Hardware News....
Posted by
[luckee] @ 11:22 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
Today’s Tech reviews:
- 8BallsHW reviews the Sunbeam 4" CCFL Kit.
- NeoSeeker reviews the FIC AT010 Radeon 9700 PRO.
- InsideHW reviews the Kingwin KT-436B-WM case.
- OCMelbourne reviews the Topowers Black 420w psu.
- GameZone reviews RollerCoaster Tycoon II for the PC.
- PCStats reviews the Antec Plus 1080AMG File Server Case.
- LostCircuits reviews the ASUS P4S8X motherboard.
- HotHW reviews the Abit Siluro GeForce4 Ti4200.
- DeviantPC has posted their second part of the UT2003 mapping guide.
- TheTechZone checks out the OCZ PC 3500 DDR SDRAM.
- EnvyNews reviews the Performance Plus 660AMG
Devastation Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:52 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a Q&A with Milton Cadogan, a 3D artist at Digitalo, where they chat about their upcoming Unreal engine powered first person shooter, Devastation. Here's a nibblet:HomeLAN - What are some of your influences when you create the 3D artwork for the game?
Milton Cadogan - That's a hard one! I believe everything is an influence whether you realize it or not. Outside of game-development I am primarily a figurative/character illustrator yet I find that I have a knack for rendering mechanical objects. Most of my artistic influences regarding both my professional and private work come from the Japanese; their aesthetic sensibilities meld function and beauty so well. Influences include Hideo Kojima for his productions MGS, Policenauts, Snatcher always seem to incorporate very cool character and mechanical artwork, especially since the arrival of his head artist Yoji Shinkawa. Anime mech designer and game developer Shoji Kawamori is an incredible influence because he incorporates extreme realism in his fantastic machines, down to engine/system details and the way he packages these machines is simply beautiful. Manga illustrator Masamune Shirow is another noted for his very organic mechanical design sense. Katsuya Terada is another's work whose art affixes the mechanical and figurative so evenly that is of much influence. Others include the work from Capcom All-staff -Akiman, Kinu.etc just every aspect of their artistry is impeccable. That's pretty much the outstanding ones poppin' in my head right now.
Spearhead Movies....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:49 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
The Medal of Honor Allied Assault site has posted another four movies showing off the now-gold Spearhead expansion for their World War II shooter. These movies are taken from the Causeway level. Check 'em out!
Mafia Review....
Posted by
[luckee] @ 9:34 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
I finally got my hands on a copy of mafia. I must at admit at first I thought it was going be the run of the mill cheesey game, however once I loaded it all I can say is wow. Kind of on the wow level like when I play Max Payne and Medal of Honor... Any hoo check out this good review over at da TRIP. Here’s a snip: "The game takes place in 1930 in the fictional metropolis of Lost Heaven, where Tommy Angelo, a hard-working mild-mannered taxi driver gets caught in a web of intrigue when two mobsters hijack his cab to escape a rival organization. From there, events lead Tommy into the employ of the Salieri family, headed by Don Salieri who speaks softly, but carries a big proverbial stick. Tommy must perform missions for the Don and his consigliore to advance in the standings of the family, driving period cars around the huge area that is Lost Heaven.
You can read the rest here.
This game is basically a period re-tooling of Grand Theft Auto 3, only much cleaner, and far more cinematic. Both games have the same feel - the third-person view when on foot and the variable camera angles when driving are identical in both games. The games have similar available weaponry - fists, baseball bats, pistols, shotguns, Molotov cocktails…although the only real automatic weapon you can use is the Tommy gun. But the two games run on very similar premises - Find the start mission point, drive (or steal a car) and perform whatever action is required by your Don…collecting protection money, making life miserable for the other families, making things explode, and showing the world that crime can indeed pay. In this respect, gameplay is almost identical to GTA3, for all the good and the bad.
Realism v. Verisimilitude ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:33 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
George "TwoBirds" Shannon hops up on the soap box today at 3DAction Planet and takes a look at realism v. verisimilitude."Verisimilitude n: the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true. Sounds a lot like realism to us. And, in a way, it is -- both realism and verisimilitude maintain standards in presentation. But which is better?"
Check it out!
IGI 2: Covert Strike Preview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:24 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
XGR has posted North's in-depth preview of Innerloop's upcoming title, I'm Going In 2: Covert Strike. The preview is based on playing a press build of the title and includes 18 exclusive screenshots.
The Cameron Files: Pharaoh’s Curse Ships....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:21 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
Toronto, Ontario; October 31, 2002 – The Adventure Company today shipped The Cameron Files™: Pharaoh’s Curse for the PC. The second in The Cameron Files™ series, Pharaoh’s Curse transports gamers to Egypt to investigate an ancient curse.
An ancient ritual revisited awakens a Pharaoh long-entombed and Private Investigator, Alan Parker Cameron is on the case. As Cameron, players piece together the clues of the disappearing Mummy, while investigating the kidnapping of his dear friend Moira. Cameron travels the Nile on a steamboat, explores the Cairo Museum of Antiquities and meets an interesting cast of characters along the way to solving the mystery behind the empty tomb.
“The Cameron Files™: Pharaoh’s Curse is another solid Adventure title from Galiléa,” said Marshall Zwicker, Vice President, Marketing for DreamCatcher. “It offers a great storyline, beautiful environments and is sure to quickly become a fan favorite.”
The Cameron Files™: Pharaoh’s Curse is a first person perspective, single-player, adventure game, combining immersive graphics, a rich, involving and evolving storyline and a cast of intriguing characters.
The Cameron Files™: Pharaoh’s Curse was developed by Galiléa and holds an ESRB rating of ‘T’ (Teen) with an MSRP of $19.99 USD. For more information on this title, please visit DreamCatcher’s website.
Game Ratings Editorial....
Posted by
[luckee] @ 9:04 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
Is the gaming industry due for a ratings overhaul? Here’s a snip: Parents hit the malls in droves, descending on Toys R Us and Software Etc. like locusts, looking for holiday gifts to make their children smile. Somewhere on that list is a video game or two. Some parents will scan the box, using the screenshots on the back as a barometer of whether this is something they want their child to play. A smaller number take note of the rating on the front cover, wondering what it means. Most simply grab the game and check an item off of their list.
Flash forward to the end of December. Children are blowing enemies into gelatinous piles of goo, hacking off limbs with a shotgun or watching a stripper bump and grind in DVD clarity. Parents go ballistic, blaming video games for the downfall of civilization, and the gaming industry goes on the defensive, saying parents need to more closely monitor their children's gaming habits.
You can read the rest here.
[Mornin' Mocha]....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 7:27 AM MST Thursday, October 31, 2002 [Comment on news]
Kreed Website Opens....
Posted by
[luckee] @ 1:42 PM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
The official Kreed Website is now open. Here’s a snip: The official Kreed Website is now open, dedicated to Burut's upcoming first-person shooter. The site offers eight new screenshots, an official FAQ for the game, tunes from the soundtrack, and more, with the promise of updates to keep up up-to-date with progress on the game's development.
You can check it out here.
Spearhead Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:02 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
PlanetMedalOfHonor has posted a Q&A with Brady Bell, where they talk with the producer on Spearhead, the upcoming Medal Of Honor Allied Assault expansion pack. Topics covered are the premise of the expansion, new content, gameplay tweaks, mod support, and more.
The Future of Gaming Q&As....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:57 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameSpy has posted a couple of Q&As today that address the Future of Gaming. First off they speak with Epic's Tim Sweeney and secondly with Lionhead Studios' Peter Molyneux.
Iron Storm Patch....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:53 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
A new patch for Iron Storm is now available updating 4X Studios' alternate-history shooter to version 1.02. Here's some info on what it is fixing:"The game will crash to desktop while attempting to rebind keys. This problem primarily occurs when the user has a USB keyboard or USB Mouse or both."
You can grab the U.S. version patch here, and the European version patch here.
UT2003 Tweak Guide ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:49 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
TweakTown posted a UT2003 Tweak Guide the other day that I somehow missed. They cover the essentials, installation and patches, in-game settings, advanced tweaking, console commands and special moves as well as benchmarking. You can check it out here.
Unreal Tournament 2003 Patch....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:41 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
Epic has released the first patch for Unreal Tournament 2003. The patch brings the game up to version 2136 and is a 10.2 MB download. You can grab it from Tiscali Games, Blue's News, GamePlex, FileShack, and FilePlanet.
Ghost Recon: Island Thunder Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:32 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
ELiTeD has posted a review of Ghost Recon: Island Thunder. Here's a nibblet:"The enemy AI has been beefed up which makes the game harder than ever. In fact, these guys get some awesome headshots that if it weren't single player you might be yelling, "Aimbot!" Luckily, Ubi Soft included twelve new weapons to help you in your mission to take them out. A few of these are the M4 SOCOM, SR-25 sniper rifle, Samopal vz 58 assault rifle, Degtyarev DP machine gun, FN M240G, Star Z-84, Makarov 9mm pistol, and the AGS-17 automated grenade launcher system. That should be plenty of new firepower to take most any army out if in the right hands."
Iron Storm Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:28 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameSpot has posted a review of 4x Studios' alternate-history FPS, Iron Storm. Here's a snip:"Occasionally, Iron Storm requires you to use stealth. Some of these episodes are frustrating mainly because the game doesn't really have a stealth interface. Unlike in most games that require some stealth, there isn't any real incremental feedback built into the system. You basically go prone, crawl around, and hope for the best. One section in which you have to sneak through a prison camp is a maddening exercise in trial and error."
Hitman 2 Silent Assassin Review....
Posted by
[luckee] @ 9:27 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
Just saw over at elited.net a cool review of Hitman 2 Silent Assassin. I never really got into Codename 47 but this looks like something I mite have to try. Here’s snip The style of gameplay is your decision, do you want to be stealthy or aggressive? Surely you can run through the missions with a shotgun and pistols blasting your way though, but it takes a professional to complete the mission with stealth as the game was meant to be played. Your performance is rated at the end of the game with number of shots fired, head shots, alerts, etc displayed. Also, your stealth, aggression, and rating are judged. Ratings can include mass murderer, psychopath, hatchet man, ghost, and professional. It seems as if 47 in my game is a mass murderer more often than not.
You can read the rest here.
The easy learning curve led to a easily manueverable 47 which helped to complete his tasks smoothly. An added benefit is that the new P5 glove can be used with Hitman 2. However, I cannot comment on how the game is played with this new glove. Another area that IO has improved is the ability to save in-game, which helps out when playing mass murderer style. Additionally, they did not want to make this game exactly easy, for that would be no fun. Because of this, depending on which skill level you choose determines how many saves you are allowed. The easiest setting allows you seven saves, expert has two saves, while professional has none.
MoHAA Spearhead Gone Gold....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:24 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
MoHAA Spearhead has gone Gold and is expected to hit stores November 12. You can visit the official website here.
JC Denton Interview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:21 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
3DAction Planet has posted an interview with JC Denton. Here's their intro:"One of the most recognizable faces in gaming is that of super-secret covert operations guy J.C. Denton, of Deus Ex fame. Because he's always doing such super-secret operations, he's a tough guy to get a hold of. But Digitus did. And guess who has the only interview with JC Denton in existance? That's right -- the crew at 3DActionPlanet!"
You can check it out here.
Urban Terror Interview....
Posted by
[luckee] @ 9:15 AM MST Wednesday, October 30, 2002 [Comment on news]
Checkout this informative Urban Terror Interview at q3 center. Here’s snip Do you expect your mod's next release to change the face of the game? Do you expect it to bring more players to your community?
Hmmm...the Beta 2.6 release will introduce some changes that have not been seen since we released Beta 2.0 last year. Many bugs have been worked out, with a nearly complete rewrite of the team survivor code. Hopefully these changes and the extensive testing we have undergone, thanks to our Quality Assurance Team, will show in the final product we release as Beta 2.6. We have had an open ear for some time when it came to problems through out the community and clan matches. We have addressed many of these, such as the "luck" over skill aspect of the mod that became evident in Beta 2.5 (funny how a single digit can foul things up!).
As for new gamers, hopefully many of the gaming sites we send news to recognize that Quake 3 Arena is not a dead game. We do think there will be an influx of new players, along with returning gamers who might have played a version or two along the way. The length of this development cycle has anticipation running high in the Urban Terror Community to say the least.
You can read the rest here.
Jason Cross Interview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:03 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
XGR will air an interview with Jason Cross, Hardware Editor for Computer Games Magazine, tonight at 7:30 MST. You can e-mail your hardware-related questions for Jason to answer in the interview here. Questions will also be taken from the XGR Chat during the interview.
Unreal Tournament 2003 Game Guide ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:50 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameSpot has posted an Unreal Tournament 2003 Game Guide offering help with weapons and items, cheat codes, and strategies for DM; CTF; Bombing Run; and Double Domination. Check it out!
The WildWest Mod....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:48 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
The debut release of The WildWest mod for Return to Castle Wolfenstein is now available. This mod replaces the World War II theme of the original game with one set in the old wild west of the United States. The mod includes new weapons, new multiplayer classes, new maps, voices, and more.
The Deadly Dozen 2: Pacific Theater Demo....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:45 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
FilePlanet has available for download The Deadly Dozen 2: Pacific Theater Demo, nFusion Interactive's upcoming WW2 combat sequel. You can grab the 170 MB demo here.
MOH Allied Assault: Spearhead Preview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:33 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a MOH Allied Assault: Spearhead Preview. Here's a nibblet:"The game begins when you land (or more precisely crash) into a farmhouse roof where you cut yourself from your chute and immediately start firing at the Nazi German occupation forces. You get to use an anti-aircraft gun in this mission to mow down a German troop transport, a tank and even some trees if you want. Eventually you link up with a British military unit and find out your mission is to blow up a railroad bridge before a German train can cross it. Of course, the Nazi army isn't going to let you do this without a fight."
Iron Storm Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:31 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
Action Trip posted a review of DreamCatcher Interactive's Iron Storm the other day. Here's a snip:"Generally speaking, there are two approaches to making a single-player FPS. One is to try and bring the story to the player through the use of elaborate cut-scenes and dialogue, and the other is to attempt to create a game world where players get to feel like their actions are generating the plot. Iron Storm definitely tries the latter approach to game design. Whether it's because making elaborate cut-scenes was too expensive, or because they couldn't come up with more gripping lines of dialogue to hold the story together, the developers opted for the Half-Life approach, which surprisingly enough worked out pretty damn well! While for the most part I didn't have a clue what I was accomplishing by fighting behind enemy lines, I somehow felt compelled to go on and finish another portion of the game all the time thinking that the next scene will reveal some special twist in the plot. Unfortunately, nothing spectacular happened, but I was still somehow drawn deeper in the game world. This game has flaws and it needs a lot of polish in several important areas, but there's just something about it that feels right. I was very skeptical at the beginning, but as I got deeper in it, I realized that the gameplay dynamics work very well, and although you might find Iron Storm too hard at times this will probably get you more addicted to its gloomy, hopeless and war-torn game world than anything else. Make no mistake about it; this is a tough shooter to beat. Enemy soldiers will be coming out of nowhere; devilishly placed snipers will make you wish you had heat-seeking missiles and health packs are scarce, even on the normal level of difficulty. In addition, the splash damage from the tank grenades along with the nasty land minds will make your road as treacherous as possible. But to my amazement, I wasn't turned off by all this! Instead, I wanted to play on and prove that Second Lieutenant James Anderson can indeed defy all the odds and win the day!"
Battlefield 1942 ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:21 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
The Battlefield 1942 homepage has posted some update info on the fixes and tweaks that can be found in the v1.2 patch that should arrive some time this week. Here they are:
Medal Of Honor Allied Assault: Spearhead Screenshots....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:16 AM MST Monday, October 28, 2002 [Comment on news]
PlanetMedalOfHonor has ten new exclusive screenshots of the upcoming expansion, Medal Of Honor Allied Assault: Spearhead. The first two new screenshots can be found here and the other eight here.
Win a UT2K3 Match With Tony 'Ono' Pilger ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 3:16 PM MDT Thursday, October 24, 2002 [Comment on news]
XGR is running a cool competition. Here's the juice:"So, you think you got "mad skillz wit da UT2K3 flava"? Think you can "frag wit da creme de la creme"? Well, if you think you can then you want to get in on this - win 30 minutes of playing time versus Tony "Ono" Pilger from Digital Extremes. That's right - you and up to 4 of your friends get to play Unreal Tournament 2003 for 30 minutes of trash-talking, props-getting, fast-paced action against one of the guys who made the game (and has repeatedly kicked the XGR Staff's collective butts on the XGR server). Here are the details:
All entries must be recieved by 12 noonEST on Friday, October 25, 2002.
How do you win?
Just email us and stay tuned to XGR.com for more Unreal Tournament 2003 prizes and make sure you check back tomorrow afternoon to find out who won this great prize!!"
Breed Delay....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 3:11 PM MDT Thursday, October 24, 2002 [Comment on news]
German publisher CDV has announced that their sci-fi shooter, Breed, has been delayed. Originally due out this year, it's now a Q1 2003 release. The extra time will be used for extra graphical features and the ability to use player created content. A demo is still planned for sometime this year.
Q3A SDKs Released....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 3:07 PM MDT Thursday, October 24, 2002 [Comment on news]
id Software's Robert Duffy updated his .plan file at Blue's News with word that SDKs for both Quake 3 Arena and Quake 3: Team Arena have been released via id's FTP file.
CPL Qualifying Locations....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:02 PM MDT Thursday, October 24, 2002 [Comment on news]
The CPL has announced the dates and final locations of the Winter Qualifiers. The winners of these qualifiers receive travel and accommodations for The CPL® Pentium® 4 Processor Winter 2002 Event.
North America
Nov 2 - 3 | Colorado Springs, Colorado - EverLAN
Nov 16 - 17 | Centerville, Virginia - LANferno
Nov 22 - 24 | Canada, Ontario - Head 2 Head Games
Nov 22 - 24 | Miami, Florida - E2 Café
Nov 30 - Dec 1 | Tempe, Arizona - Arizona Lanbashers
Dec 7 - 8 | Tulsa, Oklahoma - Strike Net
Asia
Nov 22 - 24 | Singapore - Groove Connections
South America
Nov 30 | Brazil - ORB LAN House
Nov 30 | Chile - Parque Arauco
Europe Nov 15 -17 | Finland - MindTrekLAN
Nov 30 | United Kingdom - Virtual Gaming Alliance
Ghost Recon Patch....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:36 PM MDT Thursday, October 24, 2002 [Comment on news]
A new version 1.4 patch for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon is now available for all languages. You can read the complete release notes here."Just as they promised, Red Storm came through with yet another patch, this time fixing several issues brought about by the previous 1.3 patch including the infamous 'No limp' removal which, thanks to an extremely vocal and dedicated community, has been returned! The patch addresses numerous other issues as well."
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Website ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:38 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
The official S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Oblivion Lost website has launched with info and screenshots from the upcoming first person shooter from GSC Game World. Check it out!
Rainbow Six: Raven Shield Movie ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:36 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
Fileplanet has posted up a new movie from Rainbow Six: Raven Shield, showing off gameplay from the upcoming tactical shooter from Ubi Soft.
UT2003 Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:30 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
PlanetUnreal has posted a UT2003 Q&A where they catch up with Cliff "CliffyB" Bleszinski and Tim Sweeney of Epic Games to discuss the recently-released Unreal Tournament sequel. Here's a nibblet:PlanetUnreal: If you had to pick one thing the UT2K3 Engine does better than any other engine out there, what would it be?
Tim Sweeney: The Unreal engine has always been just about the opposite of a "does one thing better than the others" engine. Nowadays we have support for very high polygon-count geometry in the form of meshes and terrain; very realistic physics using the Karma physics engine for ragdoll player collision, vehicles (see the little vehicletest map in UT2003), and arbitrary rigid body dynamics; the Matinee cinematic editing tool (used in creating the UT2003 single-player intro), particle systems, improved networking, export plug-ins for 3D Studio Max and Maya, great mod support, a huge documentation site (see http://udn.epicgames.com), ...
The modern expectation of an engine is that it provides nearly all of the technology that relevant games will need, so in business terms I don't think there's much of a market for an engine that does one single thing much better than everyone else. It's much more a matter of providing a good, consistent, and complete framework.
Criticism of Sniper Games....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:27 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
Access Atlanta has posted an article titled "On the Way Out" saying as D.C. toll mounts, criticism of sniper games rises and reports that Sniper: Path of Vengeance has been pulled from Wal-Mart shelves in the Washington, D.C. area. The move is described as being motivated by sensitivity to how the game's title and subject matter relate to the numerous recent murders by a sniper in the area, rather than any actual belief that the game is somehow at fault for, or otherwise connected to these attacks. The article goes on to discuss criticisms of shooter games, offering opinions both supporting and countering theories about their influence.
NOLF2 Reviews....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:22 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
ZenGamer and Computer Games Online have both posted reviews of Monolith's NOLF2. Check 'em out!
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Review ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:21 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameSpy has posted a Hitman 2: Silent Assassin review. Here's a snip:"Whether shooting or sneaking, the game world is brought to life with some really attractive graphics. Some character animations could have used more work, and the first-person weapon models look amateurishly out of scale, but the exotic locales are all richly detailed and colorful. Little details, like remarkably realistic candle flames or swirling snowfall help draw you into the game, as do the unusually realistic lighting effects that cast dynamic shadows as characters walk. The vivid sound effects and ominous orchestral score also build tension and excitement."
Will Rock....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:19 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - October 23, 2002 - Ubi Soft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, today announced it has signed a worldwide deal to publish Will Rock for the PC. Developed by Saber Interactive, this visually stunning FPS takes gamers on a fantastic journey back to Ancient Greece to face mythological enemies. Will Rock's proprietary next-gen, 3D engine and unique weaponry allow for innovative gameplay including melting, inflating and shattering both enemies and the environment. Will Rock is scheduled to ship to retail shelves in Q1 2003.
"Will Rock's frenetic, fast-paced action combined with its superior technology and innovative weapons will thrill FPS gamers" said Chuck Yager, producer. "Its Ancient Greek/Roman setting gives a unique look to the standard first-person shooter, and allowed us to create some fun, original gameplay that combines puzzle solving with intense action."
Will Rock's story focuses on Willford Rockwell (aka Will Rock), an unlikely hero whose body is inhabited by the spirit of a defiant Titan. Launched into a fantastic adventure through time, Will arrives in Ancient Greece where he must battle some of mythology's most powerful foes.
Players will experience fast-paced shooter action through 10 huge varied levels and additional expertly designed multiplayer maps. The Ancient Greek/Roman setting allows for unique weapons that support the game's theme, including a Medusa Gun, Flaming Crossbow and Acid Rifle. The game's "real-time shattering" technology allows for a wealth of breakable objects, providing gamers with the experience of a truly interactive environment. With Will Rock's advanced gameplay technology and level design, players must rely on both quick thinking and reactions to solve environmental puzzles and survive the hardcore action!
Top 10 Unique FPS Weapons....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:13 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
3DAction Planet has posted an article where they take a look at the Top 10 Unique FPS Weapons. Here's their intro:"There is one thing which every single first person shooter has had in common (other then being in first person, of course) -- weapons! In addition to the generic pistol/shotgun/rocket launchers, a few... shall we say, "unique" weapons have cropped up. ZeMadFrenchman lists the ten best ones."
[Afternoon Mocha]....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 4:11 PM MDT Wednesday, October 23, 2002 [Comment on news]
Sorry for the late update everyone... today has been one of those days. LOL
We've just received a couple of shipments of newly released games, so watch for some reviews to come your way soon!
I hope everyone in the greater Washington, D.C. area stays safe... and especially my friends who are there. Let's hope the law enforcement officials catch this sniper soon before there's any more blood shed!
IGI 2: Covert Strike Movie ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:00 AM MDT Tuesday, October 22, 2002 [Comment on news]
FileShack has a new movie showing off more gameplay from IGI 2: Covert Strike, the upcoming first person shooter from Innerloop and Codemasters. Check it out!
Devastation Preview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:58 AM MDT Tuesday, October 22, 2002 [Comment on news]
Video Game News has posted a short preview of Digitalo's Devastation, but have included eight nice screenshots. Here's a snip from their intro to get you started:"The upcoming release of Devastation for the PC platform promises to rock the gaming world of fans of first person shooter action titles, and judging from the hype at the E3 conference and the information obtained at the game’s website, it might do just that. Set in a not-too-distant future of a war devastated planet Earth (hence the name Devastation), players are forced into a world where powerful and ruthless corporations control what’s left of the worlds’ technology, ruling the remnants of society with a ruthless iron hand. Corporate controlled ‘Pacification Squads’ patrol the cities and wastelands, maintaining order and control for their company employers with a brutal passion, subjugating the weak and defenseless with hand and weapon alike. The only hope for freedom from this corporate tyranny comes in the form of small groups of resistance fighters made up of gang leaders, mercenaries and ex-military operatives. As a leader within the resistance, players must assemble armies and travel the globe, with the ultimate goal of restoring peace and sanity in a world without either.
Fragapalooza East Registration Opens....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:55 AM MDT Tuesday, October 22, 2002 [Comment on news]
Registration for Fragapalooza east opened today. This is of particular interest for UT 2003 players, because they’ll be running a large 1v1 competition. Fragapalooza east is being held in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada right next to the Pearson International Airport, from November 29 to December 1.
UT2003 Source Art ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:34 AM MDT Tuesday, October 22, 2002 [Comment on news]
Digital Extremes has hooked up Polycount with more UT2003 source art downloads."These are the raw MAX files, grouped per species for the animations of the character models. Also it comes with a readme that details exactly what you are looking at and gives some advanced details on the animations themselves."
You can grab them here.
Ghost Recon: Island Thunder Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:30 AM MDT Tuesday, October 22, 2002 [Comment on news]
The latest add-on pack for Red Storm's tactical shooter, Ghost Recon, has been reviewed at GameSpy. Here's a nibblet:"Over the course of Island Thunder's single-player missions, you'll creep across a plantation, through a guerilla camp, among rocky hills to rescue the crew of an ill-fated Marine Osprey, past an enemy airfield, and then into a forest at night to rescue a spy. At this point, the Island Thunder campaign feels like it's going to run out of steam, mired in the sameness of tropical island locations that don't feel very different from the original game's levels. But then you're sent into a quaint Cuban town, down the length of a foggy beach resort, and uphill to storm a stronghold in a heavy rain. These last three missions are really the highlight of the single-player game. The city map has loads of Caribbean personality, the beach resort plays wonderfully with long fields of fire and plenty of opportunities for cover, and the stronghold is literally drenched in atmosphere. Island Thunder saves the best for last."
New World Order Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:25 AM MDT Tuesday, October 22, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a Q&A with Project Three PR Manager Erik Schreuder, where they talk about their forthcoming tactical shooter New World Order. Here's a snip:HomeLAN - Many people critizised the fact that the demo of New World Order required a beta DirectX 8.2 to work. Why was this done?
Erik Schreuder - To be exact, it was a DirectPlay 8.2. patch. Let me explain well cause this is very important. While developing the game and using feedback on the MP beta 1.0. we found out that there was major lag in the game when playing online. Check after check pointed out it was not caused by our netcode - on the contrary, the pings are very good. We then found out, it was caused by the throttling system in DirectX 8.1. to be precise in the DirectPlay code. And we were not the only ones to discover this. The thing is that the throttling system is a smart tool, it constantly checks the CPU, memory, connection etc on your PC. When it finds these are not optimal, it will not send data out of fear the data will be lost. This works quite well for a strategy or RPG game online, since it is elementary that no packages are lost, but not for a game which requires some speed. The result for a next generation FPS game like NWO is that it causes send queues and they cause lag. Which is no fun. I think people had not expected that there would be FPS games coming out which would send the kind of big packages NWO is sending and receiving, but if it's gonna looks as good as NWO, you have to have packages like that, there's no escaping that. What do you think games like Doom 3 are going to send in terms of packages, quite huge ones I suppose. Anyway, in short, the throttling parameters were too tight for NWO and this was amended by creating a patch called DirectPlay 8.2. which has wider parameters. When you install this, the lag in the game is gone. Some people have problems with installing a beta which has a timebomb in it (Directplay 8.2.expires october 30th), but we had no choice. I have not heard about anyone having problems because of it though. I guess NWO is simply too far ahead of its time right now and this kind of software was not ready for it...
The downside was that we were not allowed to include this DirectPlay patch to the beta 2.0. and it had to be downloaded separately. This lead to the situation that servers would host both players with the patch and without it. The players who did not have the patch created lag which made the players who did install it think it did not work... A shitty situation but we really wanted the betatesters' feedback to make progress and finalize the MP part of the game so we released the beta 2.0. anyway. Perhaps we had hoped for more discipline from the players who wanted to test the game to separate themselves in servers with the patch and without it (on the other hand we did want to get the real life experience from people because people do things different - we aim to learn fomr that). I do know that some servers ran for a while with only people with the patch and they had a blast with no lag at all.
Gorge Tour Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:44 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has also posted a Gorge Tour Q&A talking with Kitaitseva Anna of New Media Generation about their upcoming science fiction FPS, Gorge Tour. They discuss the idea and story behind the game, locations, weapons, enemies, UGEs, multiplayer support, the engine, status of development, and more.
MOH Allied Assault: Spearhead Interview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:41 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a MOH Allied Assault: Spearhead Interview, where they talk with the game's executive producer Rick Giolito to find out more about their plans for Spearhead which is being created by EALA. Here's a taste:HomeLAN -What were the main goals for creating the upcoming Spearhead expansion pack?
Rick Giolito - Our goal was to create the next generation Allied Assault experience in both single and multiplayer modes. The game has a much more cinematic presentation style, a stronger narrative, deeper character development along with a multitude of new characters, weapons, environments and objectives. We also focused on increasing the size of our levels, allowing the player more choices and paths in his effort to overcome obstacles. The game is more open, with multiple paths and ways to reach specific goals.
Technologically, the game is a significant step up from Allied Assault. The first thing you’ll notice is the lighting. We brought in Tom Allen as lighting Director. He had just finished up Spiderman (the movie, not the game) and he has taken it levels beyond what AA was. The game is absolutely beautiful. We’ve also worked very diligently on the particle and effects system and the result is breathtaking.
Finally, we really wanted to step it up in multiplayer. Our team was able to come up with a plan to increase the size of the levels without sacrificing performance. They are HUGE, exponentially expanding the gameplay possibilities. We added an array of new weapons such as operable Flak guns, 88’s, mortars, smoke grenades as well as the Soviet 7.62mm DTM and the British Sten MG, to name a few. Also included is a full compliment of new British and Russian characters with brand new animation sets, deepening an already realistic library of AI animation.
We we’re also able to spend time focusing on our Tug of War mode……stepped, objective based teamplay maps. They’ve become the favorite of the team and testers alike. All in all this goes way beyond what the consumer would normally expect from an add-on pack. Two more missions and we’d have to market this as a frontline product. Its just that good.
SWAT: Urban Justice Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:38 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
Fan site Tactical Community has posted a SWAT: Urban Justice Q&A, where they chat with Game Producer Daryl Nichols about the squad-based realistic FPS. Check it out!
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:36 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
EuroGamer has posted a Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Q&A, where they chat with Game Producer Wes Eckhart. Here's a snippet:Presumably you didn't actually wander around Mogadishu (or flyby in a chopper!) in the process of making the game - where did your designers draw their inspiration for the carefully constructed environments from?
Since Delta Force - Black Hawk Down is based on real events, we pulled research material from a variety of sources. Aside from books, articles, and news footage, we've also been working closely with a number of Subject Matter Experts [with whom we’ll have a few words in the near future -Ed]. We've been fortunate to work with two former members of Task Force Ranger, as well as a former Special Forces weapons and tactics expert.
The SMEs have spent several days at a time with the team, advising us on a variety of issues including room clearing techniques for the AI, motion capture moves, mission planning, and proper weapons etiquette.
Game Development à la Mod....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:32 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
There's an interesting read today on Business2.com that talks about Minh Le's Counter-Strike. Here's a nibblet:"Like a lot of college seniors, Minh Le had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. In June 2000, on the verge of graduating with a computer science degree from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, the 23-year-old Le really would admit to only one career goal: He didn't want to work in a cubicle. If pushed about his ambitions, though, he might shyly point to a computer game he had built in the basement of his parents' suburban home and given away over the Internet.
Today, Le's homespun project, called Counter-Strike, is the most popular multiplayer action game in the world. Bigger than Quake. Bigger than Unreal. The numbers are staggering: Over 1.7 million players spend more than 2.4 billion minutes a month in the game. (The top-rated TV show Friends generates 2.9 billion viewer minutes a month.) In addition to its free Internet distribution, Counter-Strike has sold 1.3 million shrink-wrapped copies at retail; in 2003 a version for Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox will hit the stores."
Male Dominated Gaming....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:19 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
3DAction Planet has posted an article today where they take a look at males dominating the gaming world. Here's their intro to get you started:"Video gaming, for as long as we can remember, has been traditionally "a guy thing". There are exceptions, of course (Gamer chicks are hot! -- ED), but they are just that -- exceptions. What's up with that? TheBigDuke has a few ideas."
Iron Storm Ships....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:59 AM MDT Monday, October 21, 2002 [Comment on news]
TORONTO, Ontario; October 21, 2002 – DreamCatcher Interactive announced today that it has shipped the epic battle game, Iron Storm on PC in North America. Set amidst an extended 1st World War (still going strong in 1964), Iron Storm gives the gamer new weapons and modern technology to reap havoc on the Russo-Mongol tyrants.
Players become immersed in a dark war-torn environment, set in the year 1964 in an alternative history where World War I never ended, and enter the battle as the elusive Lieutenant James Anderson. The game takes the most chilling elements of WWI, such as the filthy trenches, blood-stained barbed wire fences, hidden mines and devastating poisonous gases, and blends them with the kind of stealthy automatic weapons, lasers and powerful surveillance devices that would have been developed over 50 years of war.
“Iron Storm brings a new twist to war-games and takes gamers into a new type of battle. There are enough twists and turns to give PC gamers hours of all-out action and thought-provoking fun,” said Marshall Zwicker, Vice President, Marketing for DreamCatcher Interactive. “We wanted gamers to think ‘What if World War I never ended?’ and I think Iron Storm portrays exactly what that world would look and feel like.”
The game has both strategic and action elements to it, and offers combat in both first and third person views. Players can use a variety of weapons, from the course of history, to fight both ground and air-borne enemies. Gamers can also widen the battlefield with support for up to 16 players on a LAN or Internet connection. Exciting game modes include ‘Deathmatch,’ ‘Team Deathmatch’, ‘Capture the flag’ and a new game mode called ‘Isolation Case’ where players deliver a specially designed briefcase into the enemy’s base to score.
Iron Storm was developed by 4X Studio and is co-published by DreamCatcher Interactive and Wanadoo Edition. Iron Storm brandishes an ESRB rating of “M” (Mature) and MSRP of $39.99. For more information, visit the Iron Storm web site or the DreamCatcher Interactive press site.
New World Order Update ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:39 PM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
Blue's News has posted a New World Order Update with the latest news from Erik Schreuder of Project Three Interactive and Termite Games. Check it out!
IGI 2: Covert Strike Q&A ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:35 PM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted an IGI 2: Covert Strike Q&A where they chat with Gulf War veteran and ex-SAS soldier Chris Ryan about his advisory role on Innerloop's upcoming shooter. Here's a taste:HomeLAN - How did you hook up with Innerloop and Codemasters with their work on IGI2?
Chris Ryan - I was approached by Codemasters to work as a military consultant on the project. Codemasters wanted to ensure the game was as realistic and accurate as possible.
HomeLAN - How has the development team used your experience in developing the game?
Chris Ryan - Over a number of months we have worked on the weapon systems covering their capabilities which included visual and sound effects. Incorporated realistic military tactics and procedures which adds authenticity to the overall game experience. Advised on details with regards to the appearance of different characters and their equipment.
NOLF2 Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:33 PM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
Game Chronicles has posted a NOLF2 Q&A where they chat with Several members of the development team. Here's a nibblet:GCM: NOLF 2 seems to be mixing the likes of Thief and Deus Ex into its gameplay but without going so far as to lose its FPS core. Is this a fair statement and what was the thought process behind such a sizable upgrade?
NOLF2 Team: Craig Hubbard: NOLF was conceived as an espionage game. We wanted to strike a balance between action and intrigue. Unfortunately, we came up a little short on intrigue. Stealth was too unforgiving. Once you were spotted, you were playing an action game.
We made a lot of improvements in NOLF 2. It’s easier and more fun to sneak around and spy on enemies. If somebody sees you or sounds an alarm, you can evade your pursuers or hide instead of going on the offensive. Eventually, things will die down and you can go back to sneaking.
Unreal Tournament 2003 Review & More....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:27 PM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
XGR has posted their review of Unreal Tournament 2003 from Digital
Extremes and Epic Games.
They are also going to be posting impressions of each map in Unreal Tournament 2003. They've split them up among the XGR staff and first up is North with his batch of screens.
MOH:AA Spearhead Preview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:23 PM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameSpy has posted a preview at the forthcoming expansion pack for MOH:AA, after having played through the single player campaign. Here's a snip:"Like Allied Assault's famous "Omaha Beach" level, the first mission of Spearhead is set in June 1944 during Operation Overlord. Instead of storming the beach, however, you begin 3000 feet in the air, preparing to parachute into Normandy. The opening scene is pretty wild as you leap out, the air filled with bombers, anti-aircraft fire and paratroopers. After crashing through the roof of a barn and cutting yourself free, you'll meet up with British troops and work with a squad of soldiers in hopes of taking back the shore. As happened often in Allied Assault, you'll have the opportunity to control stationary weapons and a few vehicles as well as your own arms. You'll control flak cannons, mounted artillery and even tanks (on occasion)."
Epic to Release Pro Version of UT2003....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 12:02 PM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
Unreality is reporting there's a post on the official forums (registration required) by Dr. Sin saying that Epic is going to release a pro version of UT2003. Here it is:"Our goal in the CPL and any other pro offline tournament we support is to create a common set of rules that levels the playing field. To that end, the rules posted by the CPL reflect that players have only a limited set of things they can change. Exactly what will be changeable hasn’t to my knowledge been fully decided on yet.
Right now, we (as in Epic) are talking about creating a “Pro” version of the game just with tournaments like this in mind. It will be pro in terms of what game settings can be altered and what can’t. It will encompass what can be tweaked and adjusted as well as what game settings should be used. This will not be something designed for online play at this time.
Once these settings are decided on, a new GUI will be constructed that allows access to JUST them. UT2003’s GUI lacks some of the options that hard core players would want, and this was by design (such as FOV). This version will lack a console and will insure that all game setting are locked down.
Hopefully, this is the system that will be used at the CPL.
The big question, and why I’m wading in to the flames here is this:
“What options do you think are critical, not already in the current UT2003 GUI”.
Please leave graphic options alone for the time being. Also, if you feel like flaming don’t, I’m feeling pretty ban happy today."
P/CP: Controversial Counter-Strike Tactics....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:49 AM MDT Friday, October 18, 2002 [Comment on news]
3DAction Planet has posted a point/counter point today where they discuss Controversial Counter-Strike Tactics. Here's a snip from the intro to get you started:"There are quite a few Counter-Strike gameplay tactics which are a tad controversial -- bunny hopping, camping, etc. Today, Digitus and Pseudo sit down to discuss these very tactics."
XGR's 2nd Anniversary Giveaway....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:24 PM MDT Thursday, October 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
XGR also sent word that they've revealed the latest prize package in their month-long 2nd Anniversary Giveaway.
Raven Shield Shots ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:21 PM MDT Thursday, October 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
The official Raven Shield website has posted a couple of new screenshots. You can check them out here.
IGI2 Delayed....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:17 PM MDT Thursday, October 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
According to this forum post by a Codemasters QA team leader, the first person shooter IGI2: Covert Strike has been delayed until February 2003.
Unreal Tournament 2003 Review ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:11 PM MDT Thursday, October 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
Video Game News has posted a review of Unreal Tournament 2003. Here's a nibblet:"From a technological standpoint, UT 2003 is pretty amazing. On an AMD 900 with a GeForce 3ti 200, I was getting impressive graphics and an impressive frame rate. In addition, the bandwidth usage is minimal, as I had no lag problems what so ever. Maybe somebody can use this technology to create a good video game out of it."
NOLF2 Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:06 PM MDT Thursday, October 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
Gamers Depot has posted a review of NOLF2. Here's a snip:"Not everything about this game is strict and straightforward; other wise the game would be pretty dull, right? Besides doing your missions in an orderly fashion, some of the enemies and allies you encounter can be rather, goofy, adding a slight flavor of humor to lightening up the game play mood up a notch. Enemies will interact with each other and complain about their ridiculous personal problems or hint you about the where to place a bomb."
James Schmalz Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:01 PM MDT Thursday, October 17, 2002 [Comment on news]
XGR has posted a new Q&A with Digital Extremes' James Schmalz. This interview is comprised of questions left over from his last visit on XGR Radio. You can check out their UT2003/Unreal Championship related Q&A here.
UT 2003 Hidden NV30 Options?....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:54 AM MDT Wednesday, October 16, 2002 [Comment on news]
There have been a few rumors going around noting that UT 2003 may contain some secret detail settings for use only under Nvidia NV30’s unreleased graphics cards. You can get the scoop from UT2003News where they've posted a quote from Mark Rein that should clarify everything.
Operation Flashpoint: Resistance Review ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:47 AM MDT Wednesday, October 16, 2002 [Comment on news]
The Wargamer has posted a review of Operation Flashpoint: Resistance. Here's a snip:"Right from the start it is apparent that Bohemia Interactive was interested in making the campaign more than just a slapped together linear progression of missions. There are a few surprising plot twists and alternate paths, an enhanced AI and a couple new and unique features that will keep gamers on the tips of their toes, preventing them from being idle for any length of time. It is now possible to actually drop and pick up weapons as needed, and direct others to do so as well. This is critical to the campaign's success since as one grows from a scant few Resistance soldiers to a larger army, military supplies are limited and have to be scavenged from the dead or from enemy depots. Scavenged military supplies can then be carried forward to subsequent missions. If a supply truck is apprehended, it can be loaded with weapons that will be available for arming one's self prior to the next mission. One downside to this is that missions abruptly end once all objectives have been completed. This means that in many cases, the only way to scavenge supplies before the mission ends is to send soldiers into the middle of a firefight, which is usually a bad idea A couple new weapons and vehicles have been added as well, including the motorbike, which is a blast to drive, and a variety of handguns can also be holstered for those close combat encounters."
Unreal Tournament 2003 Championship Qualifiers....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:38 AM MDT Wednesday, October 16, 2002 [Comment on news]
Do you still need to qualify for the CPL's Unreal Tournament 2003 championship? If so, Gamefixx has a bunch of locations posted for you. Check 'em out!
Söldner Site Launched....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:34 AM MDT Wednesday, October 16, 2002 [Comment on news]
JoWooD Productions, the publisher of Wings Simulations' upcoming tactical shooter, Söldner has launched the game's official site. The site displays information such as: overview, system requirements, and features. The developers also are encouraging you to visit the forums moderated by the developers themselves.
Iron Storm Goes Gold....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 1:47 PM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
DreamCatcher Interactive and Wanadoo Edition have announced that Iron Storm has just gone gold for North America! The game will be shipping October 21. They encourage everyone to download the demo for a taste of this incredible game, featuring an alternative history storyline where World War One rages for 50 straight years. The demo can be found here at the official Iron Storm website.
You should also check out PCShooter.com's preview of Iron Storm that I posted a couple of weeks ago.
[Mornin' Mocha]....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:45 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
Howdy all... hope everyone is enjoying their day(night)! What do you think about all of these sniper shootings in the Washington DC area. Have you heard about it? Pretty crazy stuff, especially since they're now trying to tie this behaviour to a gamer! I wondered how long it would take them to say it is one of "us" doing this crap, and I know others have been wondering the same. Pretty silly actually, I love playing fps games on my PC, but would no sooner go out and shoot someone than I would drive my truck off the nearest cliff... give me a break people! Games are not to blame - choices people make are!! On a related note, Blood forwarded me this link to a Penny Arcade article on that very subject.
Well, whoever this sniper is, I hope they catch him (him being an all-inclusive term of course) quick! Eleven people have fallen victim, and that's eleven too many!
Have a great day(night)...
Steam 2.0 Coming....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:23 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
Valve Software sent word that the 2.0 beta version of Steam will be released in early November. Along with the release of Steam 2.0 will come new versions of the Half-Life mods Counter-Strike and Team Fortress Classic. Here is a list of the new features in Steam 2.0:-- V-GUI 2 plus an integrated set of communications tools that provide built-in support for a variety of services, such as instant messaging, configuration, and server browsing.
-- Counter-Strike: Introduction of Riot Shield, FAMAS, and Galil.
-- Team Fortress Classic: Introduction of the engineer's teleportation pad, new map from Valve (Ravelin), plus various fixes and tweaks.
-- Casual Steam games: Chess, Checkers, and Go.
-- Anti-cheat support for all Valve multiplayer games.
-- Improved Steam performance.
Gary Oldman Voices Allied Assault Expansion....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:20 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
Electronic Arts has put out a press release announcing that acclaimed actor Gary Oldman will be doing the voice overs for the "historical video segments and briefings that appear between each mission" in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Spearhead, the upcoming expansion pack to EA's hit WWII first person shooter.
UK's Top 20 Best Selling PC Games....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:14 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
ELSPA has released its latest list of the top 20 best selling PC games in the UK for the week ending October 12, 2002.The Sims: Unleashed - EA.
Unreal Tournament 2003 - Atari.
Hitman 2 - Eidos.
The Sims Deluxe Edition - EA.
Total Club Manager 2003 - EA.
Battlefield 1942 - EA.
Medieval: Total War - Activision.
The Sims On Holiday - EA.
Mafia - Take-Two.
Grand Theft Auto 3 - Take-Two.
The Sim Hot Date - EA.
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - EA.
The Sims - EA.
Stronghold: Crusader - Take-Two.
Championship Manager: Season 01/02 - Eidos.
The Thing - Vivendi.
Warcraft III - Vivendi.
Links 2003 - Microsoft.
Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest - Vivendi.
Zoo Tycoon - Microsoft.
XIII Preview....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:11 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameSpy has written a new preview of XIII, the upcoming cel-shaded Unreal engine powered first person shooter from Ubi Soft that will also be released on the PS2, GC and Xbox. Here's a taste:"The developers have designed XIII to contain a healthy mix of action and stealth. Hardcore action players will have plenty of enemies to cap, but the more cautious player can find easier routes to success by spotting alternative entrances and paths. Walking up to the main entrance of a military hangar, it was clear that storming the fort would result in a lot of "Pow's!" and "Thwup's!" so I circled around to find another entrance. As I snuck through the back window, a silent shot from my crossbow dropped a guard with a quiet "Thud," and from the small action bubble, I could tell that it wasn't loud enough to attract any attention. Scaling a nearby ladder to a control room, I dropped a storage crate onto a group of guards at one side of the hangar. Once the rest of the guards came running to see what had happened, I was free to make a stealthy entrance through the main door."
Op Flashpoint Resistance Server & Docs....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:06 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
After releasing the version 1.85 patch, the Operation Flashpoint Downloads page now has available the version 1.85 Operation Flashpoint Resistance dedicated server. Their Editing Section also now offers a list of Resistance scripting commands updated through the latest version.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Reviews....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:04 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
Gamer's Hell and Monkey Reviewhave both posted their Hitman 2: Silent Assassin reviews. Check 'em out!
UT2003 Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 11:01 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
GameZone has posted a review of UT2003. Here's a nibblet:"If you are a fan of FPS, games with great graphics, and wonderful gameplay; go to the nearest store and buy this game immediately! The game is that good! From the minute you install the game you will be amazed how wonderful this game looks, and plays. It is a shame that a few modes were cut out and some of the weapons have been weakened, but than again it is a sequel to UT and an expansion pack. Listen, you owe it to yourself to purchase this game. See you online!"
NOLF2 Review....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 10:59 AM MDT Tuesday, October 15, 2002 [Comment on news]
Games Domain has posted a review of Monolith's NOLF2. Here's a snip:"...Of course, the best engine in the world isn't going to help if the game has bland, boring or muddy textures, right? Happily, NOLF 2 has no such problems. From the rugs hanging from the balconies in the Indian levels to the gleefully retro UNITY head office, each level has its own collection of outstanding artwork. Probably the most striking strength of the graphics is in the animation of the character models. Their eyes and eyebrows move, their expression changes, and when you shoot them at the top of the stairs they roll down and collapse in a suitably crumpled heap at the bottom. NOLF 2's cast actually acts, rather than just lip-synching to voice-overs, and the expressiveness of the facial animations is a real asset to the cut-scenes."
Operation: Flashpoint Resistance Patch....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:50 PM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
The newest patch for Resistance, the expansion pack for Bohemia Interactive's military shooter Operation: Flashpoint, has been released and can be downloaded at FilePlanet. The 13.62 meg patch contains four new weapons, three new units, two new vehicles and a number of other improvements, changes and fixes. This patch requires both the original game as well as the Resistance expansion pack.
Graeme Devine Lecture ....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:46 PM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
id Software's Graeme Devine will be holding a lecture at the University Of Utah for The International Game Developers Association, which Graeme is also Chairman of. The free lecture is open to the public and will take place tomorrow, Tuesday October 15th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm. You can find out more about the event on The Student International Game Developers Association site.
Battlefield 1942....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:37 PM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
PC Gameworld has posted a review of the action-oriented WWII combat game, Battlefield 1942. Here's a snip:"BF42 offers gamers the opportunity to imagine themselves fighting for their country (or some other country) on great historic battlefields like Stalingrad, Tobruk, Wake Island, Midway and Guadalcanal. BF42 drips with atmosphere, at least for this geezer… er, gamer. Forget the phony fictional locations of most shooters; BF42 drops you into the real deal, virtually speaking.
The game play in BF42 is a near perfect blend of realistic military combat, like that in Operation Flashpoint or Ghost Recon, and more arcade play, like that in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. One shot can kill, but you can also be wounded and survive long enough to dish out some payback."
UT2003 Reviews....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:32 PM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
There are reviews on 3d Retreat and Gaming Nexus. Check 'em out!
Devastation Q&A....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 2:30 PM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
GamersClick has posted a Devastation Q&A with Digitalo's Producer and Designer Vic DeLeon. Here's a nibblet:GC: How will the story play out?
VD: In a future where technology is outlawed, food and fuel are precious commodities, and the only law is Martial Law, you assume the role of Flynn, a very cynical twenty-five year-old who's nothing more than a streetwise punk with a criminal history and a penchant for rebellion. Aside from his implied honorable intentions of exposing an evil global conspiracy, he is the classical anti-hero, which makes for some new and unique scenarios to propel the game. You are immediately thrust into the dark and compelling plot with an NPC guide and guns blazing. Aside from surviving the baddies, you've got a lot of additional challenges to overcome. You will be given task lists made up of multiple objectives via pre-game mission briefings, in-game action cutscenes, and HUD-based checklists. Your main goals are simple: survival, and conquest, but as the story progresses you are given more and more clues as to the nature of your upcoming missions.
For example, the first mission has you exploring the ravaged and fiery remains of the Grathius Corporation's Biogenetic Laboratories. This enormous complex has been partly demolished by an explosion and is crawling with evil security forces and "Pacification Squads". Your goal here is to stay alive long enough to decode a piece of incriminating data collected by resistance member named Baxter, and then make your way out before you get incinerated or executed. All along you are given lots of exploration opportunities and cool things to play with. There's a lot of foreshadowing built into the storyline, and you learn to connect the dots as you witness more and more of the weird stuff that the baddies are up to.
As you progress through Devastation's world, you will have more and more objectives to complete and challenges to overcome, as the game dynamic quickly adapts allowing for incredible variation from the standard shooter fare. In the end, you'll have teamed up with over 14 computer-controlled teammates, find and use over 40 classical and futuristic weapons, tools and gadgets, go up against hundreds of opponents, and uncover the mystery behind the evil mega-corporations that have been keeping the state of mankind oppressed in this totalitarian nightmare. Fun stuff indeed.
Abducted Q&A....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 2:27 PM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a Q&A with Design Lead Richard Cowgill and Lead Programmer Joe Reidel, where they talk about Contraband Entertainment's upcoming sci-fi shooter, Abducted. Here's a snip:HomeLAN - Can you guys now talk more about the actual storyline of Abducted?
Richard Cowgill - The character you play has been in 'storage' for a long time. When he wakes up, he's immediately confronted with a beautiful and hostile alien environment. There are going to be a lot of challenges to deal with, both real and imagined. insanity will be one of the main character's biggest challenges to overcome i think, he'll have to deal with things he thinks he sees, as well as memories about his past that begin to come back. Some of these will come about in the form of dreams and nightmares.
There's a certain level of reality we want to emulate. This is not an archetypical hero character, he's closer to a real human. He has those weaknesses. This won't be an easy ride
Joe Reidel - I think it's hard to expound on a lot of detail like people would really like us too. Unfortunately the game itself is heavily focused on mystery. we have a very developed story line, but so much of the games presentation depends on player driven discovery. Even knowing just a few events in the main story line would degrade the players experience when they play the game.
As Richard touched on, we will definitely be trying to emotionally jar the player. We will do a lot of things to really coax the player into feeling secure, and then utterly destroy that security.
NOLF2 ATI Patch ....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 11:05 AM MDT Monday, October 14, 2002 [Comment on news]
ATI has released a new Radeon 8500 driver, in an effort to help fix a problem with the system hanging in Chapter 8 of NOLF 2. You can grab the file here.
America's Army Patch ....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 10:21 AM MDT Friday, October 11, 2002 [Comment on news]
The America's Army version 1.3.0 patch is now available at 3D Gamers. The patch includes many fixes, a new map, and a new honor system.
UT2003 Review....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 10:19 AM MDT Friday, October 11, 2002 [Comment on news]
Mad Gamers has posted a review of Digital Extremes' UT2003. Here's their intro to get you started:"It's conventional with a review to start with the preamble, progress with the detail and save the conclusion for the very end, but convention be damned. Let's do it differently, just this once. With Unreal Tournament 2003, after all, most of the prospective audience know exactly what to expect: they've spent the last few years playing either its immediate predecessor or one of the many games that formed its inspiration. All they need to know is: is it any good? And, more importantly, does it look nice?
Well, the answer to both these questions is an emphatic YES. Unreal Tournament 2003 is excellent. It's fast, furious and contains lashings of gleeful ultra-violence. It also looks stunning, and bedrooms up and down the country are already humming with the gentle purr of shiny new graphics cards being pushed to their limits. The game takes all the elements which made the original Unreal Tournament such a success and polishes them till they shine. If you like this sort of thing – and many clearly do – then it will provide you with many, many hours of high-adrenaline action."
Deadly Dozen: Pacific Theater Q&A....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 10:16 AM MDT Friday, October 11, 2002 [Comment on news]
InGaming has posted a Deadly Dozen: Pacific Theater Q&A, where they chat with nFusion's Jason Zisk. Here's a snip:InGaming: In what ways have you improved the game? What would be the most obvious thing you've changed and why?
Jason Zisk: The minute you load it up you'll immediately notice the graphics, animation and interface have all been improved greatly. I recently loaded up the original Deadly Dozen and cringed at its crudeness. Not that it was that bad, but compared to DD2 its just so "2001". Beyond graphics and presentation DD2 has multiplayer, something a lot of people asked for but we just didn't have the time to do in the original game.
DF: BHD Screenshots....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 10:30 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
NovaLogic has released a grundle of Delta Force: Black Hawk Down screenshots, most are new but some we've seen before. You can check them out here.
America's Army Q&A....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 9:50 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a Q&A with Alex Mayberry where they talk about America's Army and the plans for an upcoming patch, the new map, new features, and more.
UT2003 Wish List....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 9:46 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
There's a thread on the Infogrames forums called Unreal Tournament 2003 Bugs & "Wish" List. The extensive post lists things that are currently being worked on in the upcoming patch, items that are open for future consideration, as well as an explanation of why certain items on the list actually operate the way they do intentionally and includes a post from Epic's Tim Sweeney. Topics include support for running in a window, protection against exploits, server browser improvements, Unreal TV, demo recording, the new stats system, and more.
Novalogic and SOWF Join Forces....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 9:37 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
Entertainment software developer and publisher NovaLogic, Inc. yesterday announced that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the forthcoming PC title Delta Force - Black Hawk Down will be donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF).
The foundation provides college scholarship grants, along with financial aid and educational counseling to the children of Special Operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident.
“We at NovaLogic are proud to be associated with the professionals who perform the dangerous and largely unrecognized work that we portray in our products”, commented Lee Milligan, President of NovaLogic Inc. “By donating to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation we pay our respects to these brave men and know that our customers join us in thanking them for their service.”
You can read the whole release here. (Thanks DevilDog#1 from dfhq.net for the headsup.)
Conflict: Desert Storm Review ....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 9:34 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
HomeLan has posted a review of Pivotal Games' Gulf War inspired shooter, Conflict: Desert Storm. Here's a nibblet:"There are some improvements that could have made Conflict: Desert Storm better. Sometime the controls for the game turned mushy and made for movement and aiming difficult at times. Because of the setting of the game itself, the amount of variety in the game’s artwork and looks is pretty much limited to desert settings and cities and military complexes. There also doesn’t appear to be any support for mod tools out of the box. The Internet multiplayer modes only support eight players at one time which is about eight players too little for most serious hardcore gamers, and there is no multiplayer co-op mode for the single player missions which apparently is in the Xbox version of the game. Finding an Internet game will also require a third party game server browser."
Hitman 2 Q&A....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 9:31 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
Gaming Horizon has posted a short Q&A with Eidos' US Producer Clayton Palma where they chat about Io Interactive's Hitman 2. Here's a snip:GH: What kind of improvements did the team do to the inventory?
Clayton: The inventory system has been streamlined and made more intuitive. You are allowed to carry a healthy amount of weapons at any time, though you are still limited to only one full-sized rifle. We have eliminated the pre-mission shopping from the first game. All equipment is placed on each level and acquired during play. In addition, weapons now carry over from mission to mission. It’s great to replay some of the earlier levels with newly acquired firepower.
Devastation Screenshots....
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[Frag-girlie] @ 9:27 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]
The official site for Arush Entertainment's upcoming Unreal-tech powered shooter, Devastation, has posted nine new screenshots. You can check them out here.
[Mornin' Mocha]....
Posted by
[Frag-girlie] @ 9:25 AM MDT Thursday, October 10, 2002 [Comment on news]