content for Wolfenstein?

    Paul Wedgwood - For the first few months of Splash Damage, we worked on technology for a TV company that was producing a show called Quake Republic. Within six months it had taken off and evolved into the Lock ‘n Load show, dedicated to Quake 3 Capture The Flag , with league matches commentated on by proper sports show-style commentators and decent prizes like X-Boxes. Then the Head of Gaming at British Telecom noticed us and commissioned a bunch of multiplayer maps for Games Domain, their online-gaming service. I think that is probably what we’re known best for right now – a map called Market Garden, which, I am sure by accident, became one of the most-popular third-party map for Wolfenstein.

    By this time, we had just taken on our first offices and were employing around five people. What we were always waiting for, though, was a call from Activision and id… and then one day it finally came :)

    Activision said something along the lines of “Hey this Jonathan Moses from Activision. id have said some great things about you and we’d like to get you onboard!”. In my head, I was thinking “You must have the wrong company, id can’t have said that about us!” but luckily, I just said “Yes!” :)


UT2003 Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:30 AM MDT Tuesday, June 18, 2002 [Comment on news]

Computer and Video Games has posted a UT2003 Q&A where they talk with Producer Jay Wilbur. Here's a snip:

    Why do you think the Unreal series has captured the gaming public's imagination as much as it has?

    Wilbur: When the original Unreal came out, the world was dominated by Quake, which was a good game, but it was very brown. Unreal presented a whole new palette of colours. A whole new range of environments. It opened the game up to an expansiveness, which meant that the first time you walked out into the open, and looked around, you'd see a waterfall and birds flying in the distance. It opened up a whole new world for people. Unreal Tournament, took the series in a different direction. It expanded the Unreal franchise into a sort of multiplayer one-on-one sporting event.


Battlefield 1942 Beta Testers Wanted!....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:27 AM MDT Tuesday, June 18, 2002 [Comment on news]

EA and Digital Illusions are looking for 50 good gamers to help test Battlefield 1942. In order to qualify, you need to have at least a Pentium III 800 MHz, 128 MB of RAM and a DirectX compatible video card that's capable of transform and lighting.

Applicants send emails here! You MUST include the speed of your computer, amount of system RAM, and type of video card you have when sending in this email.


Monday, June 17, 2002

XGR's E3 2002 Awards....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:29 AM MDT Monday, June 17, 2002 [Comment on news]

XGR has posted its E3 2002 awards. You can check them out here.


Conflict - Desert Storm Screenshots & More....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:26 AM MDT Monday, June 17, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gamer's Hell has posted a bundle of new screenshots from Pivotal Games' Conflict - Desert Storm. Here's a bit on what the game is about:

    "Conflict - Desert Storm is a 3rd person squad based action game, putting you in charge of the British SAS or the US Delta Force squads during the Gulf War."


SoF2 Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:20 AM MDT Monday, June 17, 2002 [Comment on news]

EuroGamer has posted a review of SoF2. Here's a snip:

    "...Which brings us to the game's single biggest flaw - the AI. Put simply, every scruffy looking rebel soldier you come up against is in fact Superman wearing a really cunning disguise. He can see through walls (and will sometimes attempt to fire through them, with often hilarious results), poke arms and legs through solid objects, and consistently land a grenade at your feet from fifty feet away, over a hill, without being able to see you.

    Smoke grenades and thick foliage are no obstacle for these digital über-mensch either, and in open terrain it's almost impossible to sneak up on them. The only way to evade their attentions is to go "prone" and crawl along the ground, at which point they will quite happily stand on your head without seeing you in thick grass. But as you can't fire your weapon whilst lying down (not even guns that are specifically designed to be fired from this position) it's not much of a solution, and the second you pop your head up you'll be spotted and shot with near perfect accuracy. Needless to say this makes trying to use the OICW's complex targeting systems and viewfinder (which only function when you stand perfectly still for some reason, and forget your zoom settings every time you move) utterly futile."


Q3F version 2.2....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:16 AM MDT Monday, June 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
Q3F has posted the new version 2.2 of their mod for Quake III Arena. The new version offers 16 new or updated maps, gameplay adjustments, and a bunch of bug fixes. The new release is available as a patch for Windows, Linux, and Mac in winzip format. A new player guide is also in progress and you can get a preview of it here. (Spotted on Blue's)


Point/Counter-Point: Doom III....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:07 AM MDT Monday, June 17, 2002 [Comment on news]

There's an editorial on 3DAction Planet today that they're calling: Point/Counter-Point: Doom III. Here's their intro to get you started:

    "Lee'Mon strode into the 3DAP P/CP Arena and shouted, "Who here thinks DOOM III will NOT be the best id game ever?" Dr Foxy calmly replied, "I do." With that, one of our most heated Point/Counter-Point discussions began."


Sunday, June 16, 2002

Hardware News....
Posted by [luckee] @ 12:23 PM MDT Sunday, June 16, 2002 [Comment on news]
Today’s Tech reviews


Soldier of Fortune 2 Game Guide....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 12:19 PM MDT Sunday, June 16, 2002 [Comment on news]

Finally I found this for Luckee... he's been asking me if I had seen one. There's a Soldier of Fortune 2 game guide on GameSpot, full of tips and strategies, level walkthroughs, multiplayer tips and cheat codes. Check it out!


Unreal Tournament 2003 Interview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 12:05 PM MDT Sunday, June 16, 2002 [Comment on news]

Unreal Tournament World has posted an interview with Digital Extremes audio designer, Starsky Partridge, where they talk about his contribution to Unreal Tournament 2003.


Soldier of Fortune 2 Maps....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 12:01 PM MDT Sunday, June 16, 2002 [Comment on news]

SOF2Center has been updated with five new Soldier of Fortune 2 maps. They are titled MP Snipe, Welcome to McDonalds, Hospital Under Siege 2, Fourt and Fragger's Apartments.


Saturday, June 15, 2002

CS Tips for v1.5 Patch Issues....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:47 AM MDT Saturday, June 15, 2002 [Comment on news]

The official Counter-Strike web site has a list of known issues from the new version 1.5 patch for HL and CS. They offer tips for a "Server verification failed" error, a "TrackerUI.dll invalid" problem, and an F1 and F2 binding problem. You can check it out here.


Rainbow Six: Raven Shield Q&A....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:44 AM MDT Saturday, June 15, 2002 [Comment on news]

ELiTeD has posted a Rainbow Six: Raven Shield Q&A, where three members of the Raven Shield development team discuss the upcoming tactical shooter. Here's a nibblet:

    Will there be smarter AI than past Rainbow Six games?

    Absolutely! We've put a lot of effort into all aspects of the AI. Your teammates work with you to cover your flanks and accomplish the mission. Terrorists work together as a team to defeat you. Finally, hostages react to being rescued and the anticipation of gunfire.


Elite Forces: Navy SEALs Review....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:41 AM MDT Saturday, June 15, 2002 [Comment on news]

Wow... GameSpot has posted a review of Elite Forces: Navy SEALs, and as you can tell by the following snip, they didn't like it much.

    "ValuSoft's previous budget-priced shooters didn't set our expectations for Navy SEALs very high, but the game undercuts even those standards, due mostly to the incredibly short single-player missions. While the fact that it takes a quick evening's work to finish the game could give some a sense of accomplishment, even those most interested in the adventure of Navy SEAL missions might lose interest after the first door puzzle. The low production values and technical issues could be brushed off as a side effect of the game's budget status, but a few decent low-priced PC action titles have ruined that excuse. The area where the game does excel is its installer: It takes less than a minute to install, and better still, it takes a mere 10 seconds to uninstall this uninspired shooter."


Battlefield 1942 Preview....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:38 AM MDT Saturday, June 15, 2002 [Comment on news]

PC.ign has posted a hands-on preview of Battlefield 1942, Digital Illusion's forthcoming World War II era action game for the PC. Here's their intro to get you going:

    "What Hollywood taints, we improve. The gaming industry (we) may not be able to crank out the glitz and glamour that induce stupefied, gaping jaws of boredom that big time Hollywood war movies can, but we can sure make an enjoyable experience. Battlefield: 1942 doesn't star Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, Jude Law, Nicholas Cage, Ewan McGregor, or even Ben Affleck. It unfortunately also doesn't involve a sappy storyline that no one wants to hear and fewer people want to see played out. But what the game does have going for it is a hell of a lot of action. You know, the kind that riles up that ever-present lurking bloodlust inherent in nearly every male on the face of the planet -- that same kind that elicits devilish smiles and wicked applause when it's quenched by obliterating an incoming Zero with a carefully placed tank round. It's that kind of action that fuels war and pleases men. We're savages, after all, and if we didn't fight, we might as well be Canadians... Lousy peace loving, cleanly, well mannered people."


Friday, June 14, 2002

[Mornin' Mocha]....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:38 AM MDT Friday, June 14, 2002 [Comment on news]

Hello everyone... just wanted to post a word of thanks and well wishes to my buddy Xeon from Rage as today is his last day there. He's off to newer pastures, as he put it. Xeon has been great to work with, always hookin' us up with Mobile Forces goodies. Anyway, Xeon, thanks for everything and hopefully we'll see ya around and online. We're still looking at doing those projects... right? ;) Take care!


SoFII Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:29 AM MDT Friday, June 14, 2002 [Comment on news]

Game-Revolution posted a SoFII review earlier this month. Here's a snip from the end:

    "At the end of the day, Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix more than holds its own in this crowded genre. It's not spectacular, but it knows what it does well and sticks with it. Good graphics, fun gameplay, crafty AI, a random mission generator and more bursting heads than you'd find on a teenager's face will keep this one on my hard drive until the bitter end."


Gore Review....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:24 AM MDT Friday, June 14, 2002 [Comment on news]

GameSpot has posted a less than favorable review of 4DRulers' recently released fps, Gore. Here's a snip:

    "The single-player game is largely forgettable. Like Serious Sam, Gore is a conscious throwback to the stripped-down, fast-paced, generally plot-free action of Doom and the first two Quakes. Unfortunately, Gore is no Serious Sam. It's significantly less inventive. It doesn't look as good. Its combat is less tactical and less intense. It's shorter. And at a retail price of 30 bucks, it doesn't even qualify as a budget title."
You can read the rest here.


JKII Walkthrough....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:18 AM MDT Friday, June 14, 2002 [Comment on news]

StratosGroup.com has posted a Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast walkthrough. The guide is a complete walkthrough that has hints and tips to help you along in the single player campaign.


Battlefield 1942 Screenshots....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:15 AM MDT Friday, June 14, 2002 [Comment on news]

Games Domain has posted a bundle of new Battlefield 1942 screenshots. You can check them out here.


RTCW Patch & GOTY Map Pack....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:14 AM MDT Friday, June 14, 2002 [Comment on news]

Activision has released a version 1.33 patch of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. The patch has fixes to PunkBuster, a new map and more. They have also released a Game of The Year Map Pack, you can grab both files here.


Thursday, June 13, 2002

JKII: Jedi Outcast CTF Strategy Guide....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:53 AM MDT Thursday, June 13, 2002 [Comment on news]

Captured.com has completed their Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast CTF Strategy Guide. The guide covers everything from the basics of the force powers to jumping and doing acrobatics. (Spotted on XGR.com)


Gore: Ultimate Soldier Review....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:48 AM MDT Thursday, June 13, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gamer's Hell has posted a review of Gore: Ultimate Soldier. Here's a snip:

    Gore has been in development for a couple of years, now. It's finally here. Was it worth the wait?

    Gore takes place in the late 21st century. The world has run out of resources, and gangs of criminals and thugs run the cities. To combat this, the government has enlisted troops for a force known as the United Marine Corp – UMC for short. For several years, the UMC has been losing ground. The government had no clear and easy way to train troops, so they were easily overwhelmed by the thugs that had been killing all their lives. Enter the "Meat Machine." A sophisticated VR chamber that could train a soldier to veteran staus quickly by placing them in situations that push their abilites without real danger. The UMC has, with the help of its Meat Machine troops, been making progress against the Mob.


Operation Flashpoint Gold Edition Review ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 9:39 AM MDT Thursday, June 13, 2002 [Comment on news]

Gamezilla has posted a review of Bohemia Interactive's Cold War soldier sim, Operation Flashpoint Gold Edition, which incorporates several new vehicles such as the Blackhawk helicopter and SCUD launcher. OpFlash GE also ships with the Red Hammer campaign comprised of 20 new missions. Here's a snip from their bottom line:

    "Operation Flashpoint Gold Edition would not qualify as one of my most favorite games yet it''s difficult to criticize a game that I can''t stop playing. I found the game more interesting than the average shooter. While there are things that shooters do better in the area of sound, graphics and close quarters combat, it''s hard to beat the exciting gameplay and sheer number of choices available. Very few gamers will play through this game in a few days and sell it on Ebay. As with the original Operation Flashpoint, the Gold Edition makes for some challenging fun that will endure over time. Overall, I found no striking feature differences in the original and the Gold Edition. It''s essentially more of the same type of gameplay as the original game. And that''s "nice.""


Wednesday, June 12, 2002

XGR Triple Play....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 5:43 PM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

XGR'S TRIPLE PLAY - INTERVIEW, LUCASARTS E3 IMPRESSIONS, AND MORE

First there's the Joel Huenink Interview broadcasting tonight at 7:30 MDT. Joel Huenink is the President of 4D Rulers who just released their fps, Gore. Paligap had a chance to sit down with Joel to discuss the following topics:

    * Joel's background in gaming (he was there in the beginning of FPS')
    * Story of Gore
    * Characters
    * The Engine
    * Multiplay
    * Much, much more
Secondly, Paligap has posted his thoughts on LucasArts' E3 Lineup. Find out why he thinks this is their strongest showing ever. Large sized screenshots are included from Star Wars Galaxies, Bounty Hunter, and more.

And last but not least, the 2nd Annual Edition of Paligap's E3 Pics. You never know who Paligap will run into at these events and this year has it's surprises.


Half-Life 1.1.1.0, Counter-Strike 1.0.0.5 Now Available....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 1:31 PM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

As promised, the version 1.1.1.0 patches for Half-Life and version 1.0.0.5 patches for the retail edition of Counter-Strike are now available. This release includes the Ricochet mod, a new demo recording facility, additional anti-cheat measures, the new C-S map de_piranesi, and a bunch of improvements and bug fixes. You can use the SierraUp utility (from the "Configuration->Update" menu) that was distributed with previous releases, and Steam users should be able to upgrade around this time as well. You can grab the files from:


Mobile Forces....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:21 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

Did you get a chance to check out the Mobile Forces screenshots I posted last night? They are from the recently released European copy of MF. The shots highlight two game modes: holdout and safecracker, and feature two shots from the new MF mod, Mental Race.

If you want more on Mobile Forces, we've had tons of stuff (just search our news archives), or visit the official Mobile Forces website. For those of you in Europe who have the retail game, and those of us in the States lucky enough to have a retail copy, you can grab the mod here.


Half-Life Dedicated Servers ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:13 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

New releases of both the Win32 and Linux dedicated servers for Half-Life are out ahead of today's release of the client files. Blue's News has mirrors of the Win32 patch, the Win32 full version, the Linux patch and the Linux full version.


Top 10 Best Selling PC Games in the US....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:11 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

NPDTechworld has released the list of the top 10 best selling PC games in the US for the week ending June 1:

    1 Soldier Of Fortune II: Double Helix - Activision $38
    2 Grand Theft Auto 3 - Take 2 Interactive/Rockstar $46
    3 The Sims: Vacation Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $29
    4 The Sims - Electronic Arts $43
    5 Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast - LucasArts $49
    6 Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone - Electronic Arts $23
    7 Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault - Electronic Arts $46
    8 MS Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs - Microsoft $16
    9 MS Zoo Tycoon Microsoft - $27
    10 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Clone Campaigns - LucasArts $30


Team Factor Patch....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 11:06 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

The official Team Factor site now has the first patch v1.5 (3.3MB)available for download. You can grab it here.


Unreal Previews....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:53 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

ActionTrip has posted previews of both Unreal 2 and Unreal Tournament 2003. Check 'em out!


On the Leaked UT2003 Demo ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:47 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

The Infogrames message boards has a post from Epic's Mark Rein about the Unreal Tournament 2003 demo which was recently leaked to the public, telling us what Infogrames is doing about it, and the game's development. Here is a nibblet:

    "A leaked early test version of UT2003 is floating around the internet. It is not representative of the quality or performance of the final game. Infogrames' job in situations like these is to go after the people who are leaking or passing-along this version. They also need to suppress conversations about the leaked version on web forums to avoid pointing at it and tempting innocent people, who normally don't traffic in stolen software, to download it to find out what people are talking about. Their duty to their shareholders is to protect the value and marketability of their products to the fullest extent possible. They HAVE to do that, they're a public company and their shareholders would expect no less because Infogrames is invests a lot of money to bring games like UT2003 to the marketplace."


Doom III Interview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:43 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

Beyond3D has posted an interview with John Carmack, where they talk about Doom III. Here's a snip from the intro to get you started:

    "id Software's demonstration of the work-in-progress of DOOM3 at the recently concluded E3 have left many breathless when it came to the graphics aspect. While John Carmack, main programmer and the man responsible for various game engines of past id Software classics, have given us his thoughts on the technological aspects and hardware requirements in past dot plan files and random postings and email replies, many are still curious about DOOM3's engine and hardware compatibility.

    I'd picked a few interesting questions raised by Beyond3D forum members, re-phrased them a little for clarity and sent them off John's way. A few of John's answers were original posted by me in a thread in the forums while some are new. I'd asked John for short, to-the-point answers since he'd said he doesn't have much time for interviews."


Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Preview ....
Posted by [Frag-girlie] @ 10:40 AM MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2002 [Comment on news]

Games Domain has posted a Delta Force: Black Hawk Down preview where they take a look at Novalogic's upcoming shooter. Here's a snip:

    "The game will put you in control of members of the elite Delta Force and US Army Rangers, as they pull off a series of quick raids in warlord-controlled territory.

    The development team is concentrating heavily on authenticity and has brought in exper