Archive for July, 2000

Monday, July 31, 2000

Nox Quest Available Tomorrow - Falcon @ 6:24 pm PST
Westwood Studios' Nox Quest ready for worldwide release

Cooperative adventuring enhancement to be released Aug. 1

LAS VEGAS, July 31, 2000 - Nox Quest, the free game enhancement Nox(tm) fans around the world have been waiting for, is finished and will be available for download, between 5 and 8pm, Tuesday, August 1, at Westwood.com

Nox, the worldwide best-selling action-RPG, was released by Westwood Studios and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) in February to huge critical and fan
acclaim. A copy of Nox is required to play Nox Quest, the free enhancement.

The enhancement will allow 1 to 6 players to adventure together through a variety of exotic settings, fighting a menagerie of bizarre creatures and collecting powerful magical items. The Nox Quest game never ends, but continues to challenge players with ever more difficult adventures. Once the party survives one quest, the next will contain tougher monsters who deal more damage than the last.

Players will adventure through intricately designed maps such as the Castle of Pain, the Dark Crypts, the Bandit's Forest, the Underworld, the Dismal Swamp, the Mana Mines, the Land of the Dead, and the Ancient Ruins.

Each of these maps contain many hidden and secret areas. In addition, all of the items found on these maps are randomly distributed, including spells, warrior skills, weapons, armor, and magical artifacts. Players will collect these items and become more powerful as they continue to adventure.

Players make their way through Quest maps fighting hordes of monsters, avoiding hazards, solving puzzles, and searching for secret areas. In Nox Quest, the evil sorceress Hecubah has constructed Summoning Obelisks throughout the world, which spawn a ceaseless horde of fiendish beasts. Your group must destroy each obelisk to end the invasion of bloodthirsty creatures.

Also, Hecubah and her Necromancer minions may make cameo appearances from time to time, if she thinks the adventuring party is getting a little too confident.

Nox is a game of savage combat and sneaky tactics set in a mystical land filled with discovery and deceit. Nox's lightning-fast action is fueled by a combat system that's easy to use yet gives players tremendous gameplay depth and infinite possibilities. With more than 100 unique spells and weapons, players must use their wits to create devious combinations and tricky
tactics.

The battle happens in the world of Nox, which Westwood's game designers have filled with intricate detail. The top down viewpoint gives players an expansive view of the world. True line of sight means never knowing what's around the next corner, creating an intense level of suspense.

The single player game will take gamers through the three lands of Nox, pitting you against vicious monsters and powerful wizards. Driven by an epic story, you'll progress up skill levels and learn three schools of combat: the way of the Warrior, the knowledge of Conjurer, and the disciplines of the Wizard.

Even before the Nox Quest cooperative enhancement add-on, the game offered an intense multiplayer experience with five multiplayer options: death matches (teams and free-for all melees), Capture the Flag, King of the Realm and Flag Ball. Multiplay is supported through Westwood Online, an online gaming service with more than a million members.

MS XDK's Shiped - Falcon @ 6:22 pm PST
Microsoft Ignites Xbox Game Development Worldwide

REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has shipped its first Xbox software developer kits (XDKs) to game designers worldwide, enabling them to create great games for the future-generation Xbox video game system that is scheduled to ship in fall 2001. The company estimates that by the end of this summer, more than 1,000 XDKs will be deployed to more than 100 companies developing Microsoft-approved Xbox games.

"Microsoft is committed to working with the best game developers and publishers to ensure a highly successful Xbox launch next fall," said Robbie Bach, senior vice president of Microsoft's Games Division. "Reaching this major milestone more than 15 months before availability gives developers the resources and information they need to create rich Xbox launch titles.

The XDK is a high-performance, easy-to-use development platform that allows developers to focus on the art of game design without wrestling with the technology. Like Xbox, the XDK is based on familiar Intel and NVIDIA chip design and Microsoft's popular DirectX® 8 API development tools, which enable movie-quality rendering, superior audio and action-packed game play.

The three-phase, XDK programbegins with an upgradeable PC-based development system available today and culminates with customized console units delivered to developers in early 2001. Throughout the Xbox development process, designers will receive instant access to updated software and tools as they mature.

Today's PC-based XDK system is designed to provide developers with maximum freedom to create. It includes early graphics hardware, a large hard drive, a beta version of DirectX 8, technical documentation, and off-the shelf game pads that simulate Xbox functionality.

Cheating In D2 - Falcon @ 6:16 pm PST
Now that Diablo II has been out for a month, and the Macintosh version is available, there are several character editing programs for the game, referred to as "trainers" and "hacks."
PlanetDiablo's first article delves into the subject of cheating in not only Diablo II, but briefly discusses the history of cheating throughout the Diablo series. Since the time when trainers spread all over Battle.Net in the first Diablo, often ruining the experience of many players who were seeking fun and legitimate multi-player gameplay, cheating has been a hot topic.
The article also covers the innovative, new types of characters that Blizzard North created for Diablo II, one of them to provide a completely safe haven for legitimate gamers: Open characters and Realm characters. But which of these types is for you? This article debates them, providing the positive and negative points of each type. Lastly, the editorial discusses the ethics of cheating, and how the use of trainers can sometimes prove to be fun and useful in several ways, as long as they aren't abused.

D2 Giveaway - Falcon @ 6:13 pm PST
Over at Espudd is a giveaway a full copy of Diablo II.
This is a five day event that will begin on Monday July 31st.

HoM&M Chronicles Preview - Falcon @ 6:11 pm PST
This weekend's preview on EuroGamer takes a look at the "Heroes of Might & Magic Chronicles", a quartet of new games in the long-running turn-based strategy / role-playing series.

"The "Heroes of Might & Magic" series is something of an enigma - despite an increasingly outdated graphics engine, sticking resolutely to its turn-based roots in this age of real time strategy, and being based in a distinctly unfashionable fantasy world of elves, dwarves and dragons, somehow the yearly additions to the series still manage to sell by the bucket-of-never-ending-water full."
"And with good reason. Behind the stats and the at-time bewildering array of units, shamelessly pilfered from the mythology and fiction of a dozen different cultures, there is an addictive and compelling game."

The preview also includes a pair of exclusive new screenshots of the third episode of the Chronicles in action.

Exclusive Sanity Cards - Falcon @ 6:08 pm PST
The official release:

I wanted to take a moment to tell you that Ragesofsanity.com ( The official Fansite of Sanity: Aiken's Artifact) has scored the exclusive sanity talent cards for the Fire and Sun totem.

What does this mean in english? It means that if you want to know what talents are available in the final game you go to: www.ragesofsanity.comand you read the top news post. We have added every talent known to the public, plus the complete sun and fire totem. The link to the actual totem cards is: http://www.ragesofsanity.com/talents.html

If you could run this through your news engines I would appricate it. In the upcomming months we will be featuring much more information about Sanity, and the community around the game on www.ragesofsanity.com site so keep posted for more details.

Chris Taylor 20 questions - Falcon @ 6:02 pm PST
GameSpy tracks down Chris Taylor and asks him 20 questions NOT about his new game Dungeon Siege. Here's a sample:

GameSpy: Let's get this out of the way here and now: After Dungeon Siege, do you envision a Total Annihilation 2 in your future? Has the subject been broached to you at all, or is it all just rumor and hearsay?

Chris Taylor: We have always planned to do an RTS game along the same line as Total Annihilation. The question that has been put to me is, are you going to buy the franchise? The answer is no, but that doesn't mean we can't make another 3D RTS game that has tanks and jets!

Creature Movie - Falcon @ 5:59 pm PST
Serafina was kind enough to send another creature animation, this time it's a "Tree Dweller!" This strange looking creature swings through the trees with ease and looks to be a non-hostile creature of Atriana.

Windows 2000 Service Pack - VulTure @ 7:33 am PST
Well, kids, Microsoft has finally released the service pack. If you have been waiting to update your Windows 2000 installation, the wait is over. Wininfo has some more info and download sites for ya!

If you would like to read a review, before downloading this 83mb behemoth, check out the SuperSite!

The Pentium III at 1133 MHz - VulTure @ 7:27 am PST
Due to the recent release of the gigahertz chips by AMD, Intel is starting to feel some pressure. Well, they have now struck back with a 1.13Ghz chip. But, does AMD have a reason to be worried? Apparently not, according to this article on Tom's Hardware.

"The very worst thing in terms of prestige damage happened back in Spring 2000, when AMD was the first x86-processor maker to introduce a CPU that runs at 1 GHz = 1000 MHz clock speed. Big Chipzilla countered with the release of the Pentium III at 1 GHz two days later, but this CPU was so unavailable that not even the press was equipped with any samples. Today, some four months later, the Giga-Pentium III is still hardly available anywhere and now Intel considered it a particularly smart move to go ahead and introduce another Pentium III version that hardly anyone will be able to get, the Pentium III at 1.133 GHz."

Tim Sweeney Interview - VulTure @ 7:20 am PST
VoodooExtreme has conducted a short interview with Tim Sweeney of Epic Games to try and break the recent silence of the company.

Diablo II Guides - VulTure @ 7:16 am PST
diinecro.com has put up their guide for building that ever-popular character...the Necromancer. Go and visit them to read about The Art of Necreation.

Diablo II Guides - VulTure @ 7:10 am PST
DamageGaming has put up two new guides that should breath some new life into your Diablo II characters.

They now have a Paladin Guide and a new Sorceress Guide!

FAKK2 Gold - VulTure @ 7:00 am PST
News is in from Redwood, over at Stomped, that FAKK2 has gone gold and should hit stores by Wednesday. He also mentions having a gold build that he will review shortly.

FFIX Prepares for America - Raven @ 5:30 am PST
This comes from FFonline.com. Its only a short article, and here are the key points:

Now that Final Fantasy IX's completely taken Japan by storm (as was expected), the next section of the world to be graced by its appearance will be the United States. What can we expect to change in the game before IX-mania hits America?

Probably the highest hurdle to jump in the leap from Japan to America will be the translating. The Japanese language is extensive and complex; even though the words come out the same, a simple phoentic change of tone could completely change the meaning of a phrase. With that, Square has to word every dialogue to work concretely for each language; it's not simply some guy at a table with a copy of the script and a Japanese-to-English dictionary. Translating as such would almost completely twist up and ruin any game, and Square is well aware of this. They've done a considerably good job in the past with previous Final Fantasy titles, even when you figure in little boo boos such as "This guy are sick" here and there.

Nice read, and fairly interesting. You can get the rest of the article here.

FF XI Details - Raven @ 5:27 am PST
Again this comes off FFonline.com

"According to the latest sales charts from Japan, it appears as though Final Fantasy IX has lost its top spot, dropping to #2, after holding it for a solid week. For the week of June 10 through July 16 the title sold 275,306 units, bring its 2 week total (including preorders) up to 2,226,406 units sold. This is an excellent sales figure, considering Square didnt advertise FFIX like it did its predecessor, FFVIII. This shows the strength of the Final Fantasy namesake, being as it can generate 110 million dollars plus of sales in 2 weeks; a figure which Hollywood is envious of.

In other news, Square has released the sales figures for their upcoming online gaming project, PlayOnline. Their broadband network is expected to launch next fall in both Japan and the US simultaneously, and is expected to have a fanbase of 2 million users. The proposed fee is approximately $8 per month, which may make some fans fret. But, when you think of it rationally, it equates to the price of two video games over an entire year. If you don't have the cash, there is always a few weeks of summer left. Plenty of time to pull out the juicer and fire up the lemonade stand to afford your little gaming fetish."

Starwars RPG Info - Raven @ 5:23 am PST
This is one of the few sources where I have found any details at all concerning the upcomgin Starwars RPG from Bioware. Whilst there isn't much detail here, it is still alot better then nothing :P. PC.IGN have a short little news story commenting on the Starwars RPG. Nice... but way to short :(, hopefully more details will surface soon.

Mech Warrior 4 Information - Raven @ 5:19 am PST
Gamespy has posted up a movie.trailer and 5 exclusive screenshots for Microsofts upcoming Strat/RPG/Sim game Mech Warrior 4. All in all the stuff looks great, and I am very confident that the finished Mech Warrior 4 will look just as great. Caugh the stuff over here.

AOE 2 The Conquerors preview - Raven @ 5:14 am PST
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors is an upcoming expansion pack from Ensemble Studios and Microsoft. The game itself similar to the original, transports players into a new world, filled with the savergy of pre-medievil life. The game is eagerly anticipated, and so far all the pre-lim media has been positive. Singapore.gamecenter have a quick article up looking at this game. Its a good read, and you can view it at http://singapore.gamecenter.com/Peeks/aoe2conquerors/index.html.

Heroes Chronicles - Raven @ 5:09 am PST
Everyone loves the Heroes series. I mean its got so much magic, and killing and magic... and killing. Whats not to like about it? Eurogamers differently agrees with me on this matter as their article gives off some very positive comments concerning Heroes Chronicles. Heroes Chronicles is the new game in the Heroes series, heres a quote explaining the game.

"Now publisher 3DO is trying to bring that classic gameplay to a whole new audience with its "Heroes Chronicles" games, a series of four titles due for release this Autumn, each selling at a budget price of around £15.

The four games each follow a hero with the unlikely name of Tarnum, who must "earn redemption from the gods" by carrying out a series of quests. This equates to a single story-driven campaign of around eight missions for each of the four episodes, and these bite-sized chunks may prove a little less overwhelming than the seemingly endless missions of a full Heroes game"

Looks good read the rest of the article here.

D2 Expansion Info - Raven @ 5:00 am PST
Planet Diablo have a great little article up looking at what we can expect in Blizzard up and coming expansion to Diablo2. As we already know Blizzard has told us that they long planned to do an expansion and we have been told that the expansion will feature two new characters the Assassin and the Druid. However PlanetDiablo goes and gives us afew more juicy treats about the CD. The article looks at a possible storyline, items, monsters, skills and much more. Its a great read and a must read for any Diablo2 fan. Caugh it here.

Baldurs Gate 2 - Raven @ 4:56 am PST

"BioWare has been working on Baldur's Gate II: The Shadows of Amn for less than two years, during the course of which it's created one of the single biggest role-playing games to date. Now, the sequel is nearly finished and is presently scheduled to ship in the middle of September, barring any last-minute delays that might occur during the final testing phase. In addition to being such a large game, Baldur's Gate II is also mostly nonlinear, which makes the important process of thoroughly testing the game especially difficult. BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka described testing the game as "taking two steps forward, one step back.""

Gamespot has some great info up about the current status of Baldurs Gate 2. Whilst I won't go and give out any details, anyone who is curious about this great up and comer should definately read this article. Caugh the article here.

Another Diablo2 Review - Raven @ 4:53 am PST
Over at http://www.glideunderground.com/ the gang have put up a nice indepth review of the RPG hit Diablo 2. The review has afew pictures and some interesting comments. If you are still considering Diablo2, then maybe this article is for you. Take the link here.

Sunday, July 30, 2000

RA : UT realeased - Recoil @ 4:15 am PST
recently with the of RA3, the RA:UT is now in progress download from here
Source: http://www.planetunreal.com/arena

Homeworld Nation Pic of the Week. - Thundra @ 3:16 am PST
A new Pic of the Week as been added to the Homeworld Nation main page. Check it here.

Saturday, July 29, 2000

Linux Games - Falcon @ 11:42 pm PST
Linux goodness abounds with a new Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri demo for Linux users. We also have a Linux patch for Soldier of Fortune. Check them
out at http://www.gamespy.com/news/july00/7-28-00-linux.shtm

Bioware Trip - Falcon @ 11:41 pm PST
Heres what they had to say:

A week ago, I found myself there again, this time to see the eagerly awaited Baldur's Gate II and the company's other exciting Dungeons & Dragons-based project, the potentially ground-breaking Neverwinter Nights. Our BioWare Trip Report offers a look at the company, the current status of two of its major projects, and lots of new screenshots and photos.

Allegiance Promotion - Falcon @ 11:37 pm PST
MONTH-LONG ALLEGIANCE PROMOTION KICKS OFF TODAY

Microsoft today announced that Allegiance, its pulse-pounding online space-action game, will be available from now until August 25, 2000 for only US$19.95 plus shipping and handling at http://shop.microsoft.com/. The game combines furious space combat with the social challenge of squadron-based combat in a stunning 3D universe.

Players are eligible for one free month on the Allegiance Zone when they purchase the game. Gamers can choose to play on public domain servers free of charge, or via the subscription-based Allegiance Zone. This month, the Allegiance Zone expanded with the addition of a new civilization, the Rixiaans, which is only available to its members.

Allegiance is one of the highest-rated games of the year, averaging nearly a 90% review rating. It has scored three Editor's Choice awards from major publications and online gaming sites as well as several perfect 5-star reviews. The game is being praised for its innovation and engrossing team-based space combat action. With thousands of registered players on Zone.com and scores of free-play servers available worldwide, Allegiance is taking the genre to the next level.

In Allegiance, players can pilot and customize many different classes of ships; from scouts and fighters to battle cruisers. They also have the ability to switch between a variety of combat roles, including pilot, turret gunner or base commander. Hundreds of players can engage each other in death-match style arenas or in cooperative play. Gamers will be able to represent their identity, through recorded accomplishments and medals, giving combatants the chance to become part of an ongoing, dynamic universe. Allegiance also features rich strategic elements such as controllable assets, researchable technology and command features. For more information about Allegiance, visit the game's official site at: http://www.microsoft.com/games/allegiance/

Mech4 Preview Trailer - Falcon @ 11:36 pm PST
MECHWARRIOR 4: VENGEANCE DOWNLOADABLE PREVIEW TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE

Microsoft today announced that a downloadable preview trailer for MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, the highly anticipated sequel being developed by Microsoft's FASA Interactive group, is now available at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechwarrior4/. MechWarrior 4 weaves heart-pounding BattleMech action with the continuing drama and unfolding storyline of the perpetual BattleTech universe.

Shot in the style of a Hollywood sci-fi feature, the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance preview trailer sets the stage for the epic conflict that is the heart of the game's story. Intensely action-oriented, the trailer introduces gamers to their role in the game -- their struggle to reclaim their birthright, which was savagely taken away by the murder of their father and the oppression of their people by enemy forces. In MechWarrior 4, players are thrust into a sweeping saga of honor and revenge, with the fate of a world hanging in the balance.

Download the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance preview trailer at: http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechwarrior4/

In MechWarrior 4: Vengeance gamers command an awesomely armed 40-foot tall, 80-ton, 90-mile per hour war machine across the remote battlefields of a hostile world. Instead of desolate, sparsely populated battlefields, MechWarrior 4 takes place in a rich and dynamic universe inhabited by armed allies, noncombatants and deadly antagonists. High-energy lasers pierce the night; rockets flare with blazing fire; and buildings and vehicles crumble into smoldering rubble. Day missions, night missions, fog, rain, snow, blizzards and lightning provide atmosphere and add to the intensity and realism.

Players can command 21 different 'Mechs, seven of which have never been seen on the battlefield. 'Mechs can be customized with brand-new weapons, armor and sensors including the devastating Long-Tom artillery piece. Each 'Mech and MechWarrior exhibits unique strengths and weaknesses, so gamers must carefully evaluate each mission and plan accordingly.

MechWarrior 4: Vengeance includes a variety of new and compelling multiplayer features, including those designed specifically to support networked multiplay in the BattleTech Universe. For the first time, players will be able to create their own missions, host their own MechWarrior servers, and participate in missions cooperatively. MechWarrior 4 will also include full support for Internet play, with matchmaking available on Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/). The game will be available at retail locations throughout North America this winter.

RA2 Movie Shoot - Falcon @ 11:35 pm PST
Product: Command & Conquer Red Alert 2
Publisher: Westwood Studios
Developer: Westwood Studios
Release Date: October 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hollywood stars heat up Cold War during Red Alert 2 movie shoot

Filming wraps, post-production continues on Westwood's latest strategy game

LAS VEGAS, JULY 28, 2000 - Hollywood stars worked in Las Vegas' summer sun for two weeks while filming one the year's most highly anticipated sequels. However, don't look for this action-packed thriller in theaters; look for Westwood Studios' (tm) Command & Conquer Red Alert (tm) 2 in software stores. Electronics Arts® (NASDAQ:ERTS), Westwood's parent company, will ship the game to stores around the world in mid-October.

The CD-ROM game is the sequel to Command & Conquer Red Alert, one of the best selling PC games in history with more than 3 million sold.

The talented cast includes Kari Wurher (Sliders, Beverly Hills 90210), Ray Wise (Twin Peaks), Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure, WarGames), and Udo Kier (Blade, Armageddon).

"I kicked in doors, played with guns, punched guys in the face and had more fun than really should be legal," says Kari Wuhrer, who plays Tanya, a beautiful-yet-deadly commando. "I don't get many roles where I get to, literally, kick ass."

The film production was more elaborate than many movies with a cast of more than 20, a crew of more than 30, extensive special effects make up, and 17 full sets (including the Oval Office, Einstein's laboratory, and the Pentagon). Filming took place earlier this summer, with editing and post-production happening over the next two months.

Emmy winner Ron Wild, a special effects make-up genius who worked on Godzilla, Battlefield Earth and Babylon 5, performed his magic on everything from Einstein's bushy hair and wizened face to Yuri the Psychic's elongated skull, tastefully accented with flashing red diodes.

"I love working on games because you get to create a huge variety of unusual characters," Wilde says. "After five different Westwood games, I've done everything from demonic witches to cyborgs to full-body space suits. On every project, I'm always impressed with how high the production values are."

The real-time strategy game has a plot ready for the silver screen. The Russians, still smarting after a Cold War defeat, invade America using old favorites (Nuclear bombs, throngs of tanks) and a few new friends like Yuri the Psychic Warrior and giant mind-controlled squids. The Americans fight back, with a little help from Einstein, time travel devices and trained dolphins.

The war rages across American cities, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City, Key West, and Pearl Harbor. The war then spreads to Mexico, Germany, France and Siberia.

The Red Alert 2 film sequences serve as motivation for Red Alert 2 players who will command vast armies over large battlefields. With each successful mission, the player sees the results of his good work, a film clip that tells another chapter in the story.

"The story is definitely fun, but at the same time, we're taking creative liberties with some sensitive areas: patriotism, communist aggression, and the invasion of your home," says Donny Miele, executive director of dramatic assets for Westwood Studios. "The idea that America can be invaded, and would have to plea with the rest of the world for help, makes the blood boil just a little, which is why it makes for a great story."

The gameplay of Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 gives players an onslaught of new units, tactics and strategies. As in the original, gamers can choose to lead Soviet or Allied forces. Soviet commanders will invade North America and try to claim it for mother Russia. Allied commanders will fight to push back the invaders and save liberty.

Both sides are well-armed with conventional weapons and experimental technology. The Soviets can engage in psychic warfare, wield nuclear weapons and fry all they survey with Tesla technology. Allied forces can teleport with chrono technology, conduct covert operations with the help of gap generators, and rain down lightening bolts through weather control. Supporting these high-powered, advanced weapons are massive conventional forces, including armies, air power and navies.

Red Alert 2 will feature enhanced Local Area Network and Internet play. Players can engage in fierce combat over a LAN and battle via the Internet and Westwood Online. A built-in worldwide ranking system allows players to track their victories and defeats against other Internet gamers. The Worldwide Domination mode let's players compete in an ongoing war for global control.

More information about Red Alert 2 can be found at www.westwood.com.

Stupid Invaders - Falcon @ 11:33 pm PST
Actiontrip takes a look at the Stupid Invaders, that lovely, little 3D adventure from Gaumont Multimedia.

Ok, what have we got? Stupid Invaders… We seem to be in for another remake of a classical shoot-em-up in full 3D, with dynamic lighting, and smoke effects… Funny how everyone keeps doing the remakes of old games trying to implement something new and interesting and systematically failing… Hey, wait!?! There's not too many of these invaders about! In fact, there are only five of them. And they seem too dangerous either; they look like they could use some protection. Have things changed over the last couple of years?

Card Cooler XT Review - Falcon @ 11:30 pm PST
Speedy 3D has just put together a review of The Card Cooler's newest cooling masterpiece, TheCardCooler XT. They have their usual gruesome temperature tests and everything. Overall we thought this was an excellent product awarding it with a fairly high score of 9/10. Here's a clip from the review:

TheCardcooler.com has been well recognized for its effective and well-priced cardinal product, “The Original Card Cooler”. Proving that they do not follow trends, but create them, they have released a new design of Card Cooler dubbed the “XT”. This new product mimics its daughter product by cooling your important cards, but ventures a step beyond by cooling heat the prone CPU, Chipset, and RAM.

Icewind Dale sound gurus Interview - Falcon @ 11:27 pm PST
Two sound gurus from Interplay who were working on the game Icewind Dale, Charles Deenen and Craig Duman, were kind enough to give Creative Labs an interview.

Find out what these sound gurus told them at this site:

First Look: Mafia - Falcon @ 11:25 pm PST
Being a mobster has certain perks. You eat for free in all the best restaurants, everybody either respects or fears you, and you get to play with guns. Lots of guns.

The 3DActionPlanet takes a closer look at Mafia, a third-person shoot-'em up from Illusion Softworks. Check it out here:

Imagine you are a regular cab driver in 1930's America. You're happy with your job and you wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it, since you're barely making ends meet in the post-Depression era. One day, all of a sudden, you hear the crack of bullets splitting the air. Three burly men throw open the door to your parked cab and being shouting at you to drive as fast as you can. Not being one to question large ugly men with guns, you step on the accelerator and peel out, wondering when you'll get shot by your mysterious passengers.
A mobster cases a room, perhaps looking for a place to sit down after a hard day of crime.
This is exactly what happens to the game's main character, Tony. Apparently he has just saved the lives of three members of the Salieri family from being massacred by the Morelli family who, incidentally, harbor a vengeful streak for anyone who crosses their path. The Salieri family, being grateful to this cab driver for saving the lives of three of their members, extends a job offer to Tony. He isn't sure if he wants to hustle for the mob for a living, but when the Morellis locate and incinerate Tony's cab (that darn vengeful streak), he realizes he has to accept the offer or risk turning into a professional soup-kitchen attendant. Fortunately for us gamers, he chooses the position in the Mafia.

Wilco Publishing News - Falcon @ 11:19 pm PST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILCO’S 737 ADD-ON FOR FLY! NOW AVAILABLE ON CD-ROM
Free Patch for Downloadable Version Also at www.wilcopub.com

DROGENBOS, BELGIUM (July 28, 2000) -- Wilco Publishing is set to release the CD-ROM version of its Boeing 737-500 Airliner for FLY!, the add-on that debuted last month for Terminal Reality’s critically acclaimed flight sim.

The $29.95 (U.S.) CD will be available on July 28 at www.wilcopub.com, giving FLY! fans a virtual 737 with a true 3D control panel, moving control surfaces, 14 different liveries, a you-are-there flight experience with both pre-defined and free flights, and the first weight-adjusted flight model in the cyber-skies.

As of today, the site will also offer a patch for the downloadable version of the Boeing 737-500 Airliner for FLY! add-on in a 6MB file for both Windows and Macs. (All fixes are included in the CD-ROM version.)

Wilco’s Boeing 737-500 Airliner for FLY! delivers faithfully reproduced 3D replicas of the airliner’s front, overhead, FMC, throttle quadrant and floor panels, with true 3D effects like shadows. All switches and buttons are clickable and animated. All gears, flaps, spoilers and other controls are fully operational. And armchair pilots get a 180-degree view of the cockpit and genuine sound effects recorded in a real 737 flight deck.

The main enhancement of the patch is a tweak of the program’s fuel/weight simulation system enabling the jet to adjust its behavior according to the fuel level and passenger load. The weight of the aircraft affects the speed of takeoff, landing and in-flight cruising, just like the real thing.

The fix also adds a 40-degree flap position, activates an anti-icing feature on the wings, enhances the climb and cruise performances, fixes the VMO on the airspeed indicator, clarifies the seat assignment process for the pilot and co-pilot, and ensures that textures can be displayed on all video cards without blurriness.

Minimum requirements include a Pentium 200 or a Power Macintosh G3 with 32MB RAM, a 22MB hard disk drive for a minimum install, 40MB drive for full install, and FLY! v1.01.87 or higher.

Wilco is the publisher of the Airport 2000 Volumes 1 and 2, Tahiti Scenery and Grand Canyon add-ons to Microsoft Flight Simulator as well as Hangsim, a PC-based glider simulation. The company takes its name from the aeronautical abbreviation for “Will Comply.” Wilco is based in Belgium and can be reached at www.wilcopub.com or via phone at 011 32 2 331 32 90.

Tribes 2 interview - Falcon @ 11:12 pm PST
Gamespy has conducted a chat with Dave Georgeson of Dynamix about their upcoming sequel, Tribes 2. Read the interview at this site:

GameSpy: Are details available yet for the point-blank weapon?

Dave Georgeson: Sure. It's a "Shock Lance." Thrust it at an enemy and do massive damage at close range. Damage is increased from the rear of the target, and lessened from in front. This makes it a great weapon to use in combination with the Cloaking Pack...

Games Price Guide - Falcon @ 11:09 pm PST
Damage gaming has a price guide of the more popular gaming titles out currently, this includes the game prices and the cheapest available source (online). Check it out here:

OGA responds to ASUS drivers - Falcon @ 11:04 pm PST
As most of you no doubt already know, early last week it was revealed that ASUS were working on something that they called "3D SeeThrough Technologies", which would be added to future versions of the drivers for their GeForce 2 based graphics cards, allowing players using their hardware to see through walls.

Although ASUS decided not to release them in their latest set of drivers, the features still exist and have NOT been abandoned yet. ASUS have said that they would be making a final decision on whether or not to release them soon, based on feedback from the gaming community.

As part of this, the Online Gamers Assocation has been polling its 4000 members throughout this week on whether or not the 3D SeeThrough drivers should be released. Unsurprisingly, 90% of our members voted that they should never see the light of day.

Today the OGA sent an open letter to ASUS based on these results, explaining why the new driver features would be bad for online gaming, and offering the feedback of our members. You can find the full text of the letter here -

"In some games (notably Counter-Strike) you can even shoot through walls to some extent. With 3D SeeThrough, players of these games would be able to see and accurately shoot at other players through walls and doors, giving them an unfair advantage which will make a mockery of the whole game, ruining it for tens of thousands of players worldwide, as well as making it impossible to run fair and professional online competitions or leagues using the game."

Absence - Falcon @ 4:47 pm PST
My apologies for the absence from on my part lately, several days ago my (cable) modem decided that being on for 24/7 for 2 months was too much and decided to give way. Only a day after getting a replacement the whole service decided to go down for 3 days, until we found out that the IP address had become stale.
Anyway, be prepared for a flood of news later today, and new content in the near future.

Painkeep! - VulTure @ 9:51 am PST
If you've ever played Painkeep for Quake, you know how addicting it was. Now Painkeep is being updated to use the Quake 3 engine. Check out an interview with Team Evolve and then go to Hellhound for some pics...number 1, and number 2.

FAKK2 Gold - VulTure @ 9:46 am PST
I saw this at the ShugaShack...according to an email from Levelord to VGames, FAKK2 will be going gold on Monday...

"not yet, Monday it looks to be, yippeeeeee, there's light at the end of the tunnel!"

"Top Ten Reasons Why Diablo II Sucks" - Thundra @ 5:23 am PST
It seems that because of this article the guys over at Strategy Planet can't handle all the mails they're getting.

Here's what a Srategy Planet staff member writes:

Our original intention was to answer them all, but when the number of e-mails approached the hundreds, it became far too much for visitors to handle. Most of the kudos/issues/questions/clarifications that were brought to our attention were repeated in many of the e-mails. We will make our best attempt to address the issues and display at least one example e-mail for each that called them to our attention.

And here is a quote from the article. It starts like this:

"It has recently come to my attention that despite the release of some totally sweet Strategy games lately, that Diablo II has outsold all of them put together. So, in defense of the Genre, I would like to take a moment to give you the top 10 reasons why Diablo II sucks... from a Strategy Gaming Perspective."

And it ends like this:

"While Diablo II is a popular game, it is obviously no strategy game. So for the sake of the genre, go out there and load up on some hot Strategy titles and start some REAL gaming fun. I know I will (as soon as my Paladin reaches level 30)."

Check the entire article here and maybe you will also send in your comment...

Friday, July 28, 2000

Napster wins Appeal - MaD-HaTTeR @ 7:20 pm PST
Two federal appeals judges have just granted Napster a stay, which will allow it to stay up during the rest of the trial. Looks like Napster will be able to stay online after midnight tonight. More info is right here. Snippage:

Even though the Recording Industry Association of America could still appeal Friday's decision - either to the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court - Napster employees screamed jubilantly at hearing a stay had been issued, a company spokeswoman said.

Friday's ruling means Napster can remain in operation at least until the lawsuit goes to trial; no trial date has been set.

``I am happy and grateful that we do not have to turn away our 20 million users and that we can continue to help artists,'' said Napster founder Shawn Fanning. ``We'll keep working and hoping for the best.''

RIAA President Hilary Rosen was disappointed with the last-minute reprieve but issued a statement saying: ``We remain confident that the court will ultimately affirm once it has had an opportunity to review the facts and the law.''

Starcraft Map of the Week - Hobbes @ 4:21 pm PST
The newest Starcraft Map of the Week is called Haleidoscope. It is a 256x256 map, using the space tileset, and is designed for 4-8 players.

"All things change, nothing is extinguished. . . . There is nothing in the whole world which is permanent. Everything flows onward; all things are brought into being with a changing nature; the ages themselves glide by in constant movement."

-Ovid

You can download the map here.

Napster's Buy-cott - MaD-HaTTeR @ 11:19 am PST
Although i have already seen a few petitions going up across the net, mostly which plan to boycott the RIAA and CD's during Napster's downtime, Napster has just asked everyone to do a buy-cott. Napster wants to show their users buying power by having everyone buy RIAA label CD's during their downtime. Check out more info here.

System Builder Interrogation - VulTure @ 7:39 am PST
MaximumPC has put together some of the top builders in the industry to grill them on their methodologies for building systems. The included guests are Brian Zucker, Technology Evangelist for Dell Computer, Lewie Newcomb, Director of Desktop Engineering for Compaq, Eric Bone, Senior Worldwide Product Manager for Hewlett-Packard, and Nelson Gonzalez, proprietor of Alienware. It's a good read, be sure to check it out!

Red Alert 2! - VulTure @ 7:14 am PST
According to the DailyRadar, the next game in the Command and Conquer series is ready to go...

"C&C Red Alert 2 Producer, Harvard Bonin, has told Daily Radar that the next installment of the popular C&C series is complete. Bonin revealed that the game is slated to go gold on September 15, with EA publishing not too long after."

Napster Appeals! - VulTure @ 7:02 am PST
Napster has filed an emergency appeal to delay the shutdown of their internet music sharing service.

"Saying jobs and the company's future are at stake, Napster filed an emergency motion Thursday seeking to delay a federal order that could bring its song-swapping service to a grinding halt Friday at midnight Pacific Time."

Check out the complete story at ZDNet.

Adrenaline Vault Cheats - VulTure @ 6:56 am PST
The Adrenaline Vault has updated their cheats page to include some of the hottest new games. New to the lineup...Kiss Psycho Circus, Icewind Dale, Tachyon: The Fringe, Diablo II, Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force (Demo)...Be sure to get your fix!

Unreal Tournament mods - VulTure @ 6:49 am PST
There have been a couple of updates of your favorite Unreal Tournament mods...

The UnrealFortress page has been updated with some new screenshots from their mod...

Infiltration has updated their page to show some of the new skins that the designers have been working on...

Conquest Preview! - VulTure @ 6:39 am PST
GameSpot has a preview of the upcoming space-based game, Conquest: Frontier Wars. This game was originally announced in 1998 as one of the first games from Digital Anvil, the company started by Chris Roberts of Wing Commander fame.

EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark - VulTure @ 6:28 am PST
If you've decided to take the plunge and enter into this new world, but don't know were to start, Gamespot may have the answer for you. They've put up a guide that you can check out online, or you can pay $5.95 to download a .pdf version of the file.

Thursday, July 27, 2000

Pretty As A Picture II - the_culture @ 9:03 pm PST
Here's another round of screenshots for your nightly viewing pleasure.

RPGPlanet has 18(!) screenshots of BioWare's Baldur's Gate II.

If you've already beaten the demo and are hungering for more DS9: The Fallen shots, Gamers.com has two new shots taken from the full version.

GameSpy posted four new screens of the potentially doomed project, Warcraft III.

For those who have played Age of Kings six ways to Sunday, you can check out ten new images of the up-coming expansion pack, The Conquerors, over at Gamecenter.

Ascension Bug Patch - MaD-HaTTeR @ 6:25 pm PST
The just released GF2: Ascension mod for everyones favorite game (ok, mayby just mine), Quake III: Arena, has just been upgraded to v2.3 Beta. The new version brings with it a fix for the invulnerable player bug. You can grab this one right here.

Pretty As A Picture - the_culture @ 2:28 pm PST
The screenshots just keep pouring in from around the web. Let's get started:

SystemLogic.net posted several new screenshots of Raven's Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force, as well as an interview with the sound director.

GA-Source conducted an interview with Soldier designer Chris Roby. They have several new of the third-person game that loosely follows the Kurt Russell film of the same name.

Well Rounded posted Part II of their preview of Alice. The preview contain three more new images of the delirious-looking game.

GA-Source also has two new shots of No One Lives Forever, Monolith's LithTech 2.0-powered, story-driven FPS.

No still images here. Gamespot France has a one-minute movie trailer of Baldur's Gate II.

KISS Collector's Edition - the_culture @ 12:54 pm PST
Blue's News is reporting that Babbages, EB, and Best Buy will be the only retailers to carry the Collector's Edition of KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child. The CE of the game will feature different box art and might acually contain an entertaining game.

ST: The Fallen Demo Released - the_culture @ 10:12 am PST
3DFiles posted the 93 meg demo of Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Fallen, a third-person action game utilizing the strength of the Unreal engine. A few clues to fill you in:

"The Pah-wraiths - a race of exiled, all-powerful aliens - are on the verge of returning. The keys to unleashing and harnessing their power are three archaic Red Orbs.

The race to find the Orbs is on between you - playing as either Captain Sisko, Major Kira, or Lt. Commander Worf - and a host of opposing forces that would use the ultimate power to dominate the Alpha Quadrant and all of its inhabitants."

If DL 93 megs is not your idea of afternoon fun, go out and buy a copy of PCGamer. They have the demo on their CD.

Max Payne Previews - Magicboy @ 10:06 am PST
Well folks, it seems that 3DRealm's upcoming third person action title, Max Payne has gotten quite a bit of coverage today. Here are some previews:

Gamers Central: In essence, Max Payne will have a real feel to it. Say goodbye to aliens, mutants, and the like. Along with the graffiti, neon signs, police lines and vehicles, you'll have a nice armoury of weapons modelled on real-life guns throughout the globe. That's not even half of it though. Each weapon will look drop-dead gorgeous and the engine calculates the movements of each projectile. So if you're running around with a shotgun in the game, you'll be able to see each pellet make its way towards the baddie once you unload that vengeance. In addition, projectiles will ricochet and penetrate particular surfaces, and the weapons themselves will have realistic animations. Got you excited yet?

NeoSeeker: One feature that gamers will notice is the use of slow motion. When a target is hit with a bullet from Max’s gun, the shot will be slowed down and examined in a replay fashion. Actually, a 360-degree panning approximating a screenplay camera view will be seen when a player nullifies his/her objective. Petri commented on this stating that Remedy is “trying to set the camera work closer to screenplay in action movies.” This effect was exceedingly similar to a certain scene in the Matrix.

VoodooExtreme: What makes the visuals so outstanding you ask? Well, that’s not an easy question to answer. The camera views in Max Payne do play a major part though. When Remedy was zooming the camera up-close to Max’s face, you could literally see the blemishes on his skin. Panning over to his gun, then zooming in – the frankly better than real life™ textures on the gun looked like actual metal; the weapon model was flawless in every detail. Squeezing off a .45 caliber round the pistol’s muzzle flashed in the dark city street, illuminating and reflecting off of Max’s angry blue eyes; the bullet stops in mid air. The camera centers on the discharged slug, looking closer you could see the actual bullet suspended in mid-air, perfect in every way. The attention to detail doesn’t stop at the weapons or characters; it permeates throughout the entire game.

Go take a look.

nVidia Responds! - VulTure @ 8:57 am PST
In a story on HardOCP, nVidia is accused of forcing a website to play by it's rules...Now, nVidia has responded back to Hypothermia in an effort to resolve the situation.

Blair Witch Project Interview - VulTure @ 8:43 am PST
Stomped has landed an interview with Timothy Gerritsen of Human Head Studios, the group that broke away from Raven Software. Tim talks about the status of Blair Witch, along with Rune, an upcoming action title from them.

A look at the offices of BioWare - VulTure @ 8:35 am PST
GameSpy has gone up to Edmonton to visit the offices of BioWare, the makers of the upcoming sequel to Baldurs Gate, Shadows of Amn, and the "highly anticipated 3D RPG" Neverwinter Nights.

Drop in and take a look at the behind the scenes action!

Napster Shut Down! - MaD-HaTTeR @ 8:29 am PST
I only saw this in the news a few minutes ago, though it happened yesterday. "Federal judge grants injunction barring Napster from trading music online, pending trial. Details to come" was the headlione on CNN.com. Straight from Napster:

A Message to the Napster Community from Hank Barry, CEO and Shawn Fanning, Founder: You have probably heard in the news about the recording industry's lawsuit against Napster. The RIAA has asked a federal judge to shut Napster down, and an important hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. PDT Wednesday, July 26 at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. PDT we will give the Napster community a brief update of what happened in the courtroom via a live webcast that you can view at www.napster.com.

I guess we will have to find other ways to grab MP3's... I suggest Scour (Make sure to get the real program, not just browse the site).

Freedom Force Interview - VulTure @ 8:24 am PST
If you've ever wanted to become a comic-book superhero, here's your chance.

"Fortunately there is a game in development that will give us--and you--the power to lead a team of superheroes on missions to save the world. And if you destroy a few buildings along the way, well, that's just a job hazard (or perk depending on how you look at it)."

IGNPC conducted an interview with Creative Director Ken Levine about the game...

"I grew up reading Marvel and I actually worked for Marvel for a brief period of time. I've also read everything from DC to Marvel to Charlton comics...Really we're just influenced by the period of time where it was a little more wide eyed and a little more naïve they are today."

Be sure to check it out!

American McGee Interview - VulTure @ 7:58 am PST
American McGee, the creative director of Electronic Arts, talks about the new love of his life, Alice. This is the game based on Lewis Carrol's world, with a twist that only American could think up! Here's a quote from 'Da Man...

"You will see all of the original characters. The White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar and a few others play roles in which they help Alice on her quest. The Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwock play the part of evil, along with an entire army of bad guys brought from the book and inspired by it...The variety of the environments and characters will compel people to take multiple trips through Wonderland. The sheer beauty of these locations would give me enough reason."

Wednesday, July 26, 2000

10 Best Quake 3; Arena Mods - MaD-HaTTeR @ 11:43 pm PST
You a Quake 3 player (i know i am)? Well, if you are check this out right now, Gamecenter has just slapped up a new article, listing the 10 best Q3A mods. I guess ill just kill the suspense and tell you that Weapons Factory Arena won, and what a convient time (check previous post if you can figure out why). Read the article right here. Dig the snippage:

Although Valve dithers and tweaks its class-based cooperative multiplayer game Team Fortress, it gets more and more redundant with every passing day. Choosing the number-one Quake III mod has made us keenly aware of this--Weapons Factory Arena is a superb class-based CTF mod that takes full advantage of the capabilities of the Quake III engine. Because of efforts like this, there won't be anything left for Team Fortress to do. Perhaps one day we'll call Team Fortress a Weapons Factory clone.

When you join a Weapons Factory Arena game, you select a team and then one of eight classes. The class you select will determine the weapons you get; there's no running around to pick up guns and ammo. There are all-new weapons and items available, such as flamethrowers, napalm rocket launchers, grenades that function like floating turrets or proximity mines, and even tripwires that will sound alarms so you know which way the enemy is coming.

Weapons Factory Arena 1.0 Released! - MaD-HaTTeR @ 11:22 pm PST
Thats right my kiddies, Version 1.0 of the Weapons Factory Arena mod for Q3A has just been released. The new version isnt a beta, and fixs tons of bugs, and adds tons of features. It comes with 10 official maps along with 2 more freelance map packs. The new version is even on this months PC Gamer CD, but you can also grab it right here.

Thermaltake Socket 462 Recall - MaD-HaTTeR @ 11:16 pm PST
From Millisec.com:

"WARNING! If you purchased a Thermaltake socket 462 version for Duron/Thunderbird here or anywhere else DO NOT USE IT and return it immediately, where you purchased it, for replacement with the new version or a different cooler. Thermaltake totally screwed up and it is reported on the web that it is breaking K7's and does not fit correctly."

New Diablo II MP3 - Hobbes @ 10:14 pm PST
Blizzard released the newest Diablo II MP3 today, entitled "Caves."

You can download it here.

Daikatana Patch Info - MaD-HaTTeR @ 2:33 pm PST
Noel Stphens from Ion Storm has just updated his .plan, with the latest word on the testing of the foriegn version 1.2 patch for Daikatana. Check it out right here. Dig it:

I have been working on the foreign version of the patches. We are next to complete on these as they need to be tested and approved. Once this is done they should be posted for download. Along these same lines, the 1.1 English version to the 1.2 English version patch should come out around the same time... perhaps a little earlier due to the fact that the differences between 1.1 to 1.2 are so minor it shouldn't take as long to test.

Terminus Patches - MaD-HaTTeR @ 1:36 pm PST
Vicarious Visions has just released a new set of Terminus Patches, which bring their space sim up to v1.6. You can grab either an updater patch from v1.5 or one that brings the game up from v1.1 (both which some in either Linux, Mac, or PC flavors). It looks like the new patch makes a ton of new changes, so make sure to grab it. Check it out right here.

Titanium Angels Interview - MaD-HaTTeR @ 1:24 pm PST
Titanium Technology has just kicked up a new interview wih Justin Johnson from Mobius Entertainment, regarding their upcoming third person action game, Titanium Angels. Johnson lets out alot of great info, and also that a Playstation 2 version of the game will appear before the PC version. Check it out here. Snippage:

BEAST
From all the screenshots we've seen so far, and the movies too, the game shows to run on a pretty advanced engine, showing vast spaces to explore and to interact with. Can you give me any specifications on the engine?

JJ
First of all, the engine is called 'Revelation'. It represents in total at least 4 years of development time. The whole system is actually a game system - not just a rendering engine. We anticipate using it for some time to come while keeping it up to date with technological advancements. Rendering wise, it uses variable size lightmaps and projected textures for lighting. We have an advanced shader system which is similar to the Quake3 one but takes things a little further, a procedural texture system and a scripted particle system. Models are skinned and some, such as Titan, feature IK and other forms of refined bone control. The philosophy is to put as much as possible in the hands of our artists in terms of effects and polish. We have also developed our own editor to create levels, cut sequences and game content

BEAST
How long has Titanium Angels been in developement? For a game thats far from release, it seems that loads has been done so far.

JJ
Although the engine has been in development for quite a while, we have been working with SCi for around a year. So I guess the game has been really worked on for about a year. Lots has been done but there's plenty more to cram in yet.

Dreamcast Half-Life Interview - MaD-HaTTeR @ 1:18 pm PST
Half-Life World has just tossed up a brand spankin new interview with Randy Pitchford from Gearbox Software. The interview discuss's the upcoming Dreamcast port of Half-Life. The big question everyone's been asking, "Will it have Multiplayer" gets answered in there too, so check it out. Point that big ol' browser of yours right here to check it out. Clippage:

First off, thanks for answering a few questions for us, and I'd like to start by asking you about the release of HL on the Dreamcast. News (true or not) has leaked recently that in order to maintain a September release, multiplayer via the Internet has been scrapped, what can you tell me about this?

Since the beginning of this project, we've been very conservative about commitments with the multiplayer game and, as such, we've made no official announcements one way or the other. It's been no secret that most of the focus for the Dreamcast version of Half-Life has been in enhancing the original game as well as providing an extra entirely new single player episode (called Half-Life: Guard Duty). But, as has been discussed before, everyone involved in this project is taking a lot of time and care to determine what the best presentation of the Half-Life multiplayer game will be on the console.

F.A.K.K.² Screenshots - Magicboy @ 8:03 am PST
The folks at Actu Jeux have posted 6 new screenshots of Ritual Entertainment's upcomning Q3 engine-powered action title, Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.². Go have a look.

The Best Cinematics in a PC Game. - VulTure @ 8:00 am PST
Check out this poll of the best cinematics in a PC game...The choices are Starcraft, Brood War, Diablo II, Thief, Final Liberation, and Command and Conquer. So, far, Diablo II is winning. If you disagree with this, go cast your vote!

Tropico Interview and Screenshots - Magicboy @ 7:57 am PST
TheCorporation has posted an interview with the CEO of PopTop, the developers of the upcoming strategy title, Tropico. If you don't know, you play the role of a dictator on a small tropical island. But don't take my word for it. Have a look:

Well actually Tropico is not evil by nature. It's more light hearted and something of a spoof of the regimes of the Latin American governments of the pre-1990's. We allow the player to determine if they will be "evil" or not, we make no demands on the player in the realm of ethics. We provide the player with the tools to rule and they take care of the HOW.

Make sure to check out the screenshots by the side of the page.

Blade for the Playstation - VulTure @ 7:50 am PST
Check out a preview of this upcoming game...

"Blade is a fairly deadly character, armed with an array of weapons and attacks. There are different buttons for kicks and punches, which can be unleashed in combination attacks. Also present are a handful of firearms, from shotguns to chainguns and almost everything in between.

The action occurs in a third-person perspective, and, for the most part, the pacing is rather deliberate. The reported 34-plus enemies generally lumber in your direction, acting as decent shell-fodder."

There are plenty of screenshots to check out, along with a movie that you can view!

Dark Reign II Review - Magicboy @ 7:48 am PST
Head on over to VE to read their short review of Dark Reign 2, the recently released 3D RTS from Pandemic Studios and published by Activision. Here's a quick look:

There's a nice mix of missions, which keeps the game fresh throughout. Most missions involve building a base and destroying the enemy, but there are a few puzzle-type missions where you have a limited number of units, and you must complete a certain objective. Mission objectives will often change after certain revelations during the mission, or after previous objectives are met. By the end of any given mission, you may have five or more objectives that you completed. The good thing about this is that is pushes the story during the game, not just in-between missions. After most objectives are met, a short in game cinematic is shown, which usually leads to your next objective or the completion of the mission.

The overall score given is 83%.

Sony slips into the red! - VulTure @ 7:14 am PST
Because of the high costs associated with the launch of the Playstation2, Sony has slipped slightly, in the financial sense. Due to the high costs of the March launch and poor sales of the software, along with a shortage in the PS2 processing chips, Sony has experienced a slight loss in profits. This should disappear, however, when they expand out their software line in October.

ICQ Ads! - VulTure @ 6:59 am PST
If you recently started using ICQ2000, you may have noticed some ad banners in the program. If you haven't seen them yet, be sure to go to BetaNews to find out how to disable them. You must do this before ICQ autoupdates itself. For more info, go here!

Intel to go with SDRAM on the Pentium IV - VulTure @ 6:45 am PST
In the initial announcement of the Pentium IV, Intel proclaimed that they would be using Rambus RAM for all Pentium IV systems. Now, they have gone back on that decision. They have decided to support PC133 SDRAM for one specific reason...Price. Intel officials are saying that Rambus will be used in higher-end systems, and that SDRAM will stay around until, at least, the end of 2001.

Unreal Tournament comes to the Dreamcast! - VulTure @ 6:35 am PST
It's finally happening...Infogrames and Epic are working to port Unreal Tournament to the Dreamcast console. The port is being put together by a San Francisco-based developer, Secret Level. It should be ready in early 2001.

UT Strike Force - VulTure @ 6:29 am PST
If you are hooked on Counter-Strike (CS), you may want to check out Strike-Force for Unreal Tournament! This mod is very similiar to CS, but different enough to grant it a look-see. The mod is still in development, but you may want to keep an eye out for it. Here a quote to get you going...

"Where Counter-Strike allows players to literally run around like marathon runners, Strike Force introduces the notion of actually getting tired, forcing the player to rest for awhile before another sprint session. Additionally, Counter-Strike allows a player to get slammed with bullets with no effect on movement, whereas Strike Force slows down your movement based on how many times you've been hit and the severity of the damage."

Check out the complete preview on Checkout.com!

Diablo II Expansion - VulTure @ 6:22 am PST
According to an article on Infoceptor...Blizzard already has plans for an expansion pack for Diablo II. How do they know this? Well, it sounds like someone over there did a little hacking themselves, but not in the game. They hacked the 'd2data.mpq' file. Check it out...

"While there were rumors about an expansion for Diablo 2 since the stress test, there were no confirming evidence. Our staff member, Peak Man has managed to extract an interesting input txt file which not only confirms that Blizzard is planning an expansion, but also the new classes, skills and monsters that are featured within."

Is it possible? Do you want more Diablo II? Be sure to check out the whole story...

Tuesday, July 25, 2000

Dawg Pound Reopens - Falcon @ 6:46 pm PST
Our affiliates, the Dawg Pound have reopened after a lengthy downtime. Go check em out :)

Screens - Falcon @ 6:39 pm PST
The UO2 is pleased to present the latest in a series of exclusive fansite screenshots of Origin. This week's shot depicts an audience with Lord Blackthorn, his first in-game appearance.

The third and final batch of exclusive new If you missed any of our earlier shots last week, you can find the whole lot starting here:

Also from them are some Infestation shots, available from here:

WFA v1.0 Announced - Falcon @ 6:36 pm PST
Heres the actual release:
Please surf on over to the WFA site for information on the latest developments of this Fast Paced, Action oriented, Quake3 Teamplay Mod. (in case you have very little time, I have posted the exact news posts that I posted on the website, today and yesterday)

WFA v1.0 Announcement Out of the Beta
There has been a lot of work going on in the realm of maps, art, and code fixes the past few weeks. The preparation is all for the v1.0 release of WFA. This is the first official version and also contains some important differences. For example, if you are playing nurse regularly, there is a new indicator on the hud to tell you what drug powerup you have loaded. As well, we took the feedback from the players and made the alt-fire on the dartgun the delivery method for drug powerups. So no longer will you have to chase after teammates with the gauntlet. The flag disappearance bug and weapon 0 bug have been beaten we think, and its time for v1.0 to be unleashed.

PC GAMER with WFA v1.0 hitting mailboxes now...
If you are a PC GAMER (http://www.dailyradar.com) reader and you are here to looking for info on WFA, hold on tight. In about 24 hours, we plan to have small download available so that you can install WFA. Remember, WFA only works with the full version of Quake 3, and you must have patched Q3A to the latest version, which is 117. You can get all the patches for q3 from http://www.fileplanet.com. For the WFA 1.0 patch, we were expecting to have until August 1st for a deadline, but people are working right now on getting a v1.0 upgrade package together right now. I will be updating you all week with WFA information to celebrate the new 1.0 version!! Stay tuned.

Overall we are very excited that WFA will be hitting over 300,000 PC Gamer subscribers over the next 2-3 weeks. Any assistance in getting the word out on this is appreciated!

Dogfighter Updates - Falcon @ 6:34 pm PST
A recent update of items appearing on Dogfighter.com:

Enemy Engaged: Comanche vs Havoc Review (07-24-00)
Dusty "Redwolf" Rhodes examines Razorworks' helicopter sim recently released on American shores.

News You Can't Use (07-23-00)
The irreverent Scharmers looks at the happenings in the flight sim industry with his usual flare for provocation.

Puma's Log - Cheetah 1 Flight (07-21-00)
An ongoing diary of a Falcon 4.0 player.

The Great Games - Falcon @ 6:31 pm PST
Ben of GameCritics.com kicks off their new historical retrospective column, The Great Games, by covering the classic NES platform shooter Blaster Master. Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Among the many NES classics we've all played and forgotten about, Blaster Master is one that still manages to amaze today. I remember marveling at the game's remarkable special effects when it came out 12 years ago, and even as I play it now, I'm astonished at how cool the shots and explosions look. Even the sound effects and music hold up well in an age where video game audio is so good that it's not even worth talking about anymore."

MS Train Sim - Falcon @ 6:30 pm PST
ALL ABOARD" FOR THE WORLD'S MOST EXCITING TRAIN EXPERIENCES VIA THE PC

Microsoft to Debut Train Simulation Software at National Model Railroad Association's National Train Show

REDMOND, Wash. - July 25, 2000 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that it will release "Microsoft® Train Simulator," a software program designed to simulate the thrills of the railways on the personal computer, in the spring of 2001. Attendees at the National Model Railroad Association's (NMRA) National Train Show next week in San Jose, Calif., will be the first to see an early version of the software and experience the excitement and adventure of "Microsoft Train Simulator."

"Train Simulator" aims to bring the most true-to-life virtual train experience to the PC. Working in cooperation with six of the world's leading railroads, Microsoft is re-creating hundreds of miles of routes with realistic scenery, equipment and operations. Using multiple camera angles, players can take on the role of an engineer, passenger or bystander.

Lifelike engineer's control panels, scenery and weather; and accurate elevations and terrain data mirror real-world train travel. Player activities can include anything from keeping passenger time schedules while managing unforeseen barriers and negotiating freight through mountain passes in winter storms to navigating some of the world's busiest commuter lines.

"Microsoft Train Simulator" comes from the simulations group at Microsoft, distinguished for developing the world's best-selling PC-game software, "Microsoft Flight Simulator." Long synonymous with exacting standards of quality and realism, the simulations group at Microsoft is dedicated to providing both flight and rail fans with experiences that are "as real as it gets."

"Our 18-year commitment to simulations continues with 'Microsoft Train Simulator,'" said Mike Geertsen, product planner in the simulations product unit at Microsoft. "We are excited to create a product that brings the thrill of trains and railroading to the general public and allows train enthusiasts and modelers to extend their hobby onto their personal computers."

Players can operate nine different trains, ranging from steam locomotives and modern diesels to high-speed electric "bullet trains," as they travel any of six famous rail routes from around the globe. These routes include both historic and contemporary rail operations.

The six railroads included in "Microsoft Train Simulator" are listed below:

· Amtrak. Players can race up and down the busy northeastern corridor of the United States as the "bullet train" comes to America with Amtrak's new Acela high-speed train.

· Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Users experience the challenges and awesome power of moving today's freight through the spectacular Marias Pass and along the southern border of Glacier National Park in Montana.

· The Flying Scotsman Railways. Enthusiasts chug along some of England's most beautiful countryside in the late 1920s in what is arguably the world's most famous steam locomotive.

· Kyushu Railway Co. Users explore the mountainous Hisatsu line on Japan's southern island of Kyushu.

· Odakyu Electric Railway. Players navigate one of the busiest commuter lines out of Tokyo or take in the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Fuji.

· The Venice-Simplon Orient Express. Participants visit the Austrian Alps in the 1930s for the ultimate in romantic European steam train travel.

As it did with the "Flight Simulator" series, Microsoft developed "Microsoft Train Simulator" with open architecture and tools, and designed it as a train-simulation platform for home entertainment. These features enable enthusiasts and third-party developers to customize and extend the product by creating new trains, routes, scenery, world objects and challenges.

ELSA Gladiac Review - Falcon @ 6:28 pm PST
Games xtreme have posted a review of the ELSA GLADIAC, the latest graphics card from ELSa to use the GeForce 2 chipset.

Selecting your monitor via the ELSA monitor utility is a pain, It is a lot easier to sort out 20,000 pins and needles. You need to find your monitor in a list (ours isn't there) and select that to use as your monitor, the ELSA utility then knows the refresh rates for your monitor and can use them to work out the screen sizes you can have. Not having a monitor means that you can select one of the standard monitors or if your feeling brave set up your monitor yourself by setting the refresh rates yourself. Not knowing anything about the monitor I am using I just selected a default one and proceeded to test the bugger!

F.A.K.K 2 Preview - Falcon @ 6:24 pm PST
Today on 3DActionPlanet is a preview of Heavy Metal FAKK2 based on a visit to Ritual and a hands on demonstration of the game. The article also features all new screenshots that have never been seen before.

I've done the midnight viewing of the original Heavy Metal movie several times, and being an action gamer as well, it appears to me that the game will appeal to both camps. And in the spirit of Heavy Metal, Ritual is also striving to make the game heavily story-driven while still giving as much control as possible to the player. "In F.A.K.K. 2, we want the player to drive the plot," Atkins said, "not the plot to drive the player."

Modifying Your Case - Falcon @ 6:21 pm PST
Speedy 3D has just kicked up part three of their case moding article, this time taking you through the steps on how to install a second power supply. Here's a quote:

While the average user doesn’t need a second power supply, power users and overclockers alike (that’s us) tend to use gadgets that require a lot of power, much more than the ordinary power supply can handle. Fans, TEC units, water pumps (some of them), and more recently lights or neon are all things witch you can plug on your power supply. If you system require more power then your power supply can give, your system will be highly unstable.

D2 Review - Falcon @ 6:17 pm PST
Today's review on EuroGamer takes a look at Diablo II, the recently released million selling RPG from Blizzard and Sierra.

"Diablo 2 retains the old isometric display system of the original, but the overall look is much smarter and infinitely more detailed. Enemies writhe as they fall to the ground, while the sounds created by assorted nasties lurking in the dungeon alerts you to their presence, their spine-chilling groans allowing you to make good your escape orb close in for the kill."

Racing Game Peripherals - Falcon @ 6:14 pm PST
SimHQ.com Feature: SimHQ's Vic "CLUTCH" DiCosola takes some of the top racing wheels on the market and puts them through their paces. Read up on what wheels are the best bang for the buck and more about the world of racing peripherals. More here:

Official WW RA:2 Site Launced - Falcon @ 6:11 pm PST
Westwood Studios Launches Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 Website Official Red Alert 2 News, Information, Screen Shots and Artwork Now Available on the Web.

LAS VEGAS, NV - July 24, 2000 -- More information about the imminent Soviet invasion of North America can be found at www.westwood.com today when the official web site for Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 launches.

The Red Alert 2 web site gives an advance look at the battle between the Soviets and Allies. The site will feature:

*An array of never-before-seen art including new
in-game screen shots, scenes from the film sequences, high-res rendered art and more.
*Exclusive info about all the new units and
characters.
*The story behind the Soviet's latest plan for world
domination and the Allies' strategy to stop them.
*A frequently updated news section that will keep
fans up to date on everything Red Alert 2.
*Discussion forums where fans can ask questions of
the design team.
*A download page with everything from movies to
music. Future downloads will theme packs, interviews and music tracks.
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 gives player an onslaught of new units, tactics and strategies. As in the original, gamers can choose to lead Soviet or Allied forces. Soviet commanders will invade North America and try to claim it for mother Russia. Allied commanders will fight to push back the invaders and save liberty.

Both sides are well-armed with conventional weapons and experimental technology. The Soviets can engage in psychic warfare, wield nuclear weapons and fry all they survey with Tesla technology. Allied forces can teleport with chrono technology, conduct covert operations with the help of gap generators, and rain down lightening bolts through weather control. Supporting these high-powered, advanced weapons are massive conventional forces, including armies, air power and navies.

Red Alert 2 will feature enhanced Local Area Network and Internet play. Players can engage in fierce combat over a LAN and battle via the Internet and Westwood Online. A built-in worldwide ranking system allows players to track their victories and defeats against other Internet gamers. The Worldwide Domination mode let's players compete in an ongoing war for global
control.

Wizards & Warriors - Falcon @ 6:09 pm PST
Wizards & Warriors is a classic-style 3D RPG in development at Heuristic Park by a team under the leadership of acclaimed designer D.W. Bradley. It features 100 or more spells in six schools of magic: Sun, Moon, Spirit, Vine, Fiend and Stone. We will be introducing new spells every week, beginning with today's screenshots and descriptions of three Sun spells. Find out more here

Ask AE: Q+A - Falcon @ 6:08 pm PST
Each week Artifact Entertainment answers questions submitted by the fans through Horizons Vault and the answers are posted there. Check out this week's questions and answers at: http://www.horizonsvault.com/features/askae/10.shtml

DirectSound / DirectMusic article - Falcon @ 6:07 pm PST
As part of EuroGamer's on-going coverage of the Windows
Game Developers Conference which took place in London a
few weeks ago, today they have an article looking at Microsoft's plans for the audio side of things in DirectX 8.
The article looks at audio effects, dynamic music, randomised non-looping sound effects, audio scripting and much more, with a new screenshot of the DirectMusic Producer tool in action, as well as MP3s of a few of the demonstrations used at the event.

"The example which Brian gave was of a helicopter, with a noise made up of a high pitch whine, the whirling of the blades, and the low throbbing of the engine. DirectX can treat each of these sounds as a seperate audio stream and, using an audio script getting information from the game, apply various effects to each stream depending on factors such as the engine throttle and the movement of the vehicle."

"The seperate streamsare then mixed together by DirectSound, and the result can have any environmental effects (such as reverb) added to it, and finally a 3D positional audio effect so that the noise of the helicopter seems to come from the right direction. It all helps add to the realism, and should help make game sound less repetitive."

Freedom Force Interview - Falcon @ 6:04 pm PST
Can System Shock 2 developer Irrational Games do what other companies could not and create a good super-hero PC game? Stomped chats with Jonathan Chey, the project director for their upcoming super-hero RPG Freedom Force to see what they have planned. Check out the exclusive interview at http://www.stomped.com/interviews/chey.html

New Webvoid Column - Falcon @ 6:04 pm PST
A new webvoid column has been posted. The unofficial coverage of the AOL-CPL. This is part one of two. For those t