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Friday , June 29, 2007 |
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Splashing Down in Enemy Territory 09:00 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(28 comments)
Last week, Andy headed over to Bromley, England to visit the headquarters of Slash Damage to play the latest version of Quake Wars. There, he was able to get some trigger time on a few maps and chat with Studio Head Paul Wedgwood about the game. Is it better than the beta? You bet! Learn more about Refinery, Area 22 and other fun stuff by clicking on the images below.
In the hometown of H.G. Wells, in an unassuming building, lies Splash Damage, developer of this year's most anticipated online action game, Quake Wars. It was there, opposite the local job center, that I visited to go hands-on with the latest build of the game.
 
The Updated Valve Hardware Survey Says... 08:19 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(29 comments)
In lieu of an actual Valve weekly news update, check out the latest results of the Steam hardware survey.
Most common Shader 2.0 video card? ATI Radeon 9600
Most common Shader 3.0 video card? NVIDIA GeForce 6600
Most common multi-desktop resolution? 2560 x 1024
Most popular primary desktop resolution? 1280 x 800
Most common amount of video ram? 256 megs
Most common LCD size? 19"
Most common CRT size? 16"
Most popular sound card? Realtek AC97
Dual core user percentage? 22%
Quad core user percentage? .25%
Most common AMD CPU speed? 2.0 Ghz to 2.29 Ghz
Most common Intel CPU speed? 2.7 Ghz to 2.99 Ghz
CPU market share? 52% Intel, 47% AMD
Most common amount of system ram? 512 Mb to 999 Mb
Most common Internet speed? 2,048.0 Kbps
Most common hard drive size? - 250 gigs
DVD drive? 95.69% Yes
OS? XP rules with 92%
Mic? 72% Say yes
Are you above the curve?
Age of Conan Weekly Update 07:42 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(3 comments)
A new Clan of Conan newsletter has hit the net today in case you aren't subscripted to it. Included, are a batch of new screenshots as seen below.
(Click to Enlarge!)
     
Emil Pagliarulo Q&A; 07:27 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(3 comments)
The Bethesda Blog has an interview with Emil Pagliarulo, lead designer on Fallout 3. Besides the usual how-do-you-do's, he shares his views on the Fallout franchise:
How long have you been playing Fallout, and how would you describe your feelings towards the franchise?
My love for Fallout goes back to Wasteland, which was one of the first computer games I ever played, back on my Commodore 64. That's kind of ironic, considering I didn't play Fallout when it first came out. It took a friend and colleague of mine (Jordan Thomas, now a designer, whom I worked with at the Adrenaline Vault website back in the day) actually mailing me his copy for me to realize what I had been missing.
As much as I loved the characters and open-ended gameplay, it was really the richness of the fictional world I found so compelling. It would have been so easy for Fallout's creators to simply make a post-apocalyptic game, set in contemporary America. Instead, they split the timeline after World War II and created an alternate America, a Walt Disney Tomorrow-Land of robots and nuclear-powered cars. It was the ultimate American future - and they blew it all to hell. Brilliant doesn't even begin to describe that premise.
Earth No More Interview 07:11 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(0 comments)
Extreme Players shot out an interview with Samuli Syvähuoko of Recoil Games to chat about - among other things - Earth No More, the upcoming action game that 3D Realms is co-publishing:
eXp: In Earth No More, instead of falling victim to an attack of spooky, bionic aliens, mankind produced its most dangerous enemy completely on its own. Does this have a deeper meaning on today's world? Should we possibly stop wasting our planet?
Samuli Syvähuoko: Yes, we do want to deliver a message. In Earth No More, we will witness the consequences of humankind's ongoing mistreatment of the planet's environment and resources. In essence, that's the game's central theme.
So, an important part of the storyline deals with global warming, pollution, and resource abuse, and the ramifications that are being caused by the climate crisis. We do like the fact that the game is rooted in modern realities rather than the game being about another been-there-done-that alien attack. Duke would so kick those tree-hugger's asses.
Halo 3 Weekly Update 06:53 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(2 comments)
In this Bungie weekly update, Frankie flexes the size of his hard-drive, shares Luke's love of vehicle levels and the countdown to ZBR begins:
The countdown to ZBR (Zero Bug Release) has started in earnest. People are all winding down their main tasks and moving into the polish phase in earnest. That means for artists, no more creating, just lots of tuning and fixing. It means going into that level and fixing the ferns, adjusting the undergrowth, spotting an erroneous lighting condition, or painting moss onto a steaming log. Yes, a steaming log. It's become something of a meme here.
For designers, it means that the tweaks, which once required forceps and acid-proof goggles, now require needle-nosed tweezers and a jeweler's loupe. Tiny, almost imperceptible changes are being made to spawn points, enemy behaviors and weapon placements. Where once we would download a build and experience something new every time, we've reached a point where certain changes have to be pointed out to us, lest we miss them entirely.
The happy happenstance as far as replaying the same game over and over again, is that certain features and functionality have been added to make that less of a chore. In fact, I would specifically say it's a joy, to play the same map over and over again, for reasons that will become plain, soon enough.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 02:30 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 02:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(3 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 02:00 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
Empire of Sports Interview - Part 1
The massively multiplayer PC gaming platform with role-playing elements from developer F4 and partner Infront - Includes an exclusive 1600x1200 render
MixMaster Online Wallpaper #2
Ditt, the Swordsman character in SeedC Pacific's game featuring myriad pets you can create to fight at your side - An exclusive desktop in two sizes
In Other News... 01:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(42 comments)
About three more weeks (July 22nd) until the new crop of Core 2 Duos are released, plus of course the big price cuts for a couple of the older CPUs. I'm thinking about getting one of those E6850 3.0Ghz C2Ds with the 1333MHz FSB instead of a Q6600 quad if they end up costing the same ($266). I haven't seen any English reviews of it yet, but the early benchmarks from abroad are fairly snappy. I'm also considering getting a 10k RPM Raptor HD and the "good" dominator memory to keep things on the up-and-up. I'm not 100% sure which video card I want; we'll have to see how much casharoo is left over and go from there.
Today's TGIF question:
What games kept you busy last week?
P.S. - Thanks to the Phx Suns for trading their first round draft pick for cash considerations. I'm so glad I watched ESPN for 2 hours to catch that moment of NBA history...
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Thursday , June 28, 2007 |
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Colossus StarCraft 2 Update 03:38 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(22 comments)
Blizzard today revealed the Protoss Colossus which may remind you of a War of the Worlds style walker.
The colossus is a protoss robot design dating back to the bloody conflicts of the Kalath Intercession. It strides across the battlefield on four tall, slender legs which give it an extremely high level of mobility. The great height of the machine allows it to step up and down cliffs and other steep elevations with little difficulty, and gives it a dominating field of fire.
The heavily armored hull of the colossus carries two powerful thermal lances: one mounted on each side of its body. Complex focusing and targeting systems are used to pinpoint the continuous damage output of the thermal lances for optimal efficiency. As a target is destroyed, the lances are switched to a new target instantly so that a colossus' beam cuts a fiery swathe of destruction through multiple enemies with each firing cycle.
(Click to Enlarge!)
 
In other StarCraft news, maybe Ghost hasn't been busted yet?
Rise of the Argonauts Screenshots & Trailer 12:23 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action / Adventure
(10 comments)
God of War for the PC? Maybe so.
Prepare to live a life of brutal combat as Codemasters reveals the gladiatorial adventure that awaits in Rise of the Argonauts. Now in development at Liquid Entertainment, this grand scale action-RPG is scheduled to launch in 2008 for Games for Windows and major console platforms.
With deep exploration and epic quests, players will take the role of Jason, King of Iolchis, and battle alongside iconic mythological heroes including Hercules, Achilles, Atalanta and others. As Jason grows from young king to true legend, set sail aboard the Argo and explore the vast Aegean - a dynamic world of islands filled with shining cities, lush jungles and deep forests.
Gamers will leave their mark on ancient Greece as they engage in heart-pumping, lethal, blood-spurting combat against hordes of enemy warriors, ruthless beasts and truly formidable mythological creatures. Whether Jason is lopping off heads or cutting warriors in half with his sword or if Hercules is wrestling with giant beasts, the intense action in Rise of the Argonauts™ will leave players wanting for their next confrontation.
Like all true heroes of Greece, the gods follow Jason on his quests. Jason will gain the favour of the gods and earn special abilities, but his actions may please some gods and displease others. Earning a god's favour will grant players powers within the god's domain, but drawing a god's wrath may cause them to inflict a torment on the heroes at the worst possible moment.
Get ready to confront the creatures of myth and legend in Rise of the Argonauts, coming in 2008 for Games for Windows and major console platforms.
Supreme Commander Expansion Pack Announced 12:11 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(18 comments)
Hopefully more players will have computers able to play the blasted thing come its November release:
THQ Inc. today announced Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance, the next chapter in the critically-acclaimed real-time strategy (RTS) franchise, is scheduled to ship for Windows PC in November 2007. Developed by renowned RTS designer Chris Taylor and his Gas Powered Games studio, Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance follows the epic story of the original game in the aftermath of the Infinite War. Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance will be available as a standalone title offering full compatibility with the original game, enabling all-new strategic options.
"Supreme Commander raised the standard for scope and scale in the RTS genre and is one of the highest rated strategy games of all time," said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. "Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is pushing the boundaries yet again promising an exciting new chapter to fans worldwide."
"Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is not only the continuation of the epic story that is unfolding inside the game's universe, it is the continuation of our goal to move the bar for RTS gaming even higher than ever," says Chris Taylor, CEO of Gas Powered Games. "Forged Alliance offers over 100 new units, more maps and an entirely new faction... we are stuffing this game with all kinds of new features!"
About Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is the next chapter in the critically acclaimed Supreme Commander franchise that set the standard for scope and scale in the RTS genre. The game continues the epic story following the Infinite War, featuring an all-new single-player campaign, a new faction and a myriad of innovative multiplayer features. More than one hundred new units will give players access to cutting-edge strategic options, including fully realized navies, orbital weaponry and advanced counter intelligence technologies. Developed by Chris Taylor and Gas Powered Games, Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is expected to be available in retail outlets worldwide in November 2007.
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution Announced 11:59 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Consoles: General News
(14 comments)
Console and handheld-exclusive Civ announced, first trailer below:
2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., announced today that it will publish Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, the first next generation game designed by world famous game designer Sid Meier. Slated for a spring 2008 release for next generation consoles and handhelds, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is being developed by Firaxis Games, 2K's world-renowned development studio.
Sid Meier put computer gaming on the map when he delivered Civilization to the gaming world, launching the "God Game" genre and creating one of the most award-winning and addictive strategy series of all time, including Sid Meier's Civilization IV, the Gamespy and GameSpot 2005 Game of the Year. Driven by sheer passion for the game concept, Meier is now handcrafting a brand-new Civilization experience designed and built from scratch for next gen consoles and handhelds.
"Civilization Revolution is the game I've always wanted to make!" said Sid Meier, Director of Creative Development at Firaxis Games. "We are excited to take advantage of the power of next generation consoles and the ingenuity of handhelds, to create a great and unique strategy game for newcomers to the series, as well as the millions of fans around the world who enjoy Civilization on the PC."
In Civilization, players strive to become ruler of the world by establishing and leading a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age - waging war, conducting diplomacy, discovering technologies, going head-to-head with some of history's greatest leaders, and building the most powerful empire the world has ever known.
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a watershed game, offering players a chance to experience the epic empire-building world of Civilization in an all new accessible, visually immersive, and action-packed world specifically designed for the console and handheld gamer. Delivering Civilization's renowned epic single-player campaigns featuring vast re-playability and unmatched addictive gameplay as well as revolutionary features like real-time interaction with leaders and advisors, extensive multiplayer capabilities and integrated video and voice chat, it will completely transport the Civilization series to a level of gameplay that fans have never seen before.
"Civilization is one of the world's top selling PC game series with more than 8 million units sold, and continues to be recognized as one of the greatest franchises ever created," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "We are excited to have Sid Meier getting back to his roots as the game's Lead Designer to carry on its legacy with Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution."
Some of the key features that will resonate with fans of strategy games and the Civilization franchise include 16 civilizations to master and lead to victory, an array of famous historical leaders to play as or compete against, and accessible maps and streamlined time scale for quicker games, intense combat, and constant action. In online multiplayer mode, players will compete for world conquest and glory among their peers as they battle in teams, head-to-head or epic free-for-all matches. In addition, auto-matching, ranked games, leaderboards, achievements, downloadable extra content and integrated video and voice chat make the online play more versatile and fun than any previous version of Civilization and will allow players to see where they stand against the competition. Finally, the position of ruler of the world can be settled online.
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution will be released in spring 2008 for next generation consoles and handhelds.
Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer 11:09 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Consoles: General News
(19 comments)
The in-house version :)
Soldier of Fortune: Deer Hunter Edition 04:07 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(25 comments)
Part of me died a little inside when PC.IGN posted that a new bargin-bin Soldier of Fortune game is in development: The long-dormant, ultra-violent first-person shooter (FPS) Soldier of Fortune is returning to the front lines, Activision confirmed to IGN today. The publisher was mum on any details about gameplay, platforms, or release dates, and would only say that the sequel is currently in development at its Minneapolis office, Activision Value. Value is the publisher's budget title development studio, responsible for games like Pimp My Ride, Barbie, and Cabela's African Safari.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 02:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 02:30 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(6 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 02:11 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
No Horizons Interview - Part 2
We wrap up our look at ICNH Games' turn-based massively multiplayer strategy project within a gigantic universe
Knight Online Peek #8
Coming very soon - an improved starter area, the chance to defeat GMs in battle, bonus experience scrolls and more - Includes eight exclusive screenshots
Jonric's Blog
Interesting article on a small-scale browser MMOG developer
Fury Team Blog
Our daily testing and some Vortex strategy
In Other News... 01:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(44 comments)
Grats to yesterday for being the slowest news day ever. Yeah!
Today's question:
Assuming Crysis comes out later this year and DX10 graphics are all they're cracked up to be... would that inspire you to install Vista on your primary gaming rig?
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