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    Archive for July, 2002


    Wednesday, July 31, 2002


    Christopher Lee launches 'The Lord of the Rings' DVD at Forbidden Planet, New Oxford Street on Tuesday 6th August 2002

    For downloadable images and full press announcement:
    http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/forbidden_planet/signing.htm

    Christopher Lee, star of Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring, is to launch the release of the long awaited Video & DVD of Peter Jackson's highly acclaimed adaptation of the famous JRR Tolkien novel at Forbidden Planet, 71- 75 New Oxford Street, London, WC1 1DG, on 6th August 2002 from 5pm to 6pm.

    In addition to numerous theatre and operatic performances, Christopher Lee is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having most screen credits of any actor. As well as starring as Saruman in Fellowship Of The Ring and as Count Dooku in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones, he has appeared in over 250 films including Dracula, The Wicker Man, and The Man with the Golden Gun.


    Digital Creator's Competition sponsored by Canon that is offering a $20,000 prize and a trip to the prize ceremony in Japan!

    Canon is a world-leading digital innovator and is looking for original and inspirational on-line artwork in a wide range of digital mediums including Digital Photography, Digital Graphic Art, Digital Movies and Web Based Work. The contest is open to anyone and everyone with an original digital creative vision.

    Details of the competition can be found at http://www.cdcceurope.com


    REDMOND, Wash. — July 30, 2002 — In response to high consumer demand, Zone.com, the MSN® network of Internet services’ exclusive games channel, has expanded to include a new downloadable games hub featuring premium versions of the Web’s most popular casual games. Deluxe versions of “Bejeweled,” “Mah Jong Tiles” and “Dynomite” headline the new hub, providing players with offline gameplay flexibility, advanced 3-D graphics, pause and save options, full-screen capabilities and other enhancements not found in the online versions. The downloadable games are available for a one-time fee of $19.95 per title.

    “Today’s casual game players want bigger, better, premium offline versions of the online games they love to play,” said Don Ryan, Zone.com studio manager. “The success of ‘Bejeweled Deluxe’ and ‘Mah Jong Tiles Deluxe’ proves that casual gamers want compelling online game experiences with enhanced features and offline capabilities, and are willing to pay for them.”

    The new downloadable products add another strong revenue pillar to Zone.com’s already successful business model currently focused on advertising, sponsorships and premium game subscription services. “Bejeweled Deluxe” set the tone for Zone.com’s downloadable service, a service featuring only top-tier, deluxe versions of today’s most popular casual online games.

    PopCap Games and GameHouse Inc., two of today’s top casual game developers, are finding success in Zone.com’s downloadable games service, averaging more downloads on Zone.com than on any other site hosting their games, which they credit to Zone.com’s strong marketing focus on supporting the service, elite titles and a massive online community.

    “Zone.com’s excellent selection of downloadable games reinforces its commitment to only offer its members high-quality, engaging entertainment,” said John Vechey, CEO of PopCap Games, developer of “Bejeweled Deluxe.” “Zone.com’s casual gamers can be assured they will find only the best downloadable games on the site, reaffirming their decision to purchase.”

    “With a huge community and high peak concurrent user numbers, Zone.com is a pivotal site for online entertainment, and an important avenue for game developers to distribute games to a diverse audience,” said Ron Powers, vice president of GameHouse, developer of “Mah Jong Tiles Deluxe.” According to GameHouse, Zone.com’s sales numbers for “Mah Jong Tiles Deluxe” are more than four times higher than those for any other site hosting the game. The original online-only version of “Mah Jong Tiles” recently replaced “Bejeweled” as the No. 1 game played on Zone.com, a position “Bejeweled” held for nearly two years.

    With more than 73 million people playing games online today, and more than 114 million people expected to play by 2006,* Internet gaming embodies online entertainment for the mass market. The majority of online gamers are casual players, individuals who enjoy playing a quick game of “Bejeweled” as a brief at-work coffee break or at-home diversion. Zone.com’s peak play hours are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, with women making up 76 percent of the site’s audience for casual games.

    Casual online game aficionados looking for anytime, anywhere availability can download deluxe versions of “Bejeweled,” “Alchemy,” “Dynomite,” “Mummy Maze” and “Mah Jong Tiles” at http://www.zone.com/. Soon the enhanced versions of “Collapse,” “Atomica” and “Big Money” also will be available there. These offerings bolster Zone.com’s comprehensive selection of games, which currently includes more than 150 free** online single-player and multiplayer games, retail matchmaking services, and premium massively multiplayer games.


    Aquatic Creatures Splash Into Microsoft Game Studios’ Top-Selling Family PC Game, “Zoo Tycoon”

    “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” Challenges Players to Create the Ultimate Aquatic Adventure

    REDMOND, Wash. -- July 30, 2002 -- Dolphins, elephant seals and jellyfish are swimming into cyberspace. Microsoft Game Studios today announced it will launch “Zoo Tycoon™: Marine Mania™,” an expansion pack for use with the “Zoo Tycoon” PC game, in October 2002. “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” is an entertaining and engaging game for the entire family, with more than 20 aquatic creatures including sea otters and octopuses, additional zoo-enhancing objects such as aquatic shows and marine scenery, and 10 new scenarios to test players’ zoo-building skills.

    Microsoft® “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” continues the tradition of family fun started by “Zoo Tycoon,” the top-selling “tycoon” game title by dollars for the last three quarters since its release in October,* and “Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs,” which allows players to add prehistoric beasts to the everyday zoo.

    The “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” expansion pack seamlessly integrates with “Zoo Tycoon,” allowing players to immediately add aquatic creatures to their ultimate zoo. In addition to offering new creatures, ranging from the great white shark to the giant squid, “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” allows players to enhance their zoos with customizable aquatic shows including a dolphin show. Zoo guests can now enjoy attractions such as the shark tunnel and the dolphin ride, which enables them to swim with the dolphins. Players can enrich their marine exhibits with a variety of objects, including 21 species of underwater organisms (including kelp and sea anemone), five new animal toys and sunken treasure.

    Players are challenged to create and manage underwater exhibits or merge aquatic tanks with traditional land habitats. Interactive tutorials and marine specialists are on hand to help players maintain animal happiness. In addition, 10 new scenarios test players’ ability to manage and maintain a successful zoo.

    “Playing computer games is a great way for parents to stay connected with their kids,” said Chuck Frizelle, product manager at Microsoft Game Studios. “‘Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania’ continues the family fun of the ‘Zoo Tycoon’ franchise, stimulating creativity and encouraging players of all ages and skill levels to build and manage the ultimate zoo.”

    “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” also includes all the prehistoric content available in “Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs.” Players can merge prehistoric and contemporary land and aquatic animals to create a zoo they could never visit in real life. “Zoo Tycoon” and “Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania” were developed for Microsoft by Blue Fang Games LLC.

    About “Zoo Tycoon”
    “Zoo Tycoon” is the top-selling “tycoon” game title by dollars for the last three quarters since its release in October.* Simple to play yet challenging to master, “Zoo Tycoon” offers engaging gameplay for animal lovers and simulation game fans of all ages. The captivating imagery, clever gameplay and interactive tutorials in the vibrant and appealing “Zoo Tycoon” make it easy to play right out of the box. “Zoo Tycoon” has something for everyone, stimulating creativity and imagination as players respond to the needs of the animals and guests. Additional information is available at http://www.zootycoon.com/.

    Reviews

    - Falcon @ 2:43 am PST

  • Anarchy Online
  • Neverwinter Nights
  • Neverwinter Nights
  • Neverwinter Nights
  • The Sum Of All Fears
  • Gore
  • Gore
  • Maximum Capacity: Hotel Giant
  • Maximum Capacity: Hotel Giant
  • Warcraft III
  • Warcraft III
  • Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne
  • Beam Breakers (Preview)
  • Far Cry (Preview)
  • Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (Preview)

    Tuesday, July 30, 2002


    As you may have noticed from the front page headline, we have posted our Warcraft III review. While not up to the godlike status many reviews have put the game into, we feel that it still reaches the high expectations that come with any Blizzard title.

    Sunday, July 28, 2002


    Strategy First announced today that it will publish the third installment of the award-winning trilogy Earth 2150 titled ‘Earth 2150: Lost Souls’ for the North American market in September of this year.

    Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, ‘Earth 2150: Escape from the Blue Planet’ and ‘Earth 2150: The Moon Project’, Lost Souls is sure to wow fans of the series.

    “Strategy First is pleased to be working with Zuxxez on this title, “ says Steve Wall, Vice President of Business Development for Strategy First. “Earth 2150 is a successful series and Lost Souls is a great addition. We look forward to its release later this year.”

    “With Strategy First we found the right partner with a great market knowledge of the North-American Entertainment industry. Together with SFI we are able to support the huge EARTH-Community”, says Alexandra Constandache, Development Director at ZUXXEZ Entertainment AG.

    It is the 7th of December, 2150 and the Earth is quickly coming to an end. An ongoing feud between the Eurasian Dynasty and the United Civilized States has left the planet in disarray – people are hungry, resources are scarce and agricultural production has stopped. But the situation is getting even worse. A series of nuclear explosions near Antarctica have altered the Earth’s orbit around the sun, making glaciers melt and the seas rise to threatening levels and the catastrophe has been worsened by meteorite showers that have buried whole parts of the planet. Thanks to a group of scientists from the Lunar Corporation, a long forgotten colony on the Moon, many people have managed to escape the terror and make their way to the nearby safety of Mars, but an unlucky few – the Lost Souls – have been left behind. And now they are seeking revenge. In a rage of resistance, the group has decided not to give up, and is working to scrape together the last of the Earth’s resources in an attempt to escape the pending disaster.


    Infogrames will distribute ‘Earth 2150: Lost Souls’ exclusively in North America


    With the recently formed partnership between Strategy First and Sir Tech Canada, whereby Strategy First obtains the rights to manage the Jagged Alliance franchise, Sir Tech Canada and Strategy First announced today that they are developing a Jagged Alliance 2: Gold Pack, scheduled for release later this summer. Featuring an enhanced version of Jagged Alliance 2, the Gold Pack will offer players some unique twists on the original Jagged Alliance 2.

    “Jagged Alliance 2: Gold Pack is a great addition to the market, “said Steve Milburn, Director of Marketing for Strategy First. “Both Jagged Alliance 2 and Unfinished Business did very well when they were first released and by combining both of them, players receive two quality titles for the price of one.”

    “It’s very exciting for us to have been able to enhance Jagged Alliance 2 with the improvements that were made for JA2: Unfinished Business. We’re also very pleased to have Strategy First handling the product and hope that this gives new players the opportunity experience Jagged Alliance”, said Ian Currie, original Creator of Jagged Alliance.

    Wednesday, July 24, 2002


    ThrustWorld have posted an editorial by xBaboon entitled "Online gaming, which way now?"
    "It seems that during this current stale period people have found themselves trying genres and games that they would never normally go near. I’ve seen devoted Q3 players turn their hand to games like Dark Age Of Camelot and other MMORPGs, and RTS games have taken a recent boost thanks to Warcraft 3. Whereas a year ago going to a LAN meet and finding a UT or Q3 tournament was certain, it just isn’t the case any more. People are broadening their horizons and trying new things, and judging by the take-up on these games they’re enjoying it too. I myself have been trying some RPGs and enjoying them online, so it seems that the days of FPS games ruling with an iron fist are gone."


    Ownt.com has yanked an article from the latest Popular Science make it their latest "Quick Take". The Quick Take features a little info and a picture of Toshiba's upcoming laptop that is geared toward the user that wants their laptop to be their desktop as well.


    Medal of Honor retained its number two spot in the iGames Top 20 Games after knocking Diablo II out of a six month run in that position last month. The Top four games remained unchanged this month. Sierra’s Half-Life Counter Strike has a firm grip on the number one position. Blizzard’s Diablo II and Lucas Arts’ Star wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast held on to number three and number four respectively.
    If there was calm in the top four, there was chaos elsewhere in the Top 20. Dark Age of Camelot overtook Everquest as the number one Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. The two have been switching places over the past couple of months.
    Four games debuted in the Top 20 this month. The much-anticipated Neverwinter Nights broke into the Top 20 at number 10 with less than a week of playing time between its release and the end of the month. Day of Defeat another Half-Life Mod at number 11 was further evidence of the strength of the Half-Life franchise at interactive gaming centers. Also making a first appearance in the Top 20 was Soldier of Fortune 2 at number 12. Halo for the Xbox became the first console title ever in the iGames poll, breaking in at number 16.
    Sixty-Seven iGames Centers participated in this month’s survey. They reported on more than 40 games play at Interactive Gaming Centers across North America.


    June 2002 Game May 2002
    1 Half-Life: Counter-Strike 1
    2 Medal of Honor Allied Assault 2
    3 Diablo II 3
    4 Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast 4
    5 Starcraft 10
    6 Dark Age of Camelot 12
    7 Unreal 11
    8 EverQuest 5
    9 Command & Conquer: Renegade 7
    10 Neverwinter Nights Debut
    11 Half-Life: Day of Defeat Debut
    12 Soldier Of Fortune 2 Debut
    13 Dungeon Siege 6
    14 Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds 19
    15 Return to Castle Wolfenstien 20
    16 Halo (Xbox) Debut
    17 Command & Conquer: Red Alert II 18
    18 Quake III 13
    19 Global Operations Out
    20 Battle Realms 14

    For more information on iGames top 20 lists visit: www.igames.org/top20.asp.
    For more information on iGames please visit: www.igames.org.


    Microsoft Game Studios today announced that golfers can start perfecting their virtual swing at Microsoft's official "Links 2003" site, http://www.microsoft.com/games/links2003/. Visitors can check out a list of the game's features, screenshots, player bios, course screenshots and descriptions, swing animations, desktop wallpaper and the impressive "Links 2003" video shown at this year's E3 show.

    Golfers will be able to experience the high level of realism in "Links 2003" by viewing swing animations featured in the player bio section. Golf aficionados can observe the swings of such golf pros as Sergio Garcia, Jesper Parnevik, Annika Sorenstam and David Toms. Golfers can also use the site to learn about the new, highly anticipated Real Time Swing feature and begin studying the game's six championship courses through screenshots and descriptions. Twenty additional courses that will be included in an upcoming expansion pack, "Links 2003 Championship Courses," are also listed on the site.

    "Links 2003" will feature improved photo realistic graphics, six all-new championship courses, a growing list of high-resolution 3-D characters and expanded online capability. With its superior ball physics and unparalleled attention to detail, "Links 2003" is the perfect way for golfers to experience true-to-life golf on their PC. "Links 2003" will land on retail shelves this September.

    Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulatorä" and "Zoo Tycoonä"; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Haloä," "Project Gotham Racingä" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com (http://zone.msn.com/), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "OutSmartä."


    Sydney, Australia - July 24, 2002 - Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing) today announced a worldwide development agreement with 2015, Inc., the acclaimed creators of Medal of Honor Allied Assault. The agreement grants VU Publishing's Games division exclusive rights to publish, market and distribute 2015's upcoming action title, while 2015 will be responsible for creation of the game. The game will be published by VU Games' Sierra Entertainment studio.

    "Medal of Honor clearly illustrates the degree to which 2015 can create exciting and successful games," said Ken Cron, CEO of Vivendi Universal Games, a division of VU Publishing. "By leveraging our global sales and distribution network, we look forward to bringing 2015's newest release to gamers around the world."

    The development of this title is the latest project by Tulsa, Oklahoma based 2015, Inc., best known for its 3D action games. Further details about the highly anticipated release will be announced in coming months.


    "We are very excited about our partnership with Vivendi Universal Games," said Tom Kudirka, President of 2015, Inc. "VU Games has shown their commitment to empowering top tier developers to create high quality franchises. Their demonstrated success in publishing and distributing hit games compelled us to partner with them for our next title."

    ABOUT VIVENDI UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING

    Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing), the publishing division of the world's second largest communications group (Vivendi Universal), is an international leader in multi-platform publishing and content distribution. As one of the top three players in the global publishing market and the only publisher with an international reach, the company's key content areas include literature, reference, education, games and consumer press. VU Publishing publishes content in four major languages: English; French; Spanish and Portuguese; and has strong local publishing brands; including Anaya; Atica; Houghton Mifflin; Knowledge Adventure; Larousse; Nathan; and Scipione.

    Visit the Vivendi Universal website at www.vuinteractive.com

    ABOUT VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES

    Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) is a global leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment and a worldwide operating division of Vivendi Universal Publishing, the world's third largest publishing company.

    A leading publisher of PC, console and online-based interactive content, Vivendi Universal Games' portfolio of development studios includes Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. Through its Partner Publishing Group, Vivendi Universal Games also co-publishes and/or distributes interactive products for a number of strategic partners, including Empire Interactive, Interplay, Fox Interactive, Mythic Entertainment and Simon & Schuster, among others.

    Vivendi Universal Games Australia is headquartered out of Sydney. Together with multi-platform interactive entertainment, the Australian subsidiary publishes educational and children's interactive entertainment across PC and console platforms.

    Visit the Vivendi Universal Games' website at www.vugames.com


    The mod database has just launched. This site is the first fully dynamic mod directory covering all games which allows mod authors to add their mod, share news, request help wanted and much more. The aim is that one day the mod database will list every game and every modification in a detailed manner.

    Visitors are then able to share their invaluable comments, opinions, rate mods, scope out mods recommended by fellow members and even utilize an extremely precise mod search engine to find the exact mod they are after, hopefully taking the heartache and annoyance out of finding a mod which suits, due to the abundant amount of mods of all games and genre scattered across the web!


    Z-OPOLISTM, THE FIRST KID-FRIENDLY MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME, TO ENTER FINAL STAGE U.S. TESTING IN JUST 10 DAYS… Z-COUNTDOWN HAS STARTED!

    Irvine, CA (July 23, 2002) – PersistentWorldZ announced today that their Massively Multiplayer Online Community Game (MMOCG), Z-Opolis, having completed over 12 months of testing outside the U.S., is in the final stages of localization and will be opened to select test groups on August 1st. As the game on which Z-Opolis is based has already been running for over a year, and has reached thousands of concurrent users in commercial service in Korea, final testing here in the U.S. will concentrate on validating that Z-Opolis hits the mark with U.S. tweens, teens and young adults – especially girls!

    Anyone interested in participating in this limited player test should visit www.z-opolis.com.

    Traditional massively multiplayer online games have centered on a linear trudge through endless battles with monsters and/or other players. Z-Opolis represents an evolutionary step that brings players of all experience levels together through a three dimensional, interactive, virtual-life experience where game play and community meet content and commerce -- accessed anytime, anywhere via the game client, PC Internet, or mobile devices.

    Z-Opolis challenges players to live successful virtual lives within a complete economic, social, and educational framework. “However, the key for us is the fact that game play is geared toward promoting positive interaction between players,” said Kevin Hannah, Chief Marketing Officer at PersistentWorldZ. “Violence is replaced by friendship, making Z-Opolis the first truly kid-friendly massively multiplayer online game.”

    Utilizing Web technologies, such as browser access and Instant Messaging, allows players within the Z-Opolis community to never lose touch with their friends, and by exploiting dynamic and personalized web content, directly from in-game, Z-Opolis stays interesting and fresh (without client patching).

    Combine this with both G-Commerce and E-Commerce and the resultant mix is a vibrant, colorful, easy-to-use, unique game environment that extends the appeal of massively multiplayer games to a broader web-savvy audience that includes casual gamers, both male and female.


    Robin Hood, a new game of tactics and action, thrusts players into an amazing and realistic medieval environment where they are hauled from the depths of Sherwood Forest to the ramparts of Nottingham Castle.

    The legend of Sherwood.

    England, late 12th century. King Richard the Lionhearted, is back from the Crusades, and has been taken prisoner at Durensteien Castle in Austria. His chances of escaping are slim; his ransom, exorbitant. In his absence, his brother, Prince John, has taken over the throne with the help of some powerful Norman barons. Extortion, racketeering, taxation of all sorts, and the proclamation of unjust laws have become par for the course. The people of England are bending to the will of these unscrupulous individuals. But North of Nottingham, in the heart of Sherwood Forest, one man refuses to give in to the Normans. This rebel, an outstanding archer, calls himself Robin Hood.

    In one of the most exciting PC games of the year, players are immersed into the magical world of Robin Hood. As Robin Hood, players are sworn to return the throne to King Richard. To do this, they must collect enough gold to pay the King’s ransom and chase Prince John from the Kingdom.

    There are over 40 separate missions of three different types;

    • Robbery and Infiltration: here players must find their way into enemy castles in order to seize riches amassed by the Normans on the backs of the poor; free hostages; attend secret meetings; or prevent the marriage of Marian to the despicable Guy of Guisbourne.

    • Castle Attack: here players must help the Saxons to conquer an enemy-occupied castle. They must weaken strategic Norman posts in order to make an invasion by the Saxon army possible.

    • Ambush: a smaller mission in Sherwood in which players must stop the tax collector’s convoy by trapping and attacking its escort or weaken enemy troops on their way to sieges.

    Before every mission, players select five team members on the basis of their individual abilities. To successfully complete the operation, players must rely on their skill as tacticians and utilize the competencies of each of their companions, without getting them captured or killed.

    The simple and highly intuitive interface enables players to easily coordinate the actions of all five of the characters. For example, while Friar Tuck is taking down a guard, Stutely is putting the final touches on the trap he is setting, and Robin is crawling between two bushes, positioning himself for the arrival of the tax collector’s carriage.

    At any point, players may choose to turn on the ”view cone” or ”detection cone” displayed for only one enemy at a time that enables them to determine their field of vision. The system is coupled with a set of small icons that are displayed above the heads of all enemies appearing in a scene and symbolizes their mood: exclamation points for alarm, question marks for worry, storm cloud for annoyance, etc. In addition, the color of the symbols represents the intensity of the emotion: a red exclamation point indicates a maximum state of alarm.

    There is no imposed linear order for the missions. Players have a choice of several missions of different kinds. They can proceed as they wish, even favoring certain types of missions over others if they so desire.

    Scenarios involve all of the most memorable faces of the Robin Hood legend: Maid Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck, and others. As players move through the story line, they recruit new companions, each with their own special talents. For example, when a player has saved Maid Marian, she joins the ranks of the rebels.

    More than nine places have been modeled: Sherwood Forest, Nottingham Castle, Lincoln, York, Leicester, Derby and 3 forest intersections. Each of them offers one or several different atmospheres: day, night or fog. The ability to interact with the environment is also highly advanced. Players can open doors, enter buildings, go upstairs, leap onto ramparts, cling to vines, set off traps, lower drawbridges, and so on.

    From castle dungeons to York Cathedral, all decors have been extensively researched in order to recreate an authentic medieval atmosphere and ensure an impressive level of detail and an unparalleled feeling of realism.

    Join the excitement and adventure of Robin Hood scheduled to hit retail stores in Winter 2002.

    For more information about the game log onto www.wanadoo-edition.com or www.strategyfirst.com

    Saturday, July 20, 2002


    We have updated our Celtic Kings (Formerly Druid kings) gallery with some new high res gameplay screenshots.
    Take a gander from this page:

    TRON 2.0 Avi

    - Falcon @ 3:08 am PST

    These short AVI's are from the highly anticipated TRON 2.0, which is powered by the LithTech Triton system. As a derivative of the powerful LithTech Jupiter system, Triton features Jupiter's all-new high poly renderer and an unprecedented number of special effects. In the Massive Firewall AVI, notice the large scale of the environment and the huge rotating rings in the background. The Glow Effects AVI highlights the results of a joint effort between Nvidia and LithTech and definitely captures the feel of the TRON franchise.

  • Firewall Effect
  • Glow Effect

    (If you click the link it may open WMP without appearing to be downloading the file - be patient, they are about 16MB each. Alternatively Right-click the link and select "save target as")


    From Drunk Gamers:
    "I don't know if you have seen the Apple "switch" commercials, but we at DrunkGamers find them annoying beyond belief. Therfore, we have created our own "Apple Switch" commercial - one that focuses on gaming. "

  • http://drunkgamers.com/switch0001.shtml


    Sony Online Entertainment inks a deal with Snowblind & Rapid Eye Entertainment to create two new games based on the EverQuest franchise. Here's a full report


    The three minute trailer for PC and Xbox action-strategy game Kingdom Under Fire 2 : The Crusaders is now available to download exclusively from EuroGamer. Although this footage was shown to the press at E3, publishers Phantagram tell us that this is the first time the trailer has been available online.

    Also fresh on EuroGamer today is a preview of the game, featuring new information and a pair of exclusive screenshots, along with a seperate gallery containing another three new shots of the game.

    http://www.eurogamer.net/content/p_kuf2_x
    http://www.eurogamer.net/content/ss_kuf2

    Reviews

    - Falcon @ 12:15 am PST

  • Anachronox
  • TrackIR
  • Let's Ride: the Rosemond Hill Collection
  • Dungeon Siege
  • Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (Preview)
  • 4x4 Evo 2
  • Septerra Core
  • Airborne Assault - Red Devils over Arnem
  • Hooligans: Storm over Europe
  • WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos

    Friday, July 19, 2002


    Get ready to climb into the cyber-cockpit of the most realistic Airbus A320 this side of your local airport! Wilco Publishing’s upcoming A320 Pilot in Command, due to hit PCs this fall, promises to do even more for virtual pilots of the popular single-aisle jetliner than the company’s highly acclaimed 767 Pilot in Command did for desktop captains of the wide-bodied Boeing. The new title will offer all the features of its predecessor plus the first 3D active panel in a flight sim aimed at the general public, complete freedom of movement about the cabin, and other exclusives that raise the realism altimeter to new heights.

    Developed and tested by an active Airbus pilot, Wilco’s new add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 will again give simmers the meticulously detailed panels, the true-to-life Flight Management Computer (called the Flight Management and Guidance Computer in Airbus-speak) and dozens of nerve-wracking malfunction simulations that earned multiple industry awards for 767 Pilot in Command.

    In addition, A320 Pilot in Command will deliver exclusive new features made possible by Wilco’s proprietary new FS NAT (New Animation Technology). These firsts include:

    · Fully integrated active 3D cockpit, enabling armchair pilots to control the aircraft directly from FS2002’s virtual cockpit without switching to a 2D flat panel. Pan and zoom around the flight deck to your heart’s content, then click any button or switch to activate the autopilot, grab the throttle, access the FMGC, or perform any other operation right from the 3D view. It’s the way to really fly virtually.

    · Complete cabin navigation, allowing simmers to move anywhere in the aircraft. Leave the cockpit, walk through the cabin, take a seat, activate the TV monitor, go to the kitchen, open the overhead luggage bins, and more. No more halfway measures that leave you trapped at the cockpit door or a few feet beyond.

    · Realistic fly-by-wire simulation, modeling the behavior of the A320’s digital flight control system more accurately than any other add-on to date. If you pull the nose of the aircraft up too far, for example, the program will immediately refuse your command. Other sims faced with a similar situation will wait for the jetliner to reach stall speed before taking corrective action something a real A320 would never do. Other flight controls ranging from ailerons to all gear, flap and brake circuits will also be realistically simulated.

    · Interior turbulence and turning effects, allowing desktop aviators to watch their flight panels shudder and shake during turbulence and heavy turns for the first time. Everything in the pilot’s field of view will move in response to the aircraft’s motion, whether in the cockpit or outside the windshield. See it feel it and enjoy the ride.

    · Multiple monitor display with one PC, making it possible to display the active 3D panel on your main monitor and drag Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) to supplementary screens for quicker access and/or better readability. User preferences can be saved for future use.

    The panels will provide soup-to-nuts views of the complex instrumentation that faces a working A320 pilot, including the view from the captain’s seat, the overhead panels, the pedestal, the flap and spoiler controls, the FMGC window, the backup flight instrument window for use during systems failures, and the hydraulic shutoff panel.

    Simmers will also get the most accurate and comprehensive A320 FMGC on the market as well as some 25 other flight computers ranging from air data modules to centralized fault and display, electrical management and digital engine control systems. The fully implemented Air Data and Inertial Reference Units will drive all navigation instruments, with simulated alignment procedures, IRS drifts and NC map shifts.

    Other features will include a complete Ground Proximity Warning System, a Traffic Collision Avoidance System, a precisely recreated autopilot system, a five-mode Nav Display, dozens of real warnings and advisories, a complete Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) with upper and lower screens and a selectable status screen, and more.

    The airliner itself will come with a choice of worldwide liveries, multiple day and night high-resolution textures, fully animated components, and a panoply of visual effects from contrails and reflective textures to tires that smoke at touchdown.

    Available first in a downloadable version and later in a boxed package, A320 Pilot in Command will ship with a comprehensive installation and flight training manual, flight checklists, flight procedures, and detailed descriptions of the aircraft systems and flight instruments.

    Minimum system requirements will include Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 and a 700 MHz Pentium with 128MB RAM. A Pentium 1400MHz with 256MB RAM and a 3D graphics accelerator card are recommended.


    After three successful editions of its Airport 2000 scenery for virtual pilots, Wilco Publishing is expanding its franchise with Airport 2002 Volume I its first add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002.

    Scheduled for third-quarter release, the new title will feature seven all-new 3D airport models powered by exclusive new Wilco technology called FS NAT (New Animation Technology) that is capable of delivering more complex animations, more static and dynamic objects, more sounds, and higher resolution than any other add-on today without severe impact on PC performance.

    For flight sim enthusiasts, this means that wheels on the ground vehicles will turn, doors and cargo bays will open and close, jetways will extend and retract, and much more all in the proper sequence. It also will result in an active 3D cockpit allowing all switches and buttons in the program’s Boeing 737-700 to be controlled from the Virtual Cockpit view rather than requiring simmers to switch to a 2D flat panel. No other add-on offers these capabilities.

    Airport 2002 Volume I will include precise recreations of the world’s seven busiest airports: Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, Munich International, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, Atlanta Hartsfield, and Dallas Fort-Worth International. (The Munich and Texas airports are firsts for the series.) Get ready for:

    · Step-by-step animations Thanks to FS NAT, all activity outside the aircraft will be displayed in dynamic detail. Simmers will be able to hear the engines shut down after landing, see the jetway moving toward the aircraft, and observe ground vehicles go through their paces with realistic motions ranging from docking to unloading, and so on all with no significant effect on the frame rate.

    · New sound effects Animations will be accompanied by directional 3D sound effects for the first time. Simmers will be able to hear gates moving into position, truck doors slamming, engines cranking, and other noises in sync with the relevant actions.

    · Realistic night lighting effects Ground vehicles will be illuminated and lit at night, complete with white backup lights and red ambulance warning lights. Other airport activity will also be illuminated for day/night differentiation.

    · More graphic elements Each airport will depict more aircraft liveries, airport buildings, gates, roads, trees, street signs and other objects in greater detail than in any previous edition, with reproductions based on Wilco’s exclusive behind-the-scenes visits. Building resolutions in particular will be so high that the images will be indistinguishable from photographs. There also will be more ground vehicles, including catering, fuel, fire, police, baggage and maintenance vehicles as well as passenger buses.

    · Active 3D cockpit Building on the capabilities of FS2002’s enhanced virtual cockpit, the new Wilco scenery will add the ability to fly its Boeing 737-700 directly from the 3D view. There will be no need to switch to a 2D flat panel to turn on the autopilot, grab the throttle, or consult the FMC. Simmers can pan and zoom all around the cockpit, using the mouse or shortcuts to reach preferred views in a flash.

    · Highly detailed 737 Passenger doors, the hydraulic undercarriage, flaps, rudders, ailerons, spoilers, reversers, cargo hatches and wheels will be fully animated. Each instrument panel will replicate its real counterpart down to the locations and sizes of the gauges. The FMC will include flight plan management, editable leg data, fictive waypoints, flight plan progress actuated in real time, and more.

    Airport 2002 Volume 1 will include a manual including airport maps, Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrival Routes (STARs), plus charts permitting 1:1 scale printing. Minimum system requirements are Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 and a 700 MHz Pentium with 128MB RAM. A Pentium 1400MHz with 256MB RAM and a 3D graphics accelerator card are recommended.


    Action, flying and some shooting between Schanz international and Lemon Interactive

    Adding excitement to the holiday season in Europe, Lemon Interactive and Schanz International Consultants (SIC) signed a long term Agreement to throw their might together for Lemon interactive’s next two games.

    Schanz International Consultants will have exclusive world wide rights to license the great looking action-adventure, “Nina: Agent chronicles” based on the Lithtech Talon engine and European rights to license the adrenaline pumping action arcade “Aces of World War I“ with immediate effect.

    MD at SIC, Gerhard Schanz, says, “We are very excited about licensing these strong titles and to start a partnership with Lemon Interactive. Our common understanding of the markets will make it a pleasure to work together. The fact that both games do not require funding to finish, will be very attractive to a suitable publisher-partnership. I and my team look forward to this partnership with Marek and his games”.

    Marek Tyminski, President of Lemon Interactive comments, “Schanz International Consultants is a well established company with certain success on their accounts. Apart from their know-how, SIC’s wide international contacts make them one of the best partners to work as sales representative. We are very happy about licensing our products via such a strong team.”


    Microsoft Game Studios today announced the Halo National Championship in conjunction with iGames and Electronics Boutique. Halo players nationwide can stop trying to make Warthogs fly and start winning some serious prizes. Prizes at stake include an RCA 50-inch plasma flat screen television, Bose Lifestyle 35 surround sound audio systems, Xbox video game systems, controllers, and stacks of Xbox games.

    The initial qualifying rounds will take place at iGames centers nationwide on August 10 and 11, 2002. Regional qualifying rounds will be on August 17, 2002 at 16 select iGames centers. The finals will be held on August 30, 2002 on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA.

    To participate, gamers must register online in advance at http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/ads/promos/halotournament/. Once successfully registered, players will be emailed the date and time they've been assigned to compete at the designated iGames center in their area.
    Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulatorä" and "Zoo Tycoonä"; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Haloä," "Project Gotham Racingä" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com (http://zone.msn.com/), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Outsmartä."


    UK Development Company, Vulcan Software, are proud to announce the release of Space World, the fourth installment of their simplistically complexpuzzle game, Timekeepers, for the PC.

    Timekeepers is a conversion of the 1995 Amiga Classic with enhanced graphics, new sounds and music, and additional character animations.
    Compared to Lemmings in it's day, but instead of assigning commands to the characters, the command icons are pasted directly onto the level terrain.
    The Timekeepers obey the commands as they walk over them.

    Space World consists of 15 levels set in a futuristic space station setting, which you must complete with at least 8 of your 14-man platoon still alive, in order to deactivate 8 nuclear devices which are hidden in the final level. Hazards include hostile aliens, air locks, gene splicing machines, and holes in the space station floor, crossed by way of ladder or shuttlecraft.

    The game has been adapted for digital distribution within Vulcan's Portal application, which allows it's users to play and download Vulcan games.
    World one, Hieronymus World is now available for free download via the Vulcan Portal. Medieval, Military and Space Worlds are priced at #2.50 ($3.85). The remaining 4 Worlds will be released throughout August.

    Monday, July 15, 2002

    Aces High PR

    - Falcon @ 12:37 am PST

    ACES HIGH ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF VERSION 1.10

    HiTech Creations, producer of the award winning online combat sim Aces High, has unveiled their latest version (1.10) of the premier air, land, and sea WWII battlefront. This version continues Aces High’s tradition of continual advances and improvements, coming just a few months after the previous version that set a new standard in voice communications in online games. This latest version introduces single-player controlled bomber formations, expanded strategic gameplay, and nine new airplanes.

    "This release puts more emphasis on strategic and team-oriented goals," says company CEO, Dale Addink, whose team has worked diligently over the last months preparing the release. "This is the first time in a MMOG where a single player can control a flight of bombers. This allows bombers to be used in their historical role of strategic bombing. This complements an expanded map that encompasses over 26,000 square miles and strategic targets like factories and railroads that can be captured.”

    Along with numerous other improvements in the new version are nine new fighters and bombers. This brings the total number of player controlled planes, vehicles, and boats to seventy.

    Further details can be found at our website at http://www.hitechcreations.com .


    Recently, we received a slightly delayed report on the Dark Age of Camelot Roundtable convention in Washington D.C. The report was written and photographed by artists Barry & Colin, who have contributed dozens of pieces of art to Camelot Vault, not to mention a new piece inspired by the Necromancer, a class that will be released in the upcoming Shrouded Isles expansion.

    Barry & Colin were able to not only give us their impressions of the convention, but also a detailed preview of the upcoming Shrouded Isles expansion pack.

    The report may be found at this address:
    The photograph gallery:
    And the painting of the Necromancer:


    Microsoft Game Studios announced today development of the PC and Macintosh versions of the critically acclaimed Xbox first-person shooter, "Halo: Combat Evolved."

    Initially developed for Xbox by Bungie Studios, "Halo: Combat Evolved" is a science-fiction first-person shooting game that takes place on a mysterious alien ring-world. The PC adaptation is being developed by Texas-based Gearbox Software and based on the game's original concept. Gearbox has a strong reputation for bringing triple-A gaming franchises to multiple platforms.

    "PC gamers worldwide will soon be able to dig into the addictive gameplay of 'Halo,'" said Stuart Moulder, general manager, Microsoft Game Studios. "By combining the success of 'Halo' on Xbox with Gearbox's proven talent in the first-person shooter genre, PC gamers are guaranteed a lively and 'up-all-hours' single and multiplayer experience on the PC."

    The award-winning "Halo: Combat Evolved" for Xbox earned the distinguished honor of being the fastest million-unit seller ever for any next-generation console according to NPDFunworld (SM). Statistically, this means that more than six copies of "Halo: Combat Evolved" were sold every minute of every day between the launch of Xbox on November 15, 2001 and Apil 8, 2002.

    "We've been dying to play Halo online with a PC ever since its spectacular launch last year," said Gearbox Software President Randy Pitchford. "The team at Gearbox has the experience and the talent to not only bring Halo to the PC, but also to add enhancements that exploit the multiplayer capabilities that PCs are known for."

    The Macintosh version of "Halo: Combat Evolved" will be developed by Westlake Interactive and published by Destineer, which has brought other top Microsoft games to the Macintosh including "Age of Empires II" and "Links Championship Edition." Development of the Macintosh versions of "Halo" will occur simultaneously with Gearbox's development of the PC version.

    "Our goal is for Mac and Windows users to battle each other on foot, in vehicles, and in the air next summer when the best first-person shooter ever created comes to both Macintosh and Windows," according to Destineer President Peter Tamte.

    Halo for PC is expected to be available in summer 2003. The Macintosh version is also expected to be available in 2003. Additional information regarding game content, features and enhancements will be announced at a later date.


    Warner Bros. Online today launched a new episode of "SteppenWolf," a free online adventure game that puts the player in control of Meg Crimson and SteppenWolf as they solve a variety of action and logic puzzles. In this episode, Meg reunites with SteppenWolf only to later discover a friend staged to be sacrificed by the Cult. Who's life is on the line and for what purpose? Gamers can find out by playing "Steppenwolf" at http://www.steppenwolfgame.com.

    "SteppenWolf" follows the story of Meg Crimson, a freelance reporter hired by World Geographic magazine to track down and report on immortal creatures of legend, such as the Loch Ness monster, the Mokele Mbembe, and the Yeti. She enlists the help of the mysterious guide SteppenWolf. Through the course of their journeys, they confront SteppenWolf’s past, which, not coincidentally, involves an immortality project from 20 years earlier.


    After the success of their GeForce 4 competition ThrustWorld have decided to do it again, this time with a few twists. They will simply GIVE AWAY a choice of an XBox, GameCube, Playstation 2 or a DVD Player to the person that spends the most time playing games in their GameZone between the 21st July 2002 and 24th August 2002.

    As if that wasn't enough they are giving away an MP3 player to a random new member that signs up between now and the 24th August, and a random existing member providing they have spent at least 20 hours in the
    gamezone between now and the 24th August.2002

    The competition is open both to paying members and free trial members. If you are not already a member you can sign up now at http://www.ThrustWorld.com/signup.php. They have extended their free trial period to 45 days to allow people to enter the competition without obligation.

    Full details of the competition and the leaderboard are avialable at http://www.thrustworld.com/stats.php

    Reviews

    - Falcon @ 12:26 am PST

  • Neverwinter Nights
  • Ghost Recon- Game of The Year Edition
  • Syberia
  • Free Wheelin' USA
  • Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
  • Madden NFL 2003
  • Duke Nukem : Manhattan Project
  • Operation Flashpoint: Resistance

    Thursday, July 11, 2002


    With the imminent release for the massive PC Strategy Game, Global Power, set for September. GMX Media today announces its second title set for release this year. Napoleon is a Real-Time Strategy game based on the battles that took place between 1803-1812. The game allows players to simulate Napoleon's historical battles on a large scale. With realistic special effects that simulate weapons and battle sequences, realistic physics and an unprecedented attention to detail, Napoleon is set to take Europe by storm. The title is set for release on October 25th 2002. More information can be found at http://www.gmxmedia.net/napoleon/


    RPG Vault City of Heroes Design Journal #2
    Episode 2: Cryptic Studios Lead Designer Rick Dakan talks about the origin of the concept and the superhero curse.

    RPG Vault Black Moon Chronicles Developer Profile: François Christin We learn about one of the developers who responsible for keeping Vircom's online world up and running smoothly.

    Action Vault The Thing Intelligence Report
    We embark on a reconnaissance mission to see what awaits in Computer Artworks' chilling action title.


    Irvine, Calif. - (July 11, 2002) - GameSpy Industries, the leading online entertainment pioneer, is proud to announce the launch of PlanetWarcraft.com, providing complete online coverage of Warcraft III and World of Warcraft.

    PlanetWarcraft.com offers fans of the Warcraft series complete information about the strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and the upcoming massively multiplayer role-playing game, World of Warcraft, both developed by Blizzard Entertainment.

    PlanetWarcraft.com contains extensive statistical information for Warcraft III players to maximize their gameplay skills, and will serve as the cornerstone for an active online community of players and map- and mod-makers.

    PlanetWarcraft.com is also the Internet's most comprehensive community resource for World of Warcraft, allowing site visitors to track the development of one of the most highly anticipated games in recent years.


    The Million Dollar "Links" Virtual Golf Association Tour Begins July 22

    REDMOND, Wash. -- July 10, 2002 -- One of the most lucrative online golf tournaments in the world just became even more so. Microsoft Game Studios today announced that it is opening registration for the Million Dollar "Links®" Virtual Golf Association Tour (VGA Tour), in which this year's winner will have a chance to putt for $1 million.

    Online golfers compete on the Million Dollar "Links" VGA Tour using "Links Championship Edition," the latest installment in Microsoft's popular "Links" series for the personal computer. PC golfers worldwide can participate by signing up at http://www.linkstour.zone.com/ from now until July 22, when the first major tournament begins.

    "We have given away more than $150,000 during the past two years of the VGA Tour," said Scott Lee, Links brand manager for Microsoft Game Studios. "The addition of the $1 million putt ensures that the VGA Tour now has the competitors, courses, prize money and pressure to match virtually any other golf tour."

    The 3-year-old VGA Tour mirrors professional golf tours. Over the past two years, the VGA Tour has included more than 34,000 cybergolfers from 10 countries, making it a true international online sporting event. It comprises three major tournaments, a semifinal event for the tour's leading money winners and a final event in which the top four golfers square off in a match-play tournament to determine the world's best PC golfer.

    To celebrate the launch of "Links 2003" in October during the tour finals, Microsoft will offer the champion* of the Million Dollar "Links" VGA Tour a chance to make a real putt on an actual golf course for $1 million. The champ will test his or her real-life golf skills by attempting to sink the ball 60 feet from the cup. Even if the champ misses the million-dollar putt, he or she is guaranteed to take home $50,000. A guaranteed total of $77,000 in prize money is available for competitors on the VGA Tour. The official rules and regulations will be available at http://www.linkstour.zone.com/.

    Reviews

    - Falcon @ 4:27 pm PST

  • WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos
  • Sudden Strike 2
  • Elite Forces: Navy Seals
  • Strategic Command - European Theater (Preview)
  • Arcanum
  • Neverwinter Nights Review
  • Warlords: Battlecry II
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  • Rainbow Six: Raven Shield
  • WarCraft III

    Tuesday, July 09, 2002


    Gearbox President Randy Pitchford on this cool project adding single-player to the hugely popular property.


    Strategy First Inc and Ascaron announced today that patch v.1.1 for Patrician II: Quest for Power is available for download.

    To download the patch please follow this link;
    Patch v1.1 fixes a crush bug that occurred when a convoy was disbanded during repair.

    About Patrician II: Quest for Power

    Patrician II is a real-time trading simulation featuring elements of construction and the historical background of maritime trade in the North European area between London and Novgorod during the 1300's. As a citizen of a medieval town, the aim of the game is to rise from the status of a simple, insignificant trader to that of a big businessman and perhaps even become the head of the Hanseatic League. To achieve this goal, the player must gain recognition and prestige among the people - rich and poor - and try to make profit by means of maritime trade, the production of goods and the completion of missions. The player can raise his standing through city improvement and diplomacy or he fills his treasury through piracy and smuggling.


    The Game Concepts & Design course has been temporarily cancelled by St Lawrence College. Not enough people signed up to make it financially viable.

    Update: The college says that if enough people show an interest they will run the course. If you want this course to fly you have to phone the school and tell them or fax them and tell them -- otherwise it's toast.

    St Lawrence College:
    Fax: (613) 545-3923
    Tel: (Canada) 1-866-276-6601 <- open 9-4pm EST

    The course code is: GENI 283 888
    and the name is: Game Concepts & Design I

    Do you want the course?


    Now in its 2nd year at the Mall of America, Twin Galaxies’ Video Game Festival will hand out thousands of dollars in cash prizes for championships conducted on new games now being released by Altus Games, Midway Home Entertainment and Sega of America.

    Scheduled for the weekend of July 12-14, 2002 in the Mall’s famous Sam Goody Center, the Festival will crown champions on Midway’s MLB Slugfest 20-03 and Red Card Soccer 20-03, Sega’s Crazy Taxi 3 and Altus’ SkyGunner – with each championship splitting $1,000 cash purses among the winners. Also, Midway, the main sponsor of the Festival, will be giving Slugfest and Red Card champions memorabilia autographed by baseball star Alex Rodriguez.

    Walter Day, Chief Scorekeeper at the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard and organizer of the event, says: “Twin Galaxies is honored to include such prestigious titles in our Festival and will be publishing the winners for each event in the next edition of Twin Galaxies Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records, the industry’s record book.”

    The Video Game Festival is a 5,000-sq-foot, three-day celebration of gaming culture, featuring many of the greatest games and gaming systems produced in the last twenty years, from the legendary Pac-Man arcade game of the early 80s to today’s hot new Playstation 2 and X-box game titles.

    For complete details and a schedule of the events, go to www.twingalaxies.com


    Six new AvP II: Primal Hunt screenshots at PlanetAvP.


    Ownt.com (previously CuttingTheEdge.com) has slapped up their Blood Omen 2 Xbox review and also invites you to check out their new and improved news site of over 100 news posts a day at 3dNewz.com.

    "Blood Omen 2 is a 3D action adventure game in which the player assumes the role of the vampire Kain. A compelling story drives the player through huge detailed environments and challenges their gameplay skills in combat, puzzle solving, stealth and exploration. With each success, the player achieves new dark powers that will grant Kain the ability to access treacherous new areas to explore and the power to face stronger, more aggressive enemies. As the player develops a stronger, more skilled vampire, they are rewarded with dozens of dazzling in-game cinematic sequences that unfold the continuing epic of Nosgoth, and Kain's attempts to ultimately rule over it."


    Duplex Systems proudly announces the development of its breathtaking massively multiplayer online roleplaying game named Face of Mankind to the public. Duplex Systems is a Frankfurt/Germany based developer specialized on online games.

    For the full release go to: http://www.faceofmankind.com/official/announcement.html


    Many people will buy a game, play it, beat it, uninstall it, and move on.
    And then there are those other titles that they play over and over and over and over again, will perhaps uninstall to make room for another title, then reinstall it because they want to play it again. But which titles stay and which go? The 3DAP staff tells all.

    Thursday, July 04, 2002


    Issue 21 of the Game Guy is available at this page:

    The latest edition is titled "The RTS Edition" and takes a poke at the future of RTS (Real Time Strategy) games and what the future holds for them.

    Tuesday, July 02, 2002


    SIERRA ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES MALICE WEBSITE
    Site Features Game Trailers, New Images and Behind the Scenes Moments with No Doubt

    BELLEVUE, WA (July 1, 2002) - Sierra Entertainment, Inc., a studio of Vivendi Universal Games, today announced the launch of a new website dedicated to Malice(tm), the upcoming action-adventure game, developed by UK-based Argonaut Games PLC (AGT.L). The site is live and can be accessed at http://malice.sierra.com, where fans can find out just what makes Malice this year's most unexpected title.

    The new Malice site hosts screenshots from the game, desktop backgrounds, movies and music, as well as behind the scenes production artwork and a voice recording session with No Doubt. There are also links to the latest Malice game news and press releases. Malice is due to release worldwide this November on both the Xbox(tm) video game system and the PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system under the Sierra brand.

    Malice is an action-adventure game named for a tough, kick-ass teen. Players must venture into the warped reality of Malice where the evil fire god, Nefarious Rex, has fractured the time-lines and set the world ablaze. As Malice you must unravel the mystery of your demise, battle Rex's twisted minions, and fix the shattered time-lines in order to save a universe gone mad. Malice is certain to be one of the great action-adventure games on next generation console systems.


    Warner Bros. Online today launched the sixth episode of "Arcane: The Stone Circle," the online mystery serial inspired by the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. In Episode 6, a séance quickly spins out of control when Ophelia is led on a terrifying journey through time. Can she make sense of her visions before it's too late? Gamers can find out by playing Arcane at: http://www.arcanegame.com

    Arcane is an episodic online graphic adventure inspired by the pulp serials of the 1920’s and by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. Now in its second season, this ongoing horror adventure pits three investigators of the supernatural against a mysterious man known only as the Cardinal and his terrible death cult. It's up to you to stop the Cardinal from restoring the reign of the Great Ancients over Earth and dooming humanity to an eternity of servitude. Try out Arcane today at: http://www.arcanegame.com

    Reviews

    - Falcon @ 5:10 am PST

  • Neverwinter Nights
  • Glide Face
  • Gitaroo Man (PS2)
  • Impossible Creatures
  • WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos
  • Abit and MSI GeForce 4 MX 440 (H/ware)
  • Strike Fighters Project 1 (Preview)


    RPG Vault: Earth & Beyond Diary #3
    A day in the life of Westwood Studios Audio Director Paul Mudra as he oversees the many audio aspects of the game

    RPG Vault: Black Moon Chronicles Developer Profile: Gregory Belacel We meet an ambitious member of Vircom's testing team whose career objective
    is to become a great game designer.

    Action Vault: SWAT: Urban Justice Developer Diary #9
    Sierra Art Director Cyrus Kanga reports on 2,000 motion captures, two concussions and a nasty stomach virus.


    The company behind Project Entropia comments on a raid of their offices by 70 Swedish Court officials after a tip from Microsoft and three other major software companies accusing them of using unlicensed software:



    A couple of days late, but in case anyone missed it

    Montreal, Quebec. June 28th, 2002 - Strategy First, Playnet.com and Cornered Rat Software announced today that they will be launching a new version of their massively multiplayer online game. WWII Online bounced back in 2001 to win IGN and Gamespy Reader’s Choice Awards. Now, the new retail version, WWII Online Readers’ Choice Edition, has gone gold and will
    be available in late July 2002.

    World War II Online is an online combined arms simulation set in a relentless, action-packed environment where players can command and crew a variety of accurately modeled vehicles and aircraft, sling weapons, and fight as foot soldiers with and against thousands of other gamers. Set in 1940, it includes equipment and major battle points: strongholds, fortresses, forests, rivers and more ­ much as it was on the battlefields of Europe.

    * The Readers’ Choice Edition will contain a new version of the game along with numerous new features and enhancements.
    Some of which are:
    * New vehicles and weapons
    * All new terrain
    * New objects and tons of concealment for ground troops
    * A redesigned interface
    * New mission launch lobbies and a key mapper
    * Upgraded mission, rank and strategic systems
    * First-person shooter perspective
    * New animations and control systems
    * Increased performance and rock solid connects

    The Reader’s Choice Edition also contains special bonus items, such as a large foldout wall map of the battlefield; the official music track, and 20 original illustrations and wallpapers inspired by the game. These special bonus items are exclusive to this edition and will not be available anywhere else.
    WWII Online is still the first and only massively multiplayer first-person virtual battlefield that covers a ½ scale map of Europe with accurate terrain modeling. It allows thousands of players to play 24/7 in a persistent world in which character advancement and career paths provide players with a rich RPG layer and strategic systems are driven by player missions and command structures.
    An extensive web-based player services package provided by www.playnet.com is integrated with gameplay. Players from around the world can take part in recreating history and embarking upon a new adventure on their very own computer screens.
    At a suggested retail price of $29.99 US, WWII Online: Readers’ Choice Edition will be distributed by Infogrames. For more information, log onto www.wwiionline.com or www.strategyfirst.com.


    UK Development Company, Vulcan Software, are proud to announce the release of the first two worlds of their simplistically complex puzzle game, Timekeepers, for the PC platform.

    The psychotic Emperor Zorg has hidden a multitude of nuclear devices throughout 4 unique time zones of Earth's history. Our only hope lies with an elite military force Known as the Timekeepers. Your mission is to guide a platoon of 14 brave timekeeper soldiers, through the 15 treacherous levels of each world, all riddled with complex puzzles, obstacles and traps, in order to locate, and disarm, the nuclear devices.

    Timekeepers is presented as an 'over-head' scrolling world, where your platoon will wander aimlessly around, getting into all sorts of trouble.
    Although very well trained in time management, they are completely lacking in initiative, or common sense of any kind. To prevent total chaos you have several command icons available to you, which can be pasted onto the level terrain. Your Platoon will obediently obey the commands as they walk over them, and by careful manipulation you can overcome the many puzzling problems within the worlds.

    Timekeepers was originally released for the Amiga in 1995, receiving review scores as high as 96% in the Amiga press. The PC conversion includes enhanced graphics, completely new sound effects and music tracks, and extra character animations.

    The game has been adapted for digital distribution within Vulcan's Portal application, which allows it's users to play and download Vulcan games. Each
    Timekeepers world consists of 15 levels. World one, Hieronymus World is now available for free download via the Vulcan Portal. Medieval World is priced at #2.50 ($3.70). The remaining 6 worlds, including Military and Space Worlds will be released throughout next month.

    Timekeepers Web Site
    http://www.vulcan.co.uk/timekeepers/english/index.htm
    Vulcan Portal Web Site
    http://www.vulcan-portal.co.uk

    Monday, July 01, 2002


    Better than the first, Treyarch's excellent movie-based game has retrospect and technology on its side.

    The movie was excellent and so is the game... I even found the training fun and humourous... if you have a PS2, get this game and here is the review just in case you are unsure...

    Source: IGN - Spider-man Review


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