Tomb Raider: Chronicles Screenshots - Hobbes @ 00:07 PST
Check them out here.

Tribes 2 Screenshots - Hobbes @ 00:04 PST
New from the eye candy store today on EuroGamer are a batch of eight exclusive screenshots of "Tribes 2", taken from a beta version of the game. Click here to see them.

UT Dreamcast Screenshots - Hobbes @ 00:01 PST
PlanetUnreal managed to get ahold of four exclusive screenshots showing off UT on the Dreamcast console. The DC version will include Capture the Flag and Domination, in addition to standard deathmatch play. The screenshots show off the new HUD, and one of the 60 levels (its shipping with 20 DC-exclusive maps!) to be played.

Friday, November 24, 2000

Return to Castle Wolfenstein FAQ - Recoil @ 02:04 PST
The first version of a FAQ is now available.
Unofficial Return to Castle Wolfenstein

Wednesday, November 22, 2000

New Diablo II Expansion Character Revealed - Hobbes @ 19:26 PST
Nihlathak

As the last surviving clan elder, he has been driven close to madness by his grief over the imminent failure of his clan to protect the World Stone. Constantly ruminating on the myriad alternate courses the elders could have taken, he lives with the guilt of not dying with his peers.

Friday, November 17, 2000

Starcraft Unreal - Hobbes @ 23:46 PST
The Mad Team of StarcraftUT is undertaking a project of great proportions: creating a Starcraft conversion for the popular FPS Unreal Tournament. As of the moment UT is still in its infant stages, but it looks interesting and might turn out to be successful if they finish it. If you have Unreal Tournament and you also enjoy Starcraft, you might want to take a look at StarcraftUT here.

poster buggered - shiva @ 22:19 PST
Damn thing....

test - Falcon @ 9:46 pm PST
test

Insane and Colin McRae Rally 2.0 on PC - Falcon @ 8:31 pm PST
info@rocketmedia.co.uk has issued the following press release:

Codemasters drives hard to deliver top PC race titles for the winter season.

Insane and Colin McRae Rally 2.0 are coming to PC. (See the information below on how get priority placement on the review copy list)

Codemasters turns the ignition key on its PC race games as Insane and Colin McRae Rally 2.0 gear up for release. The engines roar on November 24 for Insane, the hotly tipped 4x4 racing riot that takes off-roading online. Heralded as “The best off-road game ever” by PC Gamer, Insane is also the launch vehicle for the Codemasters Multiplayer Network, a unique online gaming service that connects online players for Insane competitions in real time.

In the game where dangerous driving is the safest bet, Insane puts players behind the wheel of a range of off-road vehicles including jeeps, trucks and even military vehicles. All the 4x4s have realistic, individual handling and the action’s complete with stunning simultaneous single and multiplayer (over a Network or online) action.

- Insane is due November 24th, RRP £29.99. The demo can be downloaded from www.codemasters.com

Due in December, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 – the real rally game of champions – arrives with an all-new glossy body spray after being the biggest PlayStation game of the summer.

Redefining the defining moment for rally games, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 is being turbo charged for its PC version with a hi-res graphical overhaul. The use of “reflective textures” in its graphics gives it the look of televised races.

Delivering heart-racing rally action, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 stars McRae’s Ford Focus as one of the 12 rally cars accurately recreated in the game, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 delivers all the speed, all the thrills and looks and feels better than ever imaginable.

Colin McRae Rally 2.0 is due December 8th, RRP £34.99.

TFC Competition - Falcon @ 8:29 pm PST
TEAM FORTRESS: HALF LIFE IS ON AT THE TWIN GALAXIES ELECTRONIC GAMERS LEAGUE

“$2000 Dollars at stake for the four teams who can go the distance.”

Dallas, TX - November 16th, 2000 - It’s tournament number five in the Twin Galaxies Electronic Gamers League (TGEGL) inaugural on-line tournament series, and registration begins today at http://www2.twingalaxies.com/d?e=33335588&p=4. Sierra Studio’s FPS, developed by Valve software, Half Life: Team Fortress Classic is the latest TGEGL event that has the potential to net the top four teams a combined $2000.00 in cash. The warfare begins December 1st, and features frags from the fiercest TFC competitors.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our loyal FPS community yet another classic,” said Jeff Gross, TGEGL Commissioner. “Both our Unreal Tournament and Rogue Spear tourneys have attracted the best players and teams in the world, and I know that this event will be no different. All gamers who are up for the challenge are welcome to take a stab at the $2000.00 prize.”

The TGEGL, a division of Twin Galaxies, offers something for every gamer, with a complete schedule of twenty live game tournaments, console contests and high-score competitions. With Quake III Arena ready to roll later this month, Twin Galaxies and the TGEGL provide the outlet for the FPS fanatic to showcase their skills in all their favorite games.

For further information regarding Twin Galaxies live and off-line competitions, contact Jeff Gross, TGEGL Commissioner, at mailto:jeffg@twingalaxies.com, or 972-315-2826. Visit http://www.twingalaxies.com now, and frequently, to stay in the know about the complete on-line tournament schedule.

Twin Galaxies has been keeping score for the world of video game and pinball players since 1982 and is recognized as the Official World Referee and Scorekeeper for the Interactive Entertainment Industry.

Gothic Interview - Falcon @ 8:27 pm PST
Gothic takes place in a 3D medieval world, divided into three camps: Old, New and Psi. You pick one of these sides, and must defeat the others and battle monsters like trolls and orcs. RPGPlanet talks with Torsten Dinkheller, a 3D Artist on Gothic.

Planetside Info - Falcon @ 8:26 pm PST
Planetside Shuttle has posted some recent quotes from Danny "Blackbird" Han, Community Relations Manager for Planetside. The quotes have new information relating to the suits the player will wear, to the in game email system.

The official message boards had Community Relations Manager Danny "BlackbirdPS" Han responding to questions regarding the Planetside Beta, weapons holstering, and also why they choose to go with a new engine rather then use an existing engine. The posts can be seen from http://www.planetsideshuttle.com

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Championship - Falcon @ 8:19 pm PST
TWIN GALAXIES TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL TONY HAWK'S PRO SKATER 2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

$3000 AT STAKE FOR THE TOP FIVE PLAYERS

Fairfield, IA - November 15th, 2000 - Twin Galaxies, the Official World Referee and Scorekeeper for the Interactive Entertainment Industry, today announced that they have been given approval by both Activision and Neversoft to conduct an Official World Championship on the PlayStation edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. The free, one-month high-score championship runs from November 20th through December 20th, 2000. Players will compete on the Hangar Level and the top five players will split $3,000 in cash prizes, including $1,000 for the first place winner.

"We wanted to create a contest that would unite the worldwide PlayStation community," said Walter Day, Chief Scorekeeper at Twin Galaxies. "We selected THPS 2 because its impact on the gaming community rivals some of the legendary titles of yesteryear, like Mortal Kombat and even Pac-Man."

In addition to receiving cash prizes, the winners will be posted on Twin Galaxies’ Official World Scoreboard at www.twingalaxies.com

Winners will also be listed in the next edition of Twin Galaxies’ Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records, the official book of records for the worldwide electronic gaming industry.

"Tony Hawk players will enjoy long-term benefits from this competition, because permanent THPS rankings will be maintained by Twin Galaxies, giving future generations of Tony Hawk players high scores to challenge and beat," said Day. "As the competition for the top score heats up over the coming years, the THPS franchise will continue to be the center of attention.”

The contest is expected to generate intense competition, drawing the top Tony Hawk players from around the world. Lars Butler, Chief Rules Keeper at the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard, stated: “The rules for this eve
experts at Activision and Neversoft and through advice received from top Tony Hawk players. Gameplay will be based solely on skill. No cheats, glitches, Gamesharks or Secret Characters will be allowed.”

For further information on score submissions, go to www.twingalaxies.com where full contest details are posted.

Oddworld Chat Log - Falcon @ 8:18 pm PST
The Oddworld Chat with Lorne Lanning was a huge success. A number of fans showed up to have their questions regarding Munch's Oddysee and the switch to the Xbox answered. PlanetXbox has posted a full chat log for those who may have missed the chat or simply wish to revisit some of the topics covered.

"From our experience, Microsoft is the only publisher that really seems Lorne to truly be interesting in putting it's hard cash where it's mouth is when it comes to supporting truly creative titles," said Lorne Lanning when asked about developer support from Microsoft.

Sheep Review - Falcon @ 8:08 pm PST
Barrysworld have a short review of Empire Interactive`s Sheep up on the site today. We had a few technical problems with the screenshots so we ripped the ones off a recent Empire Press Kit:

`Sheep is one of the oddest, yet strangely addictive games I have played in a very long time. The premise is simple - herd your sheep from one end of the level to the other. The reality? It`s a lot harder than you think. Herding the sheep involves running behind them, and guiding them by changing the direction the sheep run away from.`

Sacrifice review, interview - Falcon @ 8:04 pm PST
Along with their full review of Sacrifice, Shiny's CEO Dave Perry was kind enough to share a few multiplayer tips with with Actiontrip... You'll find the page three of this review to be his handy work! Very useful tips, mind you...

Gamespy updates - Falcon @ 7:04 pm PST
GameSpy continues with the fantasy MMORPG events with a look at the recently concluded UO World Faire, where Origin announced UO: Third Dawn. Check out their report on the Faire and all the images.

They also visit the 60s spy world of No One Lives Forever from Monolith. They found a fine game, with a few flaws.

And finally, PlanetFargo digs deep and examines Attila the Hun's penchant for gaming controllers and the debate among archaeologists at http://www.gamespy.com/fargo/november00/attila/

And in case you missed it, they posted six new EverQuest screens, showing off two new character models in the upcoming expansion, Scars of Velious:

GameSpy comes back with its report on the EverQuest event held in Las Vegas. Check out the report on the event and the game at http://www.gamespy.com/articles/november00/eqevent/

They also interview the team behind Front Line Force, an upcoming mod for Half-Life. Find out all about the mod (and get new screens) at http://www.gamespy.com/spotlights/november00/flf/

They also review Squad Leader, the computerized version of the great Avalon Hill board game. Unfortunately, the board game was better:

And finally, some new screens from the adventure game Gilbert Goodmate:

Ambassador's DOmain updated - Falcon @ 7:01 pm PST
The Ambassador's Domain (Sacrifice site on Gamespy) has been updated with lots of new information about Sacrifice. Not only have they competely redone the creatures sections, they have also added spells sections for each of the gods in Sacrifice. This update reflects the fact that Sacrifice has just been released and players will want to know what to expect and a few simple strategies.

Where Did They Go Wrong: WoT - Falcon @ 7:00 pm PST
Fantasy novels scream to be translated into video games. Their rich worlds filled with characters and places that were born from the imaginations of their authors are practically perfect for the 3D visual world of the modern video game. HellChick examines what went wrong with Wheel of Time.

For those of you who aren't aware of what 'Where Did They Go Wrong' articles actually are, they are articles looking behind-the-scenes at a game many believe would be a blockbuster, but wasn't.

Links LS now shipping - Falcon @ 6:59 pm PST
LINKS LS CLASSIC NOW SHIPPING

Microsoft Announces Special Collection of Links LS

Microsoft today announced that Links LS Classic -- featuring Links LS 2000 with 21 championship courses -- is now shipping and will be available in stores this weekend. The award-winning game has an anticipated street price of only US$29.99. To learn more about Links LS Classic, gamers are encouraged for visit the game's official and newly launched site at http://www.microsoft.com/games/linksclassic/.

The official Links LS Classic Web site provides PC golfers with in-depth descriptions of the 21 courses found in the game, which includes St. Andrews New and Old Course, Valderrama, Innisbrook, Entrada at Snow Canyon and Harbour Town Golf Links to name a few. The site also offers an introduction to Links LS Classic, detailed feature list, and scores of screen shots highlighting the beautiful graphics in the game.

Links LS Classic includes Links LS 2000, the golf game named "Best Sports Game of the Year 2000" by the Software and Information Industry Association. With 17 years of Links know-how behind it, Links LS Classic represents the best value for a golf game on the market today. The game's 21 championship courses will also be convertible to play in Links 2001 via a downloadable course converter that will be released later this year on the official Links 2001 Web site.

Links LS Classic will only be available in the U.S. and Canada. For more information on the game, go to: http://www.microsoft.com/games/linksclassic/

Project IGI screens - Falcon @ 6:57 pm PST
ProjectIGI.com just received 10 brand new screens from Innerloop:

You might notice a few similarities with the Screenshots that where up with PCZone.co.uk article yesterday.. that is true, for some reason the reviewer found ok to set all details to the lowest setting and then take some screenshots which really doesn't flatter the game..

Innerloop decided to send 10 New pictures of mostly the same places to rectify those, and they really look alot better :)

Thursday, November 16, 2000

Diablo II Expansion Character Revealed - Hobbes @ 8:01 pm PST
Qual-Kehk

Although tired and battered, the clan’s Master at Arms still commands the unquestioning respect of his men. His eyes are grimly focused on the horizon, and he has the wistful demeanor of a man who knows he will soon sacrifice his life -- and those of his men -- in a battle that may not be won.

PC Data Top Ten - Hobbes @ 3:27 pm PST
PC Data has a new Top Ten Selling Games for the week of October 29 to November 4. The rankings are:

1. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
2. RollerCoaster Tycoon
3. The Sims
4. The Sims: Livin' Large
5. RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes
6. Unreal Tournament
7. Combat Flight Simulator 2: World War II Pacific Theater
8. Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion
9. Diablo II
10. Deer Hunter 4

Diablo II hangs on at number 9 while Baldur's Gate II has disappeared off the chart, perhaps for good. Red Alert 2 remains as the king of the hill for the second straight week. Could RA2 become the next Starcraft? Probably not but we'll just have to wait and see. Roller Coaster Tycoon has made the greatest leap and its popularity has carried it up to number 2. It's great to see such an old game doing so well on the charts. However, the latest version of the game from hell we call Deer Hunter has debuted at number 10.

Tactical Operations Beta 1.6 Review - Hobbes @ 3:21 pm PST
Frag-energy posted a new review about Tactical Operations Beta 1.6

This review features lots of information, special the things that are changed since the last beta of Tactical Ops.

Here's a snip:
"Tac-ops beta 1.6 has new features by the bucket load. So much so, that you will need to download the full install, even if you have the previous version. So much has been added since the last version. "

Check out the rest here .

Looking for a holiday escape? - Hobbes @ 3:18 pm PST
Those in need of a break from the maddening headaches and tension often brought on by jingle bells, mistletoe and halls decked with lights can find reprieve at Zone.com. Zone for the Holidays, Zone.com's
virtual den located here, launched today as a family-oriented site complete with snowball fights, snowboarding, traditional card and board games, and even a chance to win a family reunion.

Jekyll and Hide Shots - Hobbes @ 3:12 pm PST
Fresh today on EuroGamer is a gallery of nine screenshots and a pack shot of "Jekyll And Hyde", the moody third person action-adventure game from Cryo based on the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Click here to see them

Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Mech4 Gold! - Falcon @ 11:04 pm PST
MECHWARRIOR 4: VENGEANCE STRIKES GOLD

Microsoft today announced that MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, the highly anticipated sequel being developed by Microsoft's FASA Interactive group, has gone gold. This means that the product is completed and is expected to hit store shelves in the U.S. by early December. MechWarrior 4 weaves heart-pounding BattleMech action with the continuing drama and unfolding storyline of the perpetual BattleTech universe.

In MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, gamers command an awesomely armed 40-foot tall, 100-ton 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 also includes a variety of new and compelling multiplayer features, including those designed specifically to support networked multiplay in the BattleTech Universe. And, for the first time players will be able to host their own MechWarrior servers. MechWarrior 4 will also include full support for Internet play, with matchmaking available on Zone.com.

For more information on the game, go to:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechwarrior4/

Interview with Fatal1ty - Tufguy @ 2:24 pm PST
Over at challenge.au, WarMachine has had the pleasure of interviewing Fatal1ty, currently dubbed as world No.1 Q3a 1on1 player.

Do you plan on living off professional computer gaming, or will you become a member of the work force?

Well there would be no reason to go to the work force and get a standard job as of right now with making $100,000+/year in gaming. With next years predictions, I should make approx. $200k+/year. So right now I'm working very hard to make a living in gaming and do my best to win more tournaments to come.

ASDL Petition - Tufguy @ 1:55 am PST
The internet is, and will forever be, a part of our lives. There is no need for Australia to put up with profit-hungry Telecommunications companies charging over-the-top prices for high speed ADSL internet access. There is no need for download or bandwidth limits - these things are just so the greedy corporations can make an extra billion dollars. Sign the petition and show them we won't put up with it.
Source: Sign Petition

Tuesday, November 14, 2000

Screens - Falcon @ 10:14 pm PST
New Conquest Screenshots
Digital Anvil sent GA-Strategy new screenshots from its spaced-based real-time strategy game, Conquest: Frontier Wars.

Battlefield 1942 Details, Exclusive Screenshot
Producer Niklas Persson tells GA-Source how their first-person tactical wargame, Battlefield 1942, will appeal to fans of such games as Counterstrike, Hidden & Dangerous, and Delta Force.

Today's dose of eye candy on EuroGamer is a third and final batch of ten exclusive screenshots of "Sacrifice", taken from a review copy of the third person action-strategy game.

Electronic Arts sent GA-Source new screenshots and details on Alice's arsenal in Wonderland and what types of attacks her weapons will allow for.

Developer GSC Game World just sent GA-Source another set of new screenshots from their upcoming first-person action shooter, Venom.

The UO2 Vault is pleased to present the latest in a series of exclusive fansite screenshots of Origin. This week's shot depicts a combat scene in the dungeon Despise. The shot is so impressive that I wanted to express that it *is* the actual game engine rendering the scene and it *is* actual gameplay being shown.

Today's fresh dose of eye candy on EuroGamer is a third
and final batch of eight exclusive new screenshots of "Magic & Mayhem : The Art Of Magic" taken from a preview version of the 3D role-playing strategy game.

Gamespy Updates - Falcon @ 10:06 pm PST
GameSpy finishes up their report on our trip to Blizzard with a look at the status of Warcraft 3. Find out what they saw at http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november00/war3/

They also sit an chat with Daniel Nilsson, art director on the adventure game Gilbert Goodmate. Find out the latest on the game at http://www.gamespy.com/interviews/november00/gilbertgoodmate/

And for those who were sad to learn that Microsoft had decided NOT to publish Conquest: Frontier Wars, you'll be happy to learn that Digital Anvil is still supplying us developer diaries while they hunt for a new publisher. Check out what they are working on at http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/november00/conquest6/

And finally, if you think Cate Archer is fun in No One Lives Forever, then you'll have a blast with the Top 10 Things to do with a Cate Archer Cutout. Confused? You won't be if you read http://www.gamespy.com/top10/november00/catearcher/

BRAIIIIIIIIINS! - Falcon @ 10:04 pm PST
BRAIIIIIIIIINS! Yup, it is time to go and kill more zombies in the latest PlayStation Port. This time around, it is Resident Evil 3. Most console-to-PC ports carelessly ignore the elevated expectations of computer gamers, and the recently released Resident Evil 3: Nemesis demo shows this version stays true to the quick money formula of most console translations. Unfortunately, that is a bad thing. Read the article from 3DAP here:

Classic Games Reviews Site - Falcon @ 10:00 pm PST
NEW CLASSIC GAMES SITE LOOKING FOR REVIEWERS!

I-Mockery just opened up a huge "Classic Games Reviews" web site. Its success depends on the users to submit reviews of their favorite classic games. It covers all areas of gaming: PC, Arcade, Console, Handheld, etc. Their goal is to not only let people voice their opinions about their favorite games of all time, but to provide a great resource for people to find games that might have been forgotten about... the classics!
They're basically looking for people to help out and write a bunch of reviews for it. All reviewers will be given full author's credit for any reviews they do (their name & email appear in each individual review).

If anybody is interested in it, all they need to do is come to the site listed below or email "classicgames@i-mockery.com"

CLASSIC GAMES ON I-MOCKERY:

Tony Hawk's Pros Skater 2 Review - Falcon @ 9:41 pm PST
The Game Den gets addicted to one of the latest titles from Neversoft Entertainment. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 has got to be on of the most intense and exciting SK8 games to come out since...hmm...the first version!

Though Tony has recently retired from skateboarding, his legacy lives on in the gaming world, offering future generations an outlet for their creative energies. Now you don't have to try to skate like Tony, you can actually be him and pull all the tricks that have made him famous. From ramps to rails, to pools to schools, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 has all the elements of the real thing.

...The skaters animations are very realistic and from what I hear, the artists modeled them after real skaters at a skatepark. The physics of gravity were well implemented and make the arial tricks believable. Some of the sound effects can be a bit annoying at times, but the music and the sounds of the skateboards like ollies, grinds, wall rides and falls compensate. The funniest sound comes from the guys impaling their family jewels on railings. It's enough to make any guy cringe and scream: "Oooh!"

Read the rest of the review here.

The Druid King - Falcon @ 9:35 pm PST
SIDHE INTERACTIVE ANNOUNCES NEW LICENSED
TITLE, THE DRUID KING, FOR THE SONY
PLAYSTATION 2 AND MICROSOFT XBOX

Wellington, NZ ­ November 14, 2000 ­ New Zealand game developer Sidhe Interactive has announced work has commenced on a new game entitled The Druid King. Based on the upcoming movie and novel of the same name by author Norman Spinrad, The Druid King focuses on epic struggle between Vercingetorix, the King of Gaul, and Roman Emperor Julius Caesar.

The third person action adventure game is being created for the Sony PlayStation™ 2 and Microsoft Xbox™ and is due for completion in first quarter 2002.

"We are very excited about working with both the PlayStation™ 2 and Xbox™," stated Tyrone McAuley, Sidhe Interactive's Technical Director. “Having recently completed a PlayStation™ project, the team have taken extremely well to the new, more powerful technology.“

Key aspects of the title include large immersive environments, engaging gameplay, advanced surfacing effects, and a unique battle system that always keeps the player in the thick of the action.

Sidhe is working with US based game agents Octagon Entertainment to find a publishing partner for the project. “We are very pleased to have gained access to such a powerful license through Octagon”, said Mario Wynands, Executive Producer at Sidhe. “This is a major boost for our company and we look forward to developing a great game based on the property.”

Sidhe Interactive develops games for the Sony PlayStation™, Sony PlayStation™ 2, and Microsoft Xbox™. You can find out more about Sidhe Interactive online at http://www.sidhe.co.nz.

Octagon Entertainment arranges financing, publishing, licensing, and distribution agreements for game developers worldwide. Octagon also develops and promotes interactive entertainment packages, merging top quality properties with leading developers to create games that extend into all entertainment sectors. You can find out more about Octagon Entertainment online at http://www.octagon1.com.

IBM DESKSTAR 75GXP Review - Falcon @ 9:16 pm PST
Luxidion.com has just finished a review of the IBM DESKSTAR 75GXP Hard Disk Drive. Included are the technical specifications of the drive (greek to me, the 75GB part is all I understand :)), as well as benchmarks with SiSoft Sandra, HDTach 2.61 and 3dMark2000. Read the review here:

Asheron's Call News - Falcon @ 9:12 pm PST
SHOULD THE STARS FALL! ASHERON'S CALL ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENT NOW UNDERWAY

Historic Event Celebrated With Tell-A-Friend Referral Program

Microsoft today announced that "Should The Stars Fall," the latest event in the dynamic world of Asheron's Call, is now underway. This month's event marks the one-year anniversary of the hugely successful, massively multiplayer online role-playing game. To celebrate the milestone, Microsoft is offering free months of gameplay to players who refer a friend to Asheron's Call, between November 14, 2000 and January 8, 2001.

The Asheron's Call Referral Program is a great way to introduce friends and family to the exciting world of Dereth and its ever-changing landscape. To take advantage of the program, gamers must first be regular subscribers of Asheron's Call. Players can then refer up to three friends, and receive one free month of gameplay for each referral. In order for the referral to be valid, the new players must purchase the game and register to be a monthly subscriber. The Referral Program runs from November 14, 2000 through January 8, 2001. For additional details and official rules, please visit: http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news/ashereferralprogram.asp.

The year anniversary event offers an experience unlike any other. The world of Dereth has changed with each and every month -- be it with the additions of new lands to explore, new creatures to battle, or new quests on which to embark. Towns, and seasons, have come and gone. Players have helped to advance the history of the world, fending off invasions of Shadows... and their eerily traveling Spires. Considering the events of the past year, much can be expected!

Asheron's Call is a massively multiplayer role-playing game playable exclusively on Zone.com that draws together thousands of players within a dynamic, 3-D online world. Players can create truly unique characters by choosing between extensive combinations of visual appearance, attributes and skill sets. Asheron's Call immerses players in an intense role-playing environment where they must compete or cooperate with thousands of other online players. An extensive system of allegiance and influence greatly enhances social interaction. The online nature of the game facilitates an evolving and dynamic adventure inside a consistent universe. The game will never be solved because there will always be more areas to explore and quests to complete.

For more information about Asheron's Call, please visit: http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/

$100 000 winner announced - Falcon @ 9:10 pm PST
VIRTUAL GOLF ASSOCIATION TOUR $100,000 WINNER ANNOUNCED

Paul Willey Takes Home Top Honors From Hawaii

Microsoft today announced that Paul Willey, of Palmyra, Maine, is the first-ever $100,000 WingspanBank.com Virtual Golf Association Tour (VGA Tour) winner. The finals of the VGA Tour took place yesterday in Honolulu, Hawaii, with Paul Willey besting Mike Schuetz of Manassas, Virginia, by winning the final match with a score of two and one. NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana, an avid golfer, served as "celebrity caddie" and presented Willey with the $100,000 check. The VGA Tour kicked off in March of this year, and saw more than 12,000 duffers take part.

In the championship match play round, Willey and Schuetz were even after the first five holes and at the halfway mark, Willey was up by one. He maintained his lead until 13, where he added another hole to pull ahead by two. At the 14th hole, Schuetz sank a beautiful putt to drop Willey's lead back to one. It was a nail-biter to the end, but Willey kept the pressure on and never let Schuetz pull ahead. Willey closed out the match with an 18-foot putt on the 17th hole to win two and one.

Modeled after the real-world golf tournaments of the PGA Tour, PGA of America and USGA, the WingspanBank.com VGA Tour offered a series of sponsored online golf tournaments that were comparable in size, scope and visual appeal to the actual professional golfers' tour. The first event on the VGA Tour began March 10, with PC golfers competing on a simulation of the Bay Hill course. Other tournament courses included The Old Course at St Andrews Links, Firestone Country Club, Mauna Kea, and Innisbrook.

To reach the finals of the VGA Tour, each semi-finalist spent an entire season competing against more than 12,000 tournament participants that signed up to play on Zone.com. Players accumulated money-board earnings based on their performances in these monthly tournaments. In October, the top 64 money-board leaders competed in an online semi-finals tournament to determine the four players who would head to Hawaii and compete for the $100,000 cash prize.

For more information on the VGA Tour, go to: http://www.zone.com/vga/

Monday, November 13, 2000

Game Commander 2 Review - Falcon @ 10:57 pm PST
Cached.net, known for its Hardcore Gaming and Tournament Coverage, has reviewed The Game Commander 2.

The Game Commander 2 package includes two main things: one being the headset, and the other being the software (CD-ROM format). The software's main purpose is to provide voice recognition. Basically, you tell the computer what you want to do within the game, and it does it for you. For instance, in Unreal Tournament, you can set it so that if you say "Flak" - your weapon will change to the flak cannon. It doesn't just stop with weapons, you can set it up to give taunts as well as team commands.

New Qtracker Mapshot Packs Available - Falcon @ 10:52 pm PST
New Qtracker Mapshot Packs Available!

Qtracker is server browser, server launcher, server administrator, MP3 streaming audio browser, and HTML/PHP server list generator for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000.

Finally, Counter-Strike mapshots are available! This mapshot pack includes all the levels featured in Counter-Strike 1.0, in addition to several maps which were included in the Counter-Strike betas.

The Team Fortress Classic mapshot pack has been updated to include all TFC 1.5 (1.1.0.4) maps.

Swing on over to the Qtracker homepage and pickup your packs today!

Stomped Interviews - Falcon @ 10:50 pm PST
Stomped begins its series of interviews today with the editors-in-chief of the four PC print magazines with a chat with Steve Bauman, the EIC of Computer Games Magazine.

Stomped continues its interview series with the editors-in-chief of the four U.S. PC gaming print magazines with a chat with Tom Russo, the EIC of Next Generation.

It could be the first major mod project for Tribes 2 and now Tribes2@Stomped has posted an exclusive interview with its producer, Michael "Optimizer" Hamlett, on why Xtreme Gaming is leaving the Unreal Tournament engine to work on Strike Force for Tribes 2, with some help from Dynamix itself.

Interview with G.o.D. Games CEO - Falcon @ 10:48 pm PST
AllGameRadio.Com has posted an interview with CEO of Gathering of Developers Mike Wilson.

Saturday night Densmore from AllGameRadio.Com managed to crash a bachelor party for a game developer who shall remain nameless. Densmore somehow managed to get the cell phone number of an inside man with GoDGames and on a lark decided to call it up and found a full blown bachelor party in full swing complete with Lap Dances by little hotties! On one hand the highlight
of the evening were the whipped cream races. You know... whipped cream races... where you spray whipped cream on a willing female from the toes up to the.. ahem...finish line, and then have two contestants race to see who can reach the finish line the fastest... with their tongue! On the other hand, the highlight of the evening would be the impromptu interview with Mike Wilson who in between lap dances filled in AllGameRadio.Com Live Show listeners with vague details about plans to tackle publishing giants EA and
the like.

Gamespy Arcade v 1.0 out - Falcon @ 10:13 pm PST
Let the gaming begin: GameSpy Arcade version 1.0 is now available for download!

After an extremely successful beta period, Gamespy are unleashing the full version of the Arcade software upon the public. With support for over 160 peer-to-peer and dedicated server games (everything from Age of Empires II to Baldur's Gate II to Half-Life and Quake), instant messaging, chat, buddy tracking, integrated Web browsing and direct access to the rapidly expanding Arcade community, GameSpy Arcade is a must-have for any gamer -- casual or hardcore.

If you're already using Arcade, you'll find that the software auto-updates to version 1.0. If you haven't grabbed Arcade yet, you can download both the fully registered version and the trial version from the Arcade download page, courtesy of FilePlanet.

What are you waiting for? Grab it now. It's time to play.

Asherons's Call Contest - Falcon @ 10:12 pm PST
ASHERON'S CALL "DREAM EVENT" CONTEST NOW UNDERWAY

Microsoft today announced that the Asheron's Call "Dream Event" contest is now underway. To participate, entrants must create an event scenario that evolves the game's plot and storyline, and that provides additional gameplay content for the tens of thousands of players in the dynamic world of Asheron's Call. The grand prize winner will receive a one-year free subscription to Asheron's Call, a US$119 value. First and second place winners will receive a six-month free subscription and one-month free subscription to the game, respectively.

Participants are asked to submit a written description of their "Dream Event" in 500 words or less. The Asheron's Call fan community is working with Microsoft on the event, and submissions should be made to any of the five participating fan sites. Each of the five fan sites will select five finalists, and from those 25 finalists Turbine Entertainment and Microsoft will select the three winners. Criteria for judging include: Creativity, use of Asheron's Call backstory, and ability to impact all experience levels.

The contest runs through December 8, 2000, and winners will be announced on January 15, 2001 at: http://www.zone.com/asheronscall/news.asp

Complete information about the contest, including official rules and details, can be found at:
Asheron's Call is a massively multiplayer role-playing game playable exclusively on Zone.com that draws together thousands of players within a dynamic, 3-D online world. Players can create truly unique characters by choosing between extensive combinations of visual appearance, attributes and skill sets. Asheron's Call immerses players in an intense role-playing environment where they must compete or cooperate with thousands of other online players. An extensive system of allegiance and influence greatly enhances social interaction. The online nature of the game facilitates an evolving and dynamic adventure inside a consistent universe. The game will never be solved because there will always be more areas to explore and quests to complete.

Mechcommander2 Website Live - Falcon @ 10:11 pm PST
MECHCOMMANDER 2 OFFICIAL WEB SITE NOW LIVE

Microsoft today announced that the official Web site for MechCommander 2, the highly anticipated sequel being developed by Microsoft's FASA Interactive group, is now live at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechcommander2/. In MechCommander 2, players command a company of MechWarriors in a real-time tactical game of power, strategy, and treachery set in the perpetual BattleTech Universe. MechCommander 2 will be available at retail locations throughout North America in spring 2001.

The MechCommander 2 site features a wealth of information, including an interview with the game's program manager, Mitch Gitelman; dynamic screen shots, and a downloadable AVI highlighting gameplay in this addicting new title. In addition to a complete features list, the site also offers in-depth details on the BattleTech background story. Gamers can also visit the MechBay section, which features five 'Mechs and will be regularly updated with additional 'Mechs as game development progresses.

MechCommander 2 gives gamers more than amazing gameplay -- it draws them into the rich, 16-year history of the BattleTech Universe. Players will be immersed in intense tactical gameplay, commanding up to a dozen enormous BattleMechs in real-time combat, where outsmarting the enemy is their key to victory. MechCommander 2 is fully 3D, with state-of-the-art terrain that can be maneuvered to the gamer's advantage. Players can knock down trees, blow through walls, jump-jet onto cliffs and step on things standing in their way to victory!

While a lone MechWarrior can wield up to 100 tons of "Mechanized" death, the MechCommander rules the battlefield from above, imposing his strategic will and mastering all he surveys. When he issues an order to jump, MechWarriors obey. When something needs to be destroyed, the MechCommander need only finger the target. He rules the battlefield with an iron fist, commanding his units from the orbital dropship.

MechCommander 2 will also include full support for Internet play, with matchmaking available on Zone.com . For more information on the game, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechcommander2/

Voodoo 5 6000 cancellation - info and analysis - Falcon @ 10:10 pm PST
For those of you who haven't already heard, 3dfx have revealed that their Voodoo 5 6000 graphics card has been cancelled, with the four chip solution shipped out to Quantum3D to be used in the AAlchemy graphics workstation range.
They have all the details on EuroGamer, along with some analysis of what the move could mean for 3dfx.

"But what does this mean for 3dfx? Their top of the range card is now the Voodoo 5 5500, which can't even match the pace of NVIDIA's GeForce 2 and ATI's Radeon in many games, let alone the forthcoming GeForce 2 Ultra and a possible dual-chip Radeon solution, which could be shipping before the end of the year. The Voodoo 5 6000 would have gone head-to-head with the $500 GeForce 2 Ultra, but now 3dfx appear to be abandoning the top end of the market to their competitors, leaving them trailing until their next generation (code-named "Rampage") becomes available some time next year."

Sunday, November 12, 2000

Conquerors Review - shiva @ 10:07 pm PST
GameSurge takes a look at the latest in the series for Age of Empires.

"First I’ll just say that if you’re a fan of Age of Kings, Conquerors just adds more to the mix. I found the new campaigns easier to play than the original, especially the new Conquerors Campaign, which has various battles from history all over the world. If you’re a general strategy fan, Conquerors is also made more fun thanks to these scenarios. The gameplay has been enhanced, but not changed. The farm queues are a welcome addition, and the new units are fun, and each has a unique graphical style. I did notice, however, that the Conquistador looked different from all the other units, but I quickly got over that."

Strike Force 1.6 - Tufguy @ 9:56 pm PST
Gruff is hard at work on strike force 1.60. He's completed 400 sounds and been working on the new screen layout hud for the game.
Source: Strike Force

DX8 uninstaller - Tufguy @ 9:51 pm PST
With the recent release of directx ver 8, majority of gamming speed has been reduced, and also the problem of in-compatability. So the crew over at tweaktown have considered this and uploaded a nice program that will get rid of Directx 8 and restore you previous configuration.
grab it here

Tanya talks - Falcon @ 4:27 pm PST
For you Red Alert fans, Gamespy tracks down Special Agent Tanya and talk to the bad-ass babe about life with C4. Find out what she had to say at http://www.gamespy.com/interviews/november00/ra2tanya/

X-Tension Review - Falcon @ 4:21 pm PST
This weekend's review on EuroGamer takes a look at "X-Tension", the epic Elite-style free-form space sim from EgoSoft which is a semi-sequel / add-on for the flawed "X : Beyond The Frontier".

"It's not all about buying low and selling high though, and the rest of the game has also been improved. You can still buy entire space stations and so build up a business empire, complete with AI-controlled support ships, but the new relay satellites mean that you no longer have to physically doc with one of your factories to check its progress or to change its pricing policies - you can monitor and control everything from the new galaxy map."

Bur Report - Falcon @ 4:19 pm PST
New today at Actiontrip is their rather humorous sketch, taking a satirical, Pythonesque look at today's rather unpopular practice of releasing virtually unplayable games as final products. Read it here:

Barrysworld Previews - Falcon @ 4:16 pm PST
A couple of new previews are available at BarrysWorld this morning ...

Well, MikeyBear and cro have been rather busy little bunnies over the last few days. For your delectation they have posted a dual-view preview of Delta Force: Land Warrior after Novalogic invited them into the office to show them the latest build:

"They’ll be no rocket / grenade jumping in this puppy. Try that in DF3 and it’ll quickly be known as the “Rocket / Grenade spread yourself over a vast area and bleed on thy sworn enemy jumping”."

Oddworld Developer Chat - Falcon @ 4:12 pm PST
ODDWORLD DEVELOPER CHAT NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Microsoft announced today that on Tuesday, November 14, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST, Lorne Lanning, Oddworld's Creative Director and President, will be on hand to chat with fans about Oddworld and the latest chapter in the Quintology, "Munch's Oddysee." Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about the recent decision to publish the next four Oddworld games, including "Munch's Oddysee," on Microsoft's future-generation console, Xbox.

To attend the chat, please point your browsers to: http://www.xbox.com/.

Since its debut, the Oddworld game series has become one of the most globally popular game franchises of all time, with more than four million copies sold worldwide, garnering more than 100 industry awards and gracing the cover of more than 35 magazines. The two previously released chapters, "Abe's Oddysee" and "Abe's Exoddus," have been heralded as revolutionary for their mix of brilliant graphical artistry, unique personality and compelling gameplay. The upcoming "Munch's Oddysee" continues the inventive spirit.

Scheduled for release in fall 2001, Xbox is Microsoft's future-generation video game console that delivers superior graphics, better audio and the most intense, action-packed gaming experiences available. All this is possible because Xbox has at least three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game consoles. Features will include a 733MHz CPU, a custom-designed graphics chip capable of processing more than 1 trillion operations per second, an 8GB hard drive, 64 MB of total memory, an audio processor with 256 audio channels, and broadband connectivity for online game play. Xbox uses familiar architecture and DirectX(r) development tools so game developers will be able to create better games faster.

TGEGL Tourney: $2000 PRIZES - Falcon @ 4:10 pm PST
Dallas, TX - November 10th, 2000 - Twin Galaxies Electronic Gamers League (TGEGL) today launched the latest tourney in their inaugural online series, featuring Microsoft's real-time strategy hit, Age of Empires II, developed by Ensemble Studios. Play kicks off on November 22nd, when gamers will begin competing for $2000 in prize monies which will be split amongst the top six players.

Age of Empires II is the first RTS game to be selected by the TGEGL Commissioner, Jeff Gross. Commenting on the game selection, Jeff said: "Having served the FPS communities with Unreal Tournament, Rogue Spear and Quake III Arena, we felt that it was due time to reach out to a new gaming community and give these players both the opportunity to compete at the highest level and get the recognition they deserve. I look forward to connecting with the players of this genre and crowning the champions."

The TGEGL, a division of Twin Galaxies, operates online and live game championship tournaments for computer and console games. Visit www.twingalaxies.com and stay tuned to the upcoming 2001 tournament session. For further information on both the offline and live tournament series, contact Jeff Gross, TGEGL Commissioner, at jeffg@twingalaxies.com, or tel:972-315-2826.

Twin Galaxies, the Official World Referee and Scorekeeper for the Interactive Entertainment Industry, has been keeping score for the world of video game and pinball playing since 1982, and now in its 19th year, still organizes the contest, enforces the rules, maintains the records and crowns the champions on console, PC, and arcade titles. Its mission is to transform electronic game playing into a recognized sport by building on a tradition of championships, world records and star players. The company publishes the Twin Galaxies Official Video Game and Pinball Book of World Records, containing top scores from players in 31 countries, which can be viewed at www.twingalaxies.com.

Saturday, November 11, 2000

No One Lives Forever - shiva @ 12:31 am PST
James Bond returns, in this great translation of the popular home console games. No One Lives Forever is the first game to use the LithTech 2.5 3D Operating System. It also combines many proprietary systems created especially by the team to simulate the most realistic spy experience possible. With 3 exculsive screenshots, this "fact sheet" contains all you need to know. Shaken, not stirred...

Friday, November 10, 2000

Shockwave Loco - Falcon @ 4:35 am PST
HOT TAMALE! SHOCKWAVE LAUNCHES TAMALE LOCO TRIAL VERSION TODAY

shockwave.com™ today announced the launch of the trial version for Tamale Loco™, an original game created by Shockwave Studios™. Shockwave Studios is a collection of production teams, comprised of in-house and strategic external developers, creating original Web entertainment for shockwave.com. Named after the main character, Tamale Loco is a side-scrolling, platform-hopping action game. The full version of Tamale Loco will debut on shockwave.com in spring 2001.

With unmatched speed within the browser, Tamale Loco sets a new performance standard for online gaming. High scorers are ranked daily, weekly, and monthly, and users are automatically sent emails when their score is bumped off the list. Players collect food items, weapons, power-ups, free lives and other bonuses while battling enemies with complex artificial intelligence. These challenging foes do not perform pre-scripted moves, instead they think strategically to preserve their own well-being in a dynamic universe.

The trial version introduces gamers to three of the seven levels that will launch with the full version. Giving players a taste of the backstory that drives the gameplay, the trial version contains a preview story and wrap-up story. The full version of Tamale Loco will contain multiple story segments, following each level, along with a very evil antagonist!

Tamale Loco is only available on shockwave.com. To play the trial version, go to: http://www.shockwave.com

BG2 Giveaway - Falcon @ 4:30 am PST
After trekking through dungeons and slaying many dragons, PlanetBG2 been able to amass the following trove of Baldur's Gate II treasure. The best prize? A limited lithograph of Jon Irenicus pondering over his crystal ball, signed by the BioWare development team. Other prizes include BG2 Collector's Editions (like #27 out of 62,000) and Black Isle Backpacks.

neon light kit Review - Falcon @ 4:28 am PST
Speedy 3D has just kicked up a review of CaseEct's expensive neon light kit for viewing your case components in the dark. Here's a clip:

The kit comes with an installation sheet, but if you have some basic case mod knowledge, you will most likely guess what goes where. The installation process is very easy. The neon light is most often used in a car; it comes with a 12v cigarette lighter type plug, the first thing to do is to cut it off.

Dogfighter Updates - Falcon @ 4:21 am PST
Top Gun Fox 2 Pro Review (11-08-00)
A review of ThrustMaster's mid-market joystick aimed at flight simmers.

GameVoice Review (11-06-00)
How does Microsoft's answer to Roger Wilco and TeamSound stack up in flight sims?

Rowan's Battle of Britain Preview (11-03-00)
A glance at Rowan's latest flight sim, based on the MiG Alley engine.

OGA Relaunched - Falcon @ 4:19 am PST
The Online Gamers Association website has been re-launched, adding some important new features to the site as well as improving the lay-out and design.
These new features include -
* the OGA Directory - a searchable database of LAN parties, leagues, tournaments, web games, and other gaming-related sites from around the world
* customisable on-site news - all the latest news from the OGA on pro-gaming, LAN parties, leagues, tournaments and more!
* customisable off-site news - you can now view headlines from your favourite gaming sites right on the OGA front page, with support for Blue's News, the Shugashack, Barrysworld and EuroGamer already integrated, and more to come
* online gaming guides - coming soon!
The site also includes all of the great features of the original,including a massive searchable database of 5000 players and 1000 teams from around the world, .plans for all our members, and the "Informer" web update service, which allows you to add remotely updateable news pages or columns to your own sites.
To find out more, or to sign up as a member of the OGA (for free!), check the OGA website at www.theoga.com

To celebrate the re-launch we are also running a competition to give away five copies of award-winning massively multiplayerrole-playing game "Asheron's Call". Again, full details are on theOGA website.

ABOUT THE OGA -
With around 5000 members worldwide, the OGA is intended to represent gamers, to promote online and professional gaming, and to help take it to the next level. The OGA recently managed PC Gamer UK's highly successful Counter-Strike league, which was integrated with the OGA's database system, something you will see more of in future events.

The OGA is run by EuroGamer Network Ltd, which also owns leading editorial site EuroGamer.net and develops TOAST, an integrated tournament management and player ranking system which was unveiled at ECTS 2000, and recently showcased at Battletop's New York event.
Founded in 1999, EuroGamer Network Ltd. is an independent, privately funded company based in Brighton, England.

Rune 2 Chat Log - Falcon @ 4:16 am PST
Were you in Arcade when Human Head talked about their plans for Rune 2?

Human Head Studios chatted with the public today for GameSpy Arcade's Thursday Action event at 4pm PT. The guys talked about Rune 2, the community surrounding Rune, and various and sundry things before they hacked and slashed with the public on some game servers. See the chat log for what you missed!

SF: Tribes2 - Falcon @ 4:14 am PST
The Strike Force team is moving Strike Force over to the Tribes 2 engine. The team of 15 at Xtreme Gaming have already started on this new conversion. More information can be found with the official news release
at - http://www.planetunreal.com/strikeforce
Dave "QIX" Georgeson, producer and director of Tribes 2, has this to say about Strike Force: T2;

"We here at Dynamix are extremely excited at the prospect of "Strike Force: T2" utilizing the "Tribes 2" engine to make their newest and boldest version yet. We expect some great stuff from this group that has done previous versions of their game in other game engines. The "Tribes 2" engine is very flexible, allowing indoor/outdoor combat, vehicles, infantry, and an incredibly wide assortment of weaponry. The special effects,the terrain building, the ability to fight underwater, weather and storm fronts, as well as the ability to have truly hostile terrains...all of these things should contribute to an excellent version of "Strike Force: Tribes 2," and we can't wait to see these guys tear it up."

New HL Mod by Valve - Falcon @ 3:08 am PST
Stomped has the exclusive first look created by Valve Software that will be included in the two new Half-Life retail products scheduled to hit stores today. They also chat with Valve Software head Gabe Newell on the new retail products, with a special emphasis on Half-Life: Counter-Strike.

Game Demos Article - Falcon @ 3:00 am PST
When a game company wants to stir up some interest in a game that they will be releasing, they will do one of many different things, with the most obvious being releasing a demo. The purpose of a demo is to make us want to buy the game -- so, why is it that some companies release buggy, incomplete, or just plain bad demos? Read the article Here"

Thursday, November 09, 2000

Planetside Interview - Surebrec @ 6:27 pm PST
Also of interest at PC IGN, is the interview with Planetside Lead Designer Kevin McCann, which has much info to digest. Personally, I think this game is gonna kick some major ass. Here's why:

IGNPC: Can you begin by giving us the background of the Planetside universe?

Kevin McCann: The idea is that players, when they first create a character in the game, they will ally that character with one of four rival corporations that are at war with one another. So even if you're playing by yourself, your still part of a parent team, part of a cause. So people who are in the field with you might help you out because you are part of the same corporation as you.

You can further form outfits that are basically your supported clans, under these corporations and work much more as a team. The goal of the game really is pretty much a territorial war. Now the actual background story, well each side of course has their own propaganda, but the game definitely takes much more of a focus on the actual action.

We're trying to make sure that this is an FPS game so therefore we're trying to make sure that the FPS guys can just jump in and not worry about having to read the manual or anything like that. We'll have propaganda things going on as well as campaigns that occur every month. But the overall goal is just for players to be able to jump in and enjoy it.

Escape from Monkey Island Review - Surebrec @ 6:21 pm PST
PC IGN has smacked up their review of Escape from Monkey Island. Here's a snippet from it:

Along with the humor though, you'll have the puzzles. Insult attacks, bizarre code references so obscure that you'll be groaning with their solution, they're all here. The game is right on par with the other adventures in terms of obscure puzzle problems, but there are some times where even the best adventure gamer will have himself smacking his head in disbelief at the leaps in logic the development team has you making in order to progress through the game. Basically, if you were frustrated with some of the more obscure puzzles in Grim Fandango, you'll be frustrated here. If you can deal with that, then you'll find yourself with a fun adventure, peppered with a few skull-cracking moments. Of course, any adventure gamer worth their salt will be familiar with this *cough* use candlestick with the rug on door *cough* type of gameplay.

TF2 Interview - Surebrec @ 6:15 pm PST
The mates at Gamespot Australia have kicked up an interview with Robin Walker of Valve Software on the upcoming Team Fortress 2. Here's a clip from it:

GS: So Is playing Commander any fun?

RW: Yes. It is a lot of fun. We actually have a backup plan for that, so we're not too concerned about that. What we're looking at is, our view is that the Commander really is an RTS (Realtime Strategy) player, which is why we're tentatively calling TF2 a First-Person Strategy now. There's some kinky buzzwords for you. We really are designing the Commander to be something an RTS player, can move into very easily. The interface is identical to an RTS's, you can get in there. Everything they're used to works, like being able to hot-key groups of players, drag and select, and shift to do multiple commands, all that sort of stuff works, and we really hope to entice RTS players into trying this sort of game. It's interesting. I've seen a few stories recently where people are saying that not much interesting has really happened to the RTS genre in the last couple of years. And that we're still making sort of similar RTS's, new units, and new features, but nothing has really sort of "woken up" RTS players for a while. And in some ways I'm wondering if we might be the first people to do that. We're offering a fairly fundamental paradigm shift in that where they're used to playing units which are totally controlled, but in a way that also amounts to total stupidity under certain situations. And we're going to present them with a problem where they have some units that follow their orders perfectly, because they're computer controlled. But they have no ability to act on the fly, or change according to circumstances. And then they have these other characters which are real players who don't necessarily do exactly what they want, but at times are able to react more quickly, and far more decisively than the Commander can. I think a good Commander will be the sort of person who can vie those two types of units off, and from them produce something really interesting.

Source: Gamespy

Black and White Dev Diary - Surebrec @ 5:39 pm PST
Gamespy has posted their 9th installment of the Black and White Dev Diary. Even though this month's feature is on the fansites surrounding the game, it's a good read nonetheless. Here's a small clip:

Over B&W's three-year development, we have been flattered and (frankly) honored by the number of individuals and groups who have created B&W fansites. There are dozens of them, in many different languages. We picked out what we considered to be the major ones and put in links on the Lionhead Website. Benjamin Mertens runs a French language fansite with his buddy Cédric Larvoire. Cédric takes up the story. Shows you how international the Web community really is!

Horizons Intelligence Report - Surebrec @ 5:28 pm PST
RPG Vault has graced us with a Horizons Intelligence Report. Here's a small clip from it:

Artifact Entertainment is building a world with its own history, drama and continuing story. Players will actually have the ability to change this world, which will also have ongoing conflict from race wars, government and political battles, and wars of the gods. We invite you to look forward to this exciting and different game in our Horizons: Empires of Istaria
Intelligence Report.

There ya go!

Magic and Mayhem: The Art of Magic - Surebrec @ 5:25 pm PST
EuroGamer has kicked up 8 exclusive screenshots from Magic and Mayhem: The Art of Magic for your personal enjoyment.

The OGA Reopens - Surebrec @ 5:20 pm PST
Here it is my friends proudly copy-and-pasted straight from the email, on the reopening of The Online Gamers Association:

* the OGA Directory - a searchable database of LAN parties, leagues, tournaments, web games, and other gaming-related sites from around the world

* customisable on-site news - all the latest news from the OGA on pro-gaming, LAN parties, leagues, tournaments and more!

* customisable off-site news - you can now view headlines from your favourite gaming sites right on the OGA front page, with support for Blue's News, the Shugashack, Barrysworld and EuroGamer already integrated, and more to come

* online gaming guides - coming soon!

The site also includes all of the great features of the original, including a massive searchable database of 5000 players and 1000 teams from around the world, .plans for all our members, and the "Informer" web update service, which allows you to add remotely updateable news pages or columns to your own sites.

To find out more, or to sign up as a member of the OGA (for free!), check the OGA website at www.theoga.com

To celebrate the re-launch we are also running a competition to give away five copies of award-winning massively multiplayer role-playing game "Asheron's Call". Again, full details are on the OGA website.

ABOUT THE OGA -

With around 5000 members worldwide, the OGA is intended to represent gamers, to promote online and professional gaming, and to help take it to the next level. The OGA recently managed PC Gamer UK's highly successful Counter-Strike league, which was integrated with the OGA's database system, something you will see more of in future events.

Neon Light Kit Review - Surebrec @ 5:12 pm PST
The guys at Speedy3D have smacked up a review on CaseEct's expensive neon light kit for viewing your case components in the dark. My suggestion is to not view your case components in the dark, but ya know. Here's a clip:

The kit comes with an installation sheet, but if you have some basic case mod knowledge, you will most likely guess what goes where. The installation process is very easy. The neon light is most often used in a car; it comes with a 12v cigarette lighter type plug, the first thing to do is to cut it off.

Tribes 2 Screens - Surebrec @ 5:07 pm PST
Frag-Energy has slapped up 17 new Tribes 2 screens, 9 of which are ingame player actions and weapons, the other 8 of which are ingame vehicles screenshots from buggy to plane.

HDTV 4 PC - Tufguy @ 5:01 pm PST
Telemann has now introduced the first available PCI card that allows full HDTV resolution on you computer. This card not only can recieve HDTV signal but it also can take MPEG-2 HDTV signal directly.
And to over come the thought of watching all this clear and crisp video on that little monitor, it also comes with a Tv-out port (video-out)
Source: Telemann

DirectX 8 Released - Falcon @ 4:47 pm PST
Microsoft has announced the release of DirectX8.  Here's a snippet from the press release, or head straight here, to grab it.

With DirectX 8.0, Microsoft offers many new features and feature improvements for multimedia application developers:

-- Consolidated interfaces for DirectDraw® and Direct3D® simplify application development and improve performance. -- Improved graphics authoring tool integration eases development of optimal 3-D characters and environments. -- Vertex shaders and pixel shaders improve image realism. -- Consolidated DirectSound® and DirectMusic® interfaces simplify application development. -- DLS2 audio synthesis support improves instrument realism. -- DirectInput® device mapping provides simplified device support. -- DirectPlay® performance and scalability for massively multiplayer games has been improved. -- DirectPlay IP voice communication support is provided. -- DirectShow® Editing Services APIs provide real-time compositing and editing of audio/video timelines. -- DirectShow supports reading and writing Windows Media(TM) Audio and Video (WMA and WMV). -- Microsoft TV Technologies support digital television.

Availability

The DirectX 8.0 Software Development Kit can be downloaded from the DirectX Developer Center at http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/ .

The latest version of DirectX is also available for free (connect-time charges may apply) download from the DirectX Home User Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/directx/ . Both the DirectX 8.0 SDK and DirectX 8.0 Runtime are scheduled to be available for download before 12:01 a.m. PST, Saturday, Nov. 11.

Source: VE

Wednesday, November 08, 2000

Thrustmaster and Hercules Retail Success - Falcon @ 3:03 am PST
Jackie Seear has issued the following press release:

Thrustmaster and Hercules Retail Success

CROYDON, November 6th, 2000 – Guillemot is pleased to announce its success in retail based on ChartTrack figures published in the October reports.

The ThrustMaster Ferrari licensed steering wheels continue to dominate the charts in value and units and the Dreamcast wheel has achieved a staggering 84.5% market share! The ThrustMaster Ferrari wheel for Dreamcast was recently promoted alongside Sega’s Ferrari 355 Challenge game, published by Acclaim.

Across other formats the wheels have continued their impressive performance remaining at the number one spot in retail with a total of 34.9% total market share across all formats for October, up from 28.6% in September* Per format market share.

As well as the incredible success on Dreamcast, ThrustMaster wheels accounted for 43.3% of PC wheels sold and 19% of PlayStation wheel sales. The combined PSX/N64 wheels totaled 3.7% market share.

Additionally, the 3D Prophet II MX card has roared into second place in the retail charts (Top 30 graphics cards, ChartTrack, October 2000). The Hercules 3D Prophet II MX is the NUMBER 1 selling AGP based graphic card and has already received many awards (PC Pro Recommended and A List award). Market share now places the Hercules brand second in retail with 25.5% (total MM/PC Upgrades by company, value) and 26.6% (total MM/PC Upgrades by company, units)

Screens - Falcon @ 2:58 am PST
Etherlords Screenshot
Nival Interactive sent GA-Strategy a new exclusive screenshot from its recently announced 3D turn-based fantasy strategy game, Etherlords.

Game of Death Screenshots
Burns Entertainment sent GA-Source exclusive new screenshots from their upcoming 3rd-person action- adventure title, Game of Death.

Eight shots taken from the PC version of MoHo, a rather strange marble madness-esque game from the ex-Bullfrog team Lost Toys and Take 2.

A third gallery of eight exclusive new screenshots of the stunning 3D space strategy game "FarGate", taken from a near-final beta version which we were sent by publisher Microids.

GameSpy has just posted 10 new exclusive screens taken from the final version of Monkey Island 4. Feel free to check 'em out right here!

A new screen shot from Black Isle's upcoming expansion pack to Icewind Dale, Heart of Winter:

16 screens from the Scras of Velious event in Las Vegas. Some may look the same, but show off subtle changes in models or sky textures and color.

Ten (count 'em!) exclusive new screenshots of Shiny's 3D role-playing strategy game "Sacrifice", taken from a review copy supplied to us by UK publisher Virgin Interactive.

10 new screens from The Collective's upcoming game in the Star Trek universe: Deep Space 9: The Fallen.

10 new screens from Super X Studios' upcoming space-based RTS, Far Gate.

Game trailers - Falcon @ 2:53 am PST
See Morbus and the Dark Tribe from Settlers IV in action for the first time. The AVI format trailer introduces the Dark Tribe in some pre-rendered footage.

This Shadows of Reality movie contains 8 minutes of walkthrough footage showing off some of the models and architecture for the prototype of Shadows of Reality, a cyberpunk RPG being worked on by Nevolution. This is a self-running executable compressed with the Bink video compressor.

Modguide - Falcon @ 2:49 am PST
Frag-energy just relaunched there site. They have posted a Modguide which features
lots of information for the newbies in the mod scene. Information like; how to use them, install them, how and where to download them.

"You know the deal. You’ve got the game, you logged onto the net to find information about it. Suddenly you’ve stumbled across a link that leads to a
new game play mode for that game, referred to as a MOD. You’ve either downloaded the program and then had no idea how to install or run it, or been totally mystified by the terminology used and given up."

Dragonriders Q&A #3 - Falcon @ 2:47 am PST
Today's new feature at RPG Vault is the third in their series of Q&As from Ubi Soft on the upcoming Dragonriders

Thanks to Lead Designer Oliver Sykes, we've been able to bring you Q&A segments that focus on several aspects of the game. Now, we move into the Gameplay & Design portion as he explains various design elements, D'kor as a character in terms of both story and game, and the relationship between him and his loyal fire-breathing dragon.

Atriarch QotW - Falcon @ 2:46 am PST
Crossroads of Atriana celebrates its new design with another Atriarch Question of the Week: Quests

What would be and example of your ideal quest in Atriarch?
Since there will be all kinds of quests at many different levels.
Please give examples of very easy and hard quests.

We invite everyone to make their opinions know.
Join the discussion today!

New songs from musical gamers! - Falcon @ 2:45 am PST
Listen to these hip new songs for videogame music enthusiasts:

B4G, a website that celebrates the synergy between music and video games, has signed the band Phiktion to produce two unique songs about the emotions that only gamers really experience.

The Phiktion members are both hardcore gamers and obsessive musicians that realized that the unique triumphs and frustrations that come with being a devoted gamer need to find expression in the modern music milieu. Their hit title "Tony Hawk - Jedi Knight" is a song about the popular skating game Tony Hawk Pro Skater from Neversoft. Their second song is about high-speed dirt track racing and will be released in the coming weeks.

To feast your ears on the song "Tony Hawk - Jedi Knight", it is available for download at B4G:. Stay tuned to B4G for the next song "Nitro-hill", coming soon.

The Full press release;

Montreal, Canada – (November 7, 2000) –Beatz 4 Geekz (www.b4g.com) the videogame music label has signed the band Phiktion to produce two unique songs that speak about the emotions that only gamers experience. Their hit title “Tony Hawk – Jedi Knight” is a song about the popular skating game by Neversoft and is currently available online, while their second song is about high-speed dirt track racing and will be released in the coming weeks.

The Phiktion started when band members Mdee and DaTweak met in Whistler, BC. The two of them quickly came to realise they had a common interest in music, having played in various bands before and their goals were the same. They wanted to create a techno-induced band that incorporated the ethics, dynamism and spontaneity of a live rock band. The result of many hours of work is reflected today in their totally unique sound.

Mdee and DaTweak, who are both hardcore gamers and obsessive musicians, realised that the unique triumphs and frustrations that come with being a devoted gamer need to find expression in the modern music milieu. "Gaming has brought a whole new set of emotional responses into the world. It is that unique joy and distinct sadness which come with succeeding or failing at a game you love that we try to express in our music,” says DaTweak.

The Phiktion was inspired to write Tony Hawk Pro Skater after playing many hours the hit video game Tony Hawk Pro Skater by Neversoft. To feast your ears on the song “Tony Hawk – Jedi Knight”, it is available for free download at B4G (www.b4g.com) along with the other songs on the Beatz 4 Geekz label. Stay tuned to B4G for the next song “Nitro-hill”, coming soon.

Gamespy Updates - Falcon @ 2:43 am PST
GameSpy continues with its "Up and Coming Mods" week with a look at the ones in production for Deus Ex. They look at how they are being developed and what they think are the top ones to watch. Find out at http://www.gamespy.com/articles/november00/deusexmods/

They also preview Call to Power 2, the sequel to Activision's Civilization series game. Take a look at the new screens and the preview at http://www.gamespy.com/previews/november00/calltopower2/

They also induct the Flight Simulator series from Microsoft into the GameSpy Hall of Fame at http://www.gamespy.com/halloffame/november00/flightsim/

For Dork Tower fans, the latest in Carson's PS2 saga is up at http://www.gamespy.com/comics/november00/dork2

Frontline First look - Falcon @ 2:40 am PST
Crossfire has posted a first look at the frontline mod for half-life. This article is littered with screenshots and introduces this awesome looking mod currently in development. In breif, if you don't know about frontline, check it out.
Frontline First look

DC HalfLife - Falcon @ 2:36 am PST
Eurogamer just got the official word from Sierra that the Dreamcast version of hit first person shooter Half-Life will now be delayed until early next year in Europe. For the full story, including the official press release, check EuroGamer's report -

"Half-Life Dreamcast is Sierra's first new-generation console title and as such, Sierra Studios wants to ensure that gamers will receive the most exhilarating experience possible on the Dreamcast. Releasing the game early next year will allow the developers to polish all aspects of the game and to fine-tune gameplay."

In other words - all good things come to those who wait...

Arcanum Preview - Falcon @ 2:34 am PST
Last October, Troika Games and Sierra formally unveiled the game, Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura. Recently RPGVault were glad to receive an early copy of the upcoming public beta build. After playing it extensively over the past couple of weeks, RPGVault take a look ahead to the full game in our comprehensive, hands-on Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura Preview.

Virtual Skipper Review - Falcon @ 2:30 am PST
The latest review on Games Xtreme is Virtual Skipper , a hard-core sailing sim from Duran
and Ubi Soft.

"After Great Britain's sailing medal successes at this year's Olympics I was keen to re-live my sailing youth and what better way than with a PC game. Well at this time of year sailing is not really that much fun, it turns into a 'you vs. the elements' contest with only one winner. Anyway now that I think about it I don't really recall any real sailing games and even the game's box proclaims it is 'The First Regatta Simulation on PC'. What the developers Duran have basically done is taken a generic 3D car racing game template and converted it into to sea, sailing and deck shoes."

St: DS9: The Fallen Review - Falcon @ 2:28 am PST
alien8 from Planetunreal just finished a three page preview of The Collective's Deep Space 9: The Fallen.

"One of the coolest gameplay enhancing features in this game is the Tricorder. Without this little piece of hardware, the game would be almost impossible. This thing will show you the location and status of various items and lifeforms along your travels. Now you will know when to expect that enemy waiting just around the corner (unless, of course, they beam in on you), or which keycard you need to open that security door. I often found myself just running from place to place in a level with the Tricorder on, and then just listening for the familiar beep it gives off when it finds something of interest."

The beta-copy review, with plenty of screenshots, is encouraging.

Rune Review - Falcon @ 2:25 am PST
BarrysWorld`s Cro has immersed himself in tales from the time of Midgard of late, as he checks out the third-person hack em up ,Rune from HumanHead Studios, in the latest BW Review.

Plexwriter 12/10/32 CDRW - Falcon @ 2:25 am PST
Speedy 3D has just kicked up a review of the Plextor Plexwriter 12/10/32A IDE CD-RW. Here's a taste:

Plextor, a company known for their ludicrously fast, and astonishingly high quality SCSI CD-RW drivers is at it again. This time not only do they build an extremely fast CD-RW drive (12x10x32x to be precise), but they do it in a format that is accessible to almost all people, IDE. Finally, by implementing a new technology known as BURN-Proof (licensed from Sanyo) Plextor hopes to finally eliminate bad recordings commonly called "coasters" or "frisbees" due to buffer under-run.

RA2 Reviews - Falcon @ 2:22 am PST
Over the last five years the Real Time Strategy (RTS) game has developed from the 2D sprite directing frenzy to the fully 3D graphical tour de force. Despite this progression Westwood, the inventors of the genre still hang on to the 2D isometric view with their latest offering ‘Command and Conquer:Red Alert 2’ . Read on to find out what XL Gaming thought of this new installment of the C&C franchise. Here is a snippit:

"RA2 is a bit of a throw back it has to be said. No lush 3D visuals here I’m afraid. Instead we’re treated to more or less the same engine that drives Tiberian Sun, the last game in the C&C series. Westwood have obviously taken the view that, if it works, don’t change it. Which is fine to a degree, but to ignore the progress of the RTS genre into the 3rd dimension is questionable. The graphics are functional, nothing more."

Also from Actiontrip: RA2 Review

SimHQ.com Contest - Falcon @ 2:17 am PST
SimHQ.com Contest: We're all read about the success the game Steel Beasts is having among reviewers....but what do you think? SimHQ.com, eSim, and Shrapnel Games is asking our readers to fill out a quick, 6-question survey about why you did or didn't buy this modern tank sim yet. To give you some incentive, SimHQ is giving away some authentic German tanker's berets and a great grand prize.....a real Combat Vehicle Crewman's helmet, just like a US Army tanker would wear. The CVC's been donated by Gold Nugget Surplus of Kentucky, and there's a great thread on our boards about how to possibly use the CVC on your PC for virtual tanking. Take the survey and be the first on your block to spend hours in front of your PC with a helmet on.
Home page of Gold Nugget Surplus
Forum regarding CVC mods

Metal Gear Solid Review - Falcon @ 2:13 am PST
Neoseeker has a review of Metal Gear Solid. This is one incredible game that must not be overlooked. If you are in to tactical strategy games, and like the storyline of a sole member of a black op team who must infiltrate a military stronghold... this is one title that you should seriously consider.

The gameplay is both the strongest and weakest component of the game. In many ways, this is what makes the game so incredible on the Playstation and yet so incredibly weak on the PC. I have to admit that I like the gameplay model, and that my real qualm with the game comes from the interface and control issues associated with it. The whole idea of this game is that you are essentially a secret operative who was sent to infiltrate the enemy compound and prevent them from doing their dastardly deeds. Since you are a single individual, and not some super automaton, you can not exactly go about this by walking in with guns ablaze. Instead the approach that you must take has to be much more surreptitious and stealthy. You have to sneak through sewers, pass silently by hoards of guards, and utilize your surroundings to aid you in your mission."

Pikachu - I Sue You! - Falcon @ 2:09 am PST
A lil late news but it sounded interesting...
- psychic Uri Geller is taking Nintendo to court over their use of a Geller Pokemon character, identified by the giant spoon it carries and its psychic abilities...

"Nintendo turned me into an evil, occult Pokémon character", claims Geller. "[They] stole my identity by using my name and my signature image."
You can't make this stuff up... ;-)

Tuesday, November 07, 2000

Geforce2 Ultra Tests - Falcon @ 9:41 pm PST
Redwood ran the GeForce2 Ultra through the wringer to see if the card is worth the cost. He also tests the GeForce2 MX, GeForce2 GTS, GeForce SDR, and Voodoo 5 5000 and let people know which card is the best buy for certain price ranges.
Is the GeForce2 Ultra Worth It?

Microsoft News - Falcon @ 9:40 pm PST
PARTICIPATE.COM SELECTED BY MICROSOFT TO MANAGE MSN ONLINE COMMUNITIES

Participate.com Will Provide Management Services for MSN People & Chat And Zone.com

REDMOND, Wash. - November 7, 2000 - Participate.com, a Chicago-based company specializing in the management of online communities, has been chosen by Microsoft Corp. to manage the People & Chat and Zone.com (gaming) communities of the MSN® network of Internet services. Microsoft selected Participate.com because its online community management services allow corporations to increase consumer loyalty while gathering insights from and lowering the cost of acquiring customers.

"We're thrilled to announce that Microsoft has outsourced the management of its MSN online communities to Participate.com," said Alan Warms, president and CEO of Participate.com. "This relationship further validates the competitive advantage and economic value companies place on using professionally managed online communities to successfully conduct business on the Internet."

Online communities and chat rooms provide users with an easy way to share information and receive support. Zone.com's 18 million members utilize real-time, in-game chat features while playing the site's variety of free games. The growth in the number of users who access MSN has escalated the importance and usefulness of this communication channel.

"Using Participate.com's professional community management experts allows us to expand and improve the quality of our online services while providing a safe environment for our users," said Blake Irving, vice president of MSN at Microsoft. "It gives us the ability to concentrate our resources on developing and enhancing the leading services from MSN."

About Participate.com

Participate.com is a provider of outsourced online community management for corporations. Along with its community management services, Participate.com delivers to its clients strategic plans for building online communities and selecting, integrating and deploying the technology for these online communities. Through its Community Management Center, Participate.com offers Fortune 1000 and dot-com companies the expertise and focus needed to manage the complex issues involved with harnessing the power of online community. Participate.com's approach delivers the experience and resources that its clients -- which include Ace Hardware Corp., Cisco Systems, Microsoft and SAP AG -- rely upon to create and grow vibrant online communities.

X-Isle - Falcon @ 9:39 pm PST
X-Isle is described as a "fast-paced tactical FPS squad-shooter." What does that mean exactly? It means that X-Isle will be an online team-based shoot 'em up, with an emphasis on speed. Set in an ancient world, populated with dinosaurs, big bugs, and trees galore, X-Isle's story is truely out of science fiction.

Oddworld Developer Chat - Falcon @ 9:26 pm PST
Microsoft, fairly recently, signed a deal with publisher Infogrames Inc. to obtain the exclusive worldwide publishing and distribution rights to the "Oddworld" game series, created by Oddworld Inhabitants. PlanetXbox talks to the developers to see why they left the PS2, and went Xbox.

3DNews Giveaway - Falcon @ 9:18 pm PST
This month they have a doozy of a giveaway, with the Grand Prize rig consisting of *deep breath*: a kick ass Athlon 800 overclocked to 1GHz in a Vapochill case, an Abit GeForce2 64MB, 256MB of Crucial RAM, MSI K7 PRO, Pioneer 16X DVD ROM, Iwill SIDE RAID 100 controller, Two (2) 40 GB Maxtor ATA100 Harddrives, Midiland 8200 speakers, SBLive Platinum, Boomslang 2000 Mouse, Logitech Cordless Natural Keyboard, Logitech Rumble Pad, Logitech Force 3D joystick, Wingman Extreme gamepad, a signed copy of Deus Ex, a signed copy of Unreal Tournament, a signed copy of Messiah, and a signed copy of Asheron's call. Can you dig it?

But that's not all! You can check out the rest here: http://www.3dnews.net/onearticle.x/74200PC%20Gaming,Hardware,Technology,Other/24136

RA2 Review - Falcon @ 9:15 pm PST
Today's review on EuroGamer takes a look at "Red Alert 2", the sequel to the mega-hit real-time strategy game. Can it live up to the name, or is it just another shoddy "Dune 2000" style cash-in?

"As with all the other games in the series, the story in Red Alert 2 is told through a series of FMV cutscenes. The video quality has been vastly improved though, with not only fewer codec artifacts, but also much better CG effects. The acting is still just as bad as before, although since the game seems to have its tongue firmly planted in its cheek as far as the plot goes, this is not too much of a problem - the B-movie style acting seems to fit the bill quite nicely."

MS News - Falcon @ 9:14 pm PST
MICROSOFT EMBRACES THE WORLDWIDE INDEPENDENT VIDEO GAME DEVELOPER COMMUNITY

Company Announces Xbox Independent Developer Program And Xbox Incubator Program

REDMOND, Wash. - Nov. 7, 2000 - Microsoft Corp. is demonstrating expanded support of the global video game development community through two unprecedented programs for the Xbox™ game system, the company's future-generation video game console scheduled for release in the fall of 2001. Details of the Xbox Independent Developer Program and the Xbox Incubator Program, both of which will enable game designers to create prototypes of Xbox games, were announced at the Australian Game Developer Conference on Nov. 5.

"Changes in the video game industry and the rising cost of production have made it more difficult for independent developers to access major publishers and their distribution channels," said Kevin Bachus, director of third-party relations at Microsoft. "History has proven that great games can come from anywhere, and we want to establish an environment in which gifted game designers, regardless of their resources, have the opportunity to realize their creative visions through Xbox."

Game developers or potential game developers worldwide can participate in the Xbox Independent Developer Program by applying to receive the Xbox Prototype Kit (XPK). Available free of charge, the XPK offers software and detailed information designed to help creative individuals and game development companies create prototype Xbox games using familiar programming tools on standard PCs. Developers can use these prototypes to secure distribution deals with licensed Xbox publishers.

The Xbox Incubator Program is available to video game developers who want to commit resources to developing an Xbox game using an official Xbox Development Kit (XDK) before securing relationships with major publishers. Only games created with the XDK and distributed by licensed publishers will be available as commercial products.

To participate in the Xbox Incubator Program, independent developers must submit complete written descriptions of their game concepts for evaluation by Microsoft's Xbox team. If invited to join the program, developers must license an XDK that contains the hardware, software and tools necessary to build Xbox games. As official XDK licensees, these developers also will have full access to Microsoft's technical support programs.

Developers will take part in the Xbox Incubator Program for six months, during which time they should be able to create a prototype of their game concept and secure publishing and distribution deals with licensed Xbox game publishers.

Bachus added, "Xbox is all about great games, and we want Xbox gamers to have access to the best in the world."

More information about the Xbox Independent Developer Program and Xbox Incubator Program may be obtained by sending e-mail to xbox@xbox.com.

About Xbox

Scheduled for release in fall 2001, Xbox is Microsoft's future-generation video game console designed to deliver superior graphics; better audio; and the most intense, action-packed gaming experiences available. All this is possible because Xbox has at least three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game consoles. Xbox features will include a 733Mhz CPU, a custom-designed graphics processing unit capable of processing more than 1 trillion operations per second, an 8GB hard disk, 64 MB of total memory, a 3-D audio processor with 256 audio channels and 64 3-D audio channels, and broadband connectivity for online game play. Xbox will use familiar architecture and the Microsoft® DirectX® API so game developers will be able to create better games, faster.

Monday, November 06, 2000

Uncle shiva! - shiva @ 12:37 am PST
My sister-in-law finally had her kid, a boy, named Benjamin. Cute little devil as well. Okay, so it's not game related, so sue me.

Also, I haven't been around here all that much lately, but shivaSite and WPCmame have been taking up a lot of my spare time. Things won't get that much better, as I'm on Daddy Duty for the next 3 weeks, and I am still helping friends move and stuff.

Be back soon though, at the moment, been working on the CGI...

Community Page Back Up, plus... - shiva @ 12:31 am PST
We were missing some CGI when we moved, most notably the Community Links Page, which is now back up and running. You got a website? add it in...

Also, our server had a few problems today, it was down for a while, and also the forum got a little messed up, but everything is now back to normal, though it took a little while. Sorry everyone, send hate mail to our server host. Actually, that's twice this has happened, so I'm not pleased. :(

Sunday, November 05, 2000

Serious Sam Dev. Update - Surebrec @ 5:04 pm PST
The guys at Croteam have released a development update on the much-anticipated first-person shooter, Serious Sam. The update mainly on the multiplayer aspects of the game, but is worth the read anyway. Here's a clip from it:

- Roman Ribaric:
Multiplay test is in internal testing right now. Cooperative works. Deathmatch works also, but so far we didn't have time to test it properly. There are some minor connection and latency problems. One thing what is keeping the release is our wish to test improved AI. As most of you realized, AI was not, let's just say it wasn't the best ;). All those enemies not seeing you, not being able to avoid columns, not reacting to hits, etc. So, Alen threw out present AI code and he is doing some major re-coding. This is not to say that enemies will be acting like bots. This is not our game - chasing around trying to hit one smart enemy. Why is AI important when we are releasing MP test? Firstly, because we expect that lots of people will test single (those who didn't play it yet) and cooperative, along with deathmatch. And secondly, we'll have all known reported bugs fixed in that version and we don't want to read old buggy AI reports again. With new test we expect new set of bugs to be reported, so we can make final game as much bug-free as possible.
- Davor 'Tome' Tomicic:
This morning CEO came into my office and asked me if I could write some news. I said that I`m very busy working on levels, so I have no time to write the news. CEO left a room without a word. I was very surpised and satisfied how easy I got rid of him. With smile on my face I continued my work. Five minutes later he came back into my room and repeated a question. I turned and looked at him and saw that this time he holds strong argument in his hands (I am not in liberty to say what it was). Cool as ice I said:"News? Ok, why not." Then he left a room, but this time I started writing news. So, it`s Sunday and I`m writing news.

What was new over past few months (beside oil crisis and announcement of Doom3)? Well, I finished my work on architecture and I`m proud that we don`t have one single crate in whole game (OldManMurray will appreciate that; I hope). I really like visual look of the levels now. Most of the game will be happening on huge, bright and open spaces (again for OldMan to enjoy), partly on terrains and partly in some urban surroundings like cities or temples. There will be also some closed and moody inside parts in between that can, with its atmosphere and playability, scare even us who made it. Soon, we will start showing screenshots from some of the new levels.

Now I`m deeply into putting enemies and making traps and secrets. It`s very satisfying but also responsible job. All of you who played our test know what playability means to us. Beside nice graphics, high poly models and animations game has to be fun. And after finishing playability on some new levels I must say that it is FUN. It`s incredible how many nice fights can be made with our sweet enemies. Also, new enemies and weapons are really making nice impact on playability. My latest accomplishment was fight with nothing but 150 Kleer Skeletons, coming 1 per second. It`s closest thing to Space Invaders or Tetris in any FPS I know of. Maybe you can count how much ammo you need to survive. Everybody here has played that battle and everyone is sure that this adrenaline rush is even better than skydiving. Am I exaggerating? Well, you will see it yourself. I hope it`s enough news for now. Stay serious and patient till the next post."

Read the full story here.
Source: http://www.3dactionplanet.com/

UnrealFortress soon - Surebrec @ 4:57 pm PST
I remember hearing about this a while ago. And it's finally coming. Heh, just in time for when I get my new computer. Anyway, Unreal Fortress has announced that they're going to be releasing the first public version this Friday, November 10th.

The first public release of the Unreal Fortress mod (http://www.unrealfortress.com) for Unreal Tournament will be available later this week. Here's the word directly from our project's founder and leader, Azm0:

***

"It's here, after 11 months of blood sweat and tears, team hassles and engine hassles. We are finally happy to release Unreal Fortress.

It is of course a beta release so a lot of models, skins and code will change with future releases.

The release will be on Friday 10th November at midnight GMT (7pm EST). The ftp servers for download will be posted on our web page and announced on our irc channel which you can connect to on either Gamesnet, Quakenet or EnterTheGame. (channel #unrealfortress).

It should be one hell of a party so we hope to see you there."

Damn, I can't wait.
Source: Gamespy

No One Lives Forever Shots - Surebrec @ 4:51 pm PST
I tried posting earlier, but there was 500 errors. It seems to be fine now. Anyway, the news-whores at Voodoo Extreme have slapped up screenshots from Monolith's No One Lines Forever for your enjoyment.

PvP Combat and Pking - Falcon @ 4:17 am PST
MPG posted a feature article on Player vs. Player Combat and Player Killing.

" There are many questions regarding player killing, and player vs. player (PvP) combat, in general. To say that Pking (player killing) and PvP combat are the same is completely false. These two terms are used often in almost any online RPG game (ie - Ultima Online, Everquest, Asheron's Call, etc.), and people who play these MMORPG's use them interchangeably. In this article I will go beyond explaining these two terms, hoping that online role players will realize the difference between the two terms, their significant impact, and other issues that come up, such as social interaction. "

Gamespy Updates - Falcon @ 4:15 am PST
GameSpy unleashes the latest in its character interviews, this time talking to Ian Dresari about the politics of the MechWarrior 4 universe. Check out the interview at http://www.gamespy.com/interviews/november00/iandresari/">

They also have the latest installment of the O.R.B. developer diary from Strategy First. You can find it at http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/november00/orb6/

We also have an editorial tackling the issue of violence in games. Find out what they think at http://www.gamespy.com/editorials/october00/violentgames/

And finally, Dork Tower tackles more on the PS2 at
http://www.gamespy.com/comics/november00/dork1/

AGT - Rune - Falcon @ 4:14 am PST
It's Saturday, which means it is time for this weeks action gaming test! This time around 3dAP taking a gander at Human Head and Gathering of Developer's Viking hack-fest, Rune. After all, ancient Norse tablets showed that Vikings loved computer game trivia.

Heroes Chronicles Review - Falcon @ 4:11 am PST
Some computer companies seem to tend to squeeze the last nickel out of their products. We think that was the case with 3DO's Heroes Chronicles.

Gigantic Elite Force Giveaway - Falcon @ 4:10 am PST
3DActionPlanet's Elite Force hosted site, Holodeck 5, has got a massive giveaway starting today. Activision has graced us with a whopping 36 copies of Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force -- 12 of them are signed collector's editions and the other 24 are standard retail editions. They're giving them all away over the next seven days!

What do you need to do? Enter Holodeck 5's Screenshot Caption contest. Our 12 favorite captions will win the signed collector's editions. The rest of the entries will be entered into a random drawing to win one of the 24 standard retail editions.

It's really easy to enter, and all the details can be found at http://www.3dactionplanet.com/eliteforce/contest/. The contest runs for a week.

Senator Joseph Lieberman Interview - Falcon @ 4:08 am PST
Stomped has posted an interview with frequet gaming critic, Conn. Senator and Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman, on his views on gaming and the industry as the U.S. Presidential election looms. Check out the exclusive interview at http://www.stomped.com/published/jcal973290031_1_1.html

MS Casino Trial - Falcon @ 4:05 am PST
TRY YOUR LUCK! MICROSOFT CASINO TRIAL VERSION AVAILABLE LATER TODAY

Official Web Site for Microsoft Casino Goes Live

Microsoft today announced that the trial version for Microsoft Casino will be available for download later today on its official site at http://www.microsoft.com/games/casino/. The Microsoft Casino site, launched today in anticipation of the trial version, provides players with a full house of information on the game. Microsoft Casino is now available at retail locations throughout North America.

The Microsoft Casino trial version takes gamers to The Mirage(r) for a game of Blackjack and Video Poker. Players will feel the excitement of the Strip as they start with a bankroll of $10,000. High rollers beware! Once the virtual cash runs out, the trial version ends.

The official Casino site offers gamers in-depth information, including a features list, screenshots, and a look at the featured resorts in the game. Microsoft Casino accurately reproduces each featured casino in stunning detail, with realistic graphics and video from the resorts, along with authentic gaming tables, cards, dice and music.

The full retail version of the game includes ten favorite casino games: Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker(r), Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, The Big 6 Wheel, Video Keno, Video Poker and Slots. Realistic features, such as the Casino Challenge, give high rollers the chance to win their way from Treasure Island at The Mirage(r) to The Mirage and Bellagio(r) without having to walk the Strip. Players can win virtual comps and prizes that include a night's stay in a palatial suite or tickets to Las Vegas' glamorous stage shows. The game also allows players to set up their own tournaments, where they can challenge computer players.

Microsoft Casino is available for an estimated street price of US$29.99.

Rune review - Falcon @ 2:53 am PST
Yes, it's another Rune review. EuroGamer has posted its take on the gory third person Viking action game today -

"As the game begins you find yourself in the big furry boots of Ragnar, a young Viking warrior who has just been inducted into a group sworn to defend the rune stones of Odin, father of the gods. As luck would have it, almost as soon as you have passed your final test a raiding party is assembled to aid a nearby village, which is under attack from a band of evil Vikings who worship the trixter god Loki. But things soon go pear-shaped, as you are ambushed en route and your longboat sunk by the powerful enemy leader Conrack."

Friday, November 03, 2000

Looking for Quake Demos? - Tufguy @ 3:49 am PST
recently, the challenge network have expanded yet again, with the birth of a new section which is totally dedicated to the sourcing of professional quaking demos.
make your way over to CH-Tv

DOOM - Tufguy @ 3:44 am PST

The engine is being completely rewritten, just piece-by-piece. Currently, the renderer, shader system, and game code are completely new. The cgame and network code have been removed. The animation system is currently being written from the ground up. The sound system and UI are still in place, but will be rewritten by Graeme and Robert when they are finished with the mission pack. At some point along the way, John will probably write a new network system.

So, even though we are not starting out with a blank sheet of paper, the final result will be a full rewrite.

So that verfies that DOOM will not just be a modification of the quake 3 engine.

FPS? - Tufguy @ 3:40 am PST
Studies say that we cannot see more than 72 fps.

Contrary to the belief that we cannot distinguish anything over 30 fps, we can actually see and recognize speeds up to 70+ fps. How can you test this? You can quickly do this with your monitor at home. Set the refresh rate to 60 Hz and stare at it for a while. You can actually see the refreshes and it is very tiring to your eyes. Now if we couldn’t see more than 30 fps, why is it that flicker free is considered to be 72 Hz (refreshes per second). You can really tell if the refresh is below 72 by turning your head and looking at the screen through your peripheral vision. You can definitely see the screen refreshes then (due to rods being much more efficient and fast).

to Read more of the scientific stuff here

Dogfighter Updates - Falcon @ 2:45 am PST
A list of recent items appearing on Dogfighter.com

FEATURES:
Air Warrior Millennium Version Preview (11-01-00)
A long time AW player and now a Game Assistant in the UK, Terry "Spiffy" Belsey examines the changes in Kesmai's Air Warrior Millennium Version which was today released to open Beta.

Puma's Log - Blazer 11 Flight (10-30-00)
Another edition of Puma's log: sorties in Microprose's Falcon 4.0. This Puma takes to the air in a MiG-29 Fulcrum.

Wendell Cook Interview (10-26-00)
John Mollison interviews a WWII veteran who painted nose art on B-24s based in England.

Cyberathlete Tourney - Falcon @ 2:43 am PST
CPL Press Center has issued the following press release:

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER GAMING LEAGUE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER GAMING LEAGUE

Cyberathlete Professional League Offers more than $120,000 Cash Prizes at Babbage’s Tournament in Dallas December 14-17

DALLAS, November 1 – Christmas will come early this year for top players in the world’s leading professional computer gaming league. More than $120,000 in cash prizes will be awarded at the Babbage’s / Cyberathlete Professional League Event, which will attract top players from more than 20 countries.

The largest pro computer gaming event in North American history will get underway in Dallas, December 14-17 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel. In addition to the $100,000 prize Quake 3 individual tournament, the event will include a Half-Life CounterStrike team tournament with $15,000 in cash prizes (sponsored by Razer) and an All Female one-on-one Quake 3 tournament for a total cash prize of $7500 (sponsored by Stomped.com). Total cash prizes amount to $122,500.

“This is the largest purse and biggest field for any event in U.S. professional computer gaming history,” said Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) founder Angel Munoz. “Already we have registered pro gamers from more countries and received more corporate sponsorship than ever before. This event will mark a milestone in the continued evolution of our sport.”

Due to the ever-increasing popularity of professional computer gaming’s live action, CPL has prearranged for over 42,000-square feet of exhibition space to house the more than 1,000 gaming enthusiasts and professionals that plan to participate. In addition to the professional tournament, the event also features an amateur “bring your own computer” LAN area that attracts hundreds of gaming enthusiasts.

To foster high-level competition and build its professional franchise, CPL has affiliated with local gaming centers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. CPL has over 25 centers around the world at which qualifying events are held, enabling gamers to earn expense-paid travel and a chance to win their share of over $120,000.

In total, 512 professional “cyberathletes” have plans to head to Dallas to go head-to-head for an opportunity to win big for the holidays. The first prize winner of the Quake 3 individual tournament will receive $25,000 and the top 64 finishers of that competition will also receive cash prizes.

Babbage’s & Software, Etc. (www.gamestop.com), the largest computer entertainment retail chain, will sponsor the main event that lets pro gamers compete on specially designed Gateway computers. Game play can be viewed on large projection screens in spectator galleries, immersing friends, families, and gaming fans in the same dizzying virtual world as the pro gamers. The four-day event, which is open to the public, also features, a large exhibition area where companies will display their latest products, and workshops with industry experts.

For more information on the Babbage’s CPL tournament, go to www.thecpl.com. General admission price is $40 online for all four days ($50 at the event). Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. Other CPL event sponsors include Gateway, Logitech, NetGear, Microsoft, 3dfx Interactive, Razer, Monster Cable, Nike, Bawls, Mad Catz, Klipsch, Corsair, Abit, CaseAce Products and others.

The Cyberathlete Professional LeagueÔ (CPL), a division of NewWorld.com, Inc., will award $600,000 in cash and prizes at tournaments this year. Headquartered in Dallas, CPL has created custom computer networks at local gaming competitions for more gamers than any other organization. CPL events feature professional gaming tournaments, computer gaming software & hardware exhibitions and workshops. The official CPL website is located at www.thecpl.com.

F1 Championship Season Review - Falcon @ 2:20 am PST
MPOG.com posted a review of F1 Championship Season.

"Formula 1 racing has never really caught on with the mainstream sports crowd here in the United States. That is unfortunate, as F1 racing offers some of the best motor action in the world. Unlike the type of racing we Americans seem to favor (that is, driving in circles, er ovals), F1 racing takes place on nothing but road circuits. Names like Monza, Hockenheim, Suzuka, and Monaco fill the F1 fan with excitement. All those courses are pure joy, and thankfully EA Sports has come along with F1 Championship Season 2000 to give racing fans the opportunity to drive on these famed courses"

Alice Level Designer Interview - Falcon @ 2:18 am PST
Bobby Pavlock is one of the level designers over at Rogue Entertainment working madly on the maps that will make up the world in the upcoming game Alice. He is a sports-jock turned computer geek, having been drawn to the dark side by the lure from the days of playing Doom2 on DWANGO in combination with new found knowledge that you could actually get paid for making maps for such games. Check out the interview here:

3 Exclusive AO shots - Falcon @ 2:17 am PST
The Crossroads of Rubi-Ka has gotten a brand new staff, a new facelift, exciting new content, an all coverage FAQ with more than 50 questions, and to top it all off, 3 new exclusive screenshots of Anarchy Online! You can join other gamers from around the world by dropping by the Crossroads for all your online gaming needs. The Crossroads of Rubi-Ka and its excellent forums are accessible at http://ao.xrgaming.net

Giants Preview - Falcon @ 2:16 am PST
Today's preview on EuroGamer takes a look at "Giants",
the action-strategy game from MDK makers Planet Moon.
In particular we take a closer look at the various characters and races featured in the game...

"The most visually striking of the factions is undoubtedly the Reapers, a race of half-naked blue-skinned women who are natives of the planetary fragment on which the game is set. As well as serving to ensure that the game receives an 18+ rating when it is released in Europe this Christmas, these lovely ladies also have a wide range of devestating spells at their disposal. They might look harmless enough at first sight, but the Reapers can call up tornados and spectacular walls of fire to drive off their enemies, or even shrink attackers down to a size where they are no longer a threat."

Halycon Sun Q&A - Falcon @ 2:14 am PST
GA-Source has been updated with new screenshots and an interview with Halycon Sun Designer Lee Brimmicombe-Wood. HS is an episodic space combat drama in development by Kuju Entertainment, and will be distributed exclusively on the net on Freeloader.com

MS Casino - Falcon @ 2:02 am PST
VIVA LAS VEGAS! MICROSOFT CASINO NOW AVAILABLE AT RETAIL

Microsoft today announced that Microsoft Casino, which brings the excitement of The Mirage(r), Treasure Island at The Mirage(r), and Bellagio(r) to the PC desktop, has started to appear on store shelves. There have been several reports of its availability at locations throughout the United States, and full domestic distribution is expected by next week.

Microsoft Casino accurately reproduces each featured casino in stunning detail, with realistic graphics and video from the resorts, along with authentic gaming tables, cards, dice and music. The game includes ten favorite casino games: Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker(r), Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, The Big 6 Wheel, Video Keno, Video Poker and Slots.

Realistic features, such as the Casino Challenge, give high rollers the chance to win their way from Treasure Island at The Mirage to The Mirage and Bellagio without having to walk the Strip. Players can win virtual comps and prizes that include a night's stay in a palatial suite or tickets to Las Vegas' glamorous stage shows. The game also allows players to set up their own tournaments, where they can challenge computer players.

Microsoft Casino is available for an estimated street price of US$29.99.

I see dumb people - Falcon @ 2:02 am PST
EverQuest Corner's Phrost has written his second eeditorial titled "I See Dumb People."


While it was written specifically about EverQuest, I'm sure that whatever game you are playing .. you've seen these "dumb" folks running around.

Venom Demo Review - Falcon @ 2:00 am PST
Today at 3DActionPlanet we take a look at the recently-released Venom demo. This 3D tactical shooter has been on our radar screen for a while, and while nothing revolutionary, GSC Game World's Venom takes a lot of small, well-done things and combines them to make an enjoyable game for those looking for a bit more of the tactical in a first-person shooter. Get the whole scoop:

Hercules starts making noise - Falcon @ 1:59 am PST
HERCULES STARTS MAKING NOISE!

Hercules expands into audio market

London November 1, 2000 – Hercules is pleased to announce that it will add a brand new line of audio products to its graphics, image and video range. Through its commitment to power and excellence, Hercules will continue making gaming entertainment more exciting for even the most demanding of gamers, now both in the video and audio fields.

“Today the Hercules name is associated with innovative and top-quality 3D products,” says Claude Guillemot, President of Hercules Technologies. “Our Hercules and Guillemot R&D teams have joined forces to design and build a new revolutionary line of audio products. Our ambition is to raise the bar ever higher and beat the expectations of the most exacting gaming community. This strategic expansion is perfect for Hercules, which designs products with all the luxuries that our customers, in particular gamers, have come to expect from us.”

The first Hercules audio product is Game Theater XP, a revolutionary gaming concept that is guaranteed to appeal to hardcore gamers with its unique features: a sound card and a powerful, extremely convenient external rack including amongst other features, a high-speed 4-port USB hub and game port for easy connection of game peripherals, and Dolby Digital™ decoding on up to 6 independent gold-plated RCA outputs. Hercules Game Theater XP will start retailing at the beginning of November.

Next on the list is Cube, one of the lightest, smallest and most intuitive MP3 players on the market. Cube will be available from mid-November.

Further information is available at: http://www.hercules-uk.com

Gamespy Updates - Falcon @ 1:58 am PST
This morning GameSpy has a veritable truckload of tasty articles. Let's kick it off with an inside look at Blizzard's upcoming Diablo II Expansion pack:

Next up they bring you the fifth installment of their Sacrifice Dev Diary:

Then, they interview Martin Loehlein - development director for Sudden Strike - which is the new WWII real time strat title from CDV Software:

And we wrap up this mornings updates with a Spotlight on RPGPlanet's The Scrying Room and a brand new Angst Technology:

http://www.gamespy.com/spotlights/november00/scryingroom/

http://www.gamespy.com/comics/november00/angst2/

GameSpy has just posted 10 exclusive screens taken from the final version

Review - Falcon @ 1:55 am PST
Dale and Ben of GameCritics.com take a swing at Nintendo's mascot-filled flagship tennis title. Both critics were extremely pleased. Here's an excerpt from Dale's review:

"With Camelot's uncanny knack for combining the intricacies of a complex sport and translating it to a console combined with Nintendo's own development prowess, it was a cinch that Mario Tennis would be as good as it is. And while it isn't quite up to the level of the last year's Mario Golf, it could very well make even the most stalwart Super Nintendo fan forget about Super Tennis."

Tropico Interview - Falcon @ 1:52 am PST
Actiontrip have scored an exclusive interview with Pop Top's Artist/Designer Franz Felsl, talking about their upcoming sim. dictator game, Tropico. Four hi-res(1600x1200) screens included.

Win a 1967 GTO Convertible - Falcon @ 1:51 am PST
Maxim Online and Infogrames have combined forces to offer a killer promotion for Driver 2. Download this small trailer for Driver 2 and you could win a red '67 GTO convertible! The follow-up to last year's best-selling PlayStation® game, Driver 2 places you behind the wheel in a frantic effort to prevent all out warfare in the streets of Havana, Las Vegas, Rio De Janeiro, and Chicago.

Did I mention you could win a car? What about the RCA HDTV Projection TV or the Cambridge SoundWorks Surround Sound System?

Cryptic Studios Interview - Falcon @ 1:45 am PST
The fittingly named Cryptic Studios has revealed that it is a fully funded development studio working on a persistent online world. See what RPGVault found out about the "new kid on the block" in their Cryptic Studios Interview.

Rune review - Falcon @ 1:43 am PST
In the world of Rune, you play a viking warrior. What makes Rune unique, however, is the combat system. It's all melee. There are no BFGs, no sniper rifles, and absolutely no ranged weapons whatsoever. All of your kills are of the "up close and personal" variety. But does it work? You bet your booty it does. 3DAP's G'Money reviews the public demo of this promising title - read the review here

Thursday, November 02, 2000

Playstation 2 News/Reviews - Hobbes @ 6:37 pm PST
GameSpot is riding PS2's back like a cowboy tied to one of those rodeo bulls, and keeping the news and latest reviews flowing in. CHeck out the latest reviews for almost ALL of the released PS2 games here.

Wednesday, November 01, 2000

Rune demo released - Raven @ 4:33 am PST
Rune is a medievil RPG that has had alot of people talking lately. The game, based of a Myth and Magic environment, has just been released in demo version. To download the Demo you can head over to Runecenter.com here. If you are curious like me and would like to know a little bit more about Rune here is a nice quote for you.

In Rune you play the role of Ragnar, a young Viking who is in search of Conrad for killing his father. You set out in a long journey to seek out Conrad and destroy him. Along the way you come across many enemy creatures, some of which are smarter then others. The level of AI patterns from Unreal have been changed so that the creatures can navigate complex geometry.

More Screenshots! >> Rune which is using a 3rd person perspective also uses a unique camera control unit which stays behind the player at all times. If you back into the wall the camera system will create a translution view so you can still see what's going on in front of you.
The game itself is about about 70% action and 30% exploration and puzzle solving. The puzzles are not meant to outstanding in difficulty but will require your brains in some situations. You will explore over 25 levels, each level has its own mood and outstanding settings and detail. The opening level you are stranded in the underwater searching for the city of Thorstaft, where the dark Vikings and Conrad are located.

One of the greatest features in Rune is the combat system. For example, if you move to the left or right the model will swing differently each time, and if you move forward again it's a slightly different attack.

Tribes 2 Screenshots! - Raven @ 4:22 am PST
Want to get your hands on some pictures from Sierra eagily awaited futuristic, team play, shooter... Sure you do.

First you can head over to Gamespot to grab 12 new shots, covering skins, textures and layers.

Second Planet Starseige has 5 new screenshots added to their latest preview covering the Wildcat Grav Cycle.

Finally Daily Radar grabbed 10 shots of their own, which you find here for your viewing pleasure.

Sierra has certainly been busy over the last couple of days, circulating all these screenshots. Still the pics look great, hopefully Tribes 2 can live up to all expectations. :)

X-Wing Trilogy - Raven @ 4:13 am PST
LucasArts on Tuesday announced their upcoming title Star Wars: X-Wing Trilogy. This new release is a compilation of the company's long-running space combat simulations. In other words its a re-release of a bunch of "old store" games, Lucus Arts wants players to buy again.

Currently the collection -due out in Novemeber- will include X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and last year's X-Wing Alliance. Also included is X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Flight School, a trimmed-down version of X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter with 14 missions. As an added bonus, the collection will ship in a package with a commemorative gold-foil stamp, and will include a message from creator Larry Holland about the history of the series.

To be completely honest I think it is about time Lucus Arts found some new gaming material. I loved the X-Wing sim's as much as the next person and in their day they were good titles, but this is no longer their day and compared with current space sims, these old games don't have much chance of selling well. Still if you interested in finding out more head over to Lucus Arts main page.

The Seventh Realm - Falcon @ 12:04 am PST
Today we are releasing the Prologue of a new Fan Fic, The Seventh Realm, a taster to view the central characters and initial settings of the Story. Your first impressions and comments/suggestions will be appreciated, so head over to read it now:
Chapter one of the story will be released within the next few days.