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Friday , January 26, 2007 |
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Unreal Tournament 3 Features 10:04 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(0 comments)
Beyond Unreal slapped up an informative preview of Unreal Tournament 3 after checking it out earlier in the day at the Midway event. Topics include: noob journos in mp, the different types of vehicles, weapons, plus of course, graphics and gameplay impressions: One hotly-debated element of the series is movement. I can tell you that double-jumps and wall dodges are in at this point. Though, I'm not sure why. In my limited testing, they didn't seem to make much of a difference. I think you probably won't even notice they are there. As has been promised, the gravity of the player seems to have been increased. Dodges yield a much shorter distance, reminiscent to the original Unreal Tournament, and jumps, in general, don't seem to take you as far. I think it's safe to say that the fighting will be on the ground instead of in the air.
Other, less informative, previews can be found at GameSpot, IGN, 1Up and Firing Squad.
Last, but not least, Game Informer interviewed Epic mansteak, Mark Rein. Topics range from UT 3 on the 360, DX10 support and Vista, to if he thinks Sony is in trouble with the PS3:
GI: Do you think Sony's in trouble?
Rein: No, god, no. Somebody asked me that earlier, and I was like, "What a ridiculous question." People, just give them a break for crying out loud. People think it's bad if they can't ship enough, and then they think it's bad if they can ship enough. It's like, which is it? Either they can't fulfill your order or they can, and they're both good. Being able to fulfill your order is good news, right? Go out and buy your PS3 now. You can get one. That's miraculous. They sold more PS3s in North America than Microsoft sold Xbox 360s in its same period of time, and they clearly aren't going to have the shortage problems that Microsoft had. So as long as people are willing to pay the price for the machine—and I'm sure lots of people are—I think they're hopefully in a good situation. I think they've done a good job with their downloadable content. There's not a lot of games on there, but the ones that are there are really high quality, and I'm really impressed with the games. It's a beautiful machine, it's a great-looking piece of equipment, so I think Sony's going to be fine.
Midway Gamer's Day Screenshots 07:00 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: General News
(5 comments)
A whole load of shots from Midway's annual press event:
(BlackSite: Area 51 - PC/Playstation 3/Xbox 360)
(Hour of Victory - Xbox 360)
(Stranglehold - PC/Playstation 3/Xbox 360)
(Unreal Tournament 3 - PC/Playstation 3/Xbox 360)
Trailers:
Stranglehold Preview 06:55 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(0 comments)
TeamXbox shot up a nice hands-on preview of Stranglehold, the upcoming Unreal Engine 3 third-person action game from Hong Kong movie legend, John Woo. Like one of John's blockbusters, it doesn't take long for the action to get thick in Stranglehold. As soon as the aiming reticule appears, two adversaries are amidst rare artifacts, awaiting a few .45 slugs from Fat's (Tequila's) dual, chromed 1911's. You'll begin with the nasty .45's, which are semi-automatic, but can be continuously fired by holding down the right trigger. Reloading is completely automatic at the present time, and we don't expect it to change, as the dev team mentions how manual reloading would disrupt the "flow" of this playable action flick. Manual aiming is the only way to roll in Stranglehold too, but unlimited ammo pretty much means that the droves of enemies are meant to die and die often, with shooting accuracy coming in a distant second to number of shots fired. Other demo weapons such as the automatic assault rifle and the SPAS-style shotgun worked much in the same manner as the .45's, sacrificing overall accuracy for gratuitous lead slinging.
2007 PC Gaming Predictions 06:47 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(3 comments)
PC.IGN has an interesting feature up called IGN Predicts 2007. What's in store? How about continued WoW dominance, complete PC graphic superiority over consoles, digital distribution, Games for Windows branding, Blizzard's new franchise and even a little Duke Nukem Forever. Here's a taste:
Vista Boosts Hardware Sales and PC Fully Regains Graphic Superiority
We all know it. Consumers are waiting to purchase new computers until after Vista arrives. Most buyers figure there's no real reason to pick up a machine before the new MS operating system is released on the public. For that reason, you're going to see a lot of new high-end computers purchased in the new year so gamers can run Vista. We're guessing that most new buyer's will go ahead and purchase the power of the new processors from Intel and AMD along with enough RAM and a video memory to make their computers pretty powerful mid range machines that should be able to run most games out now and into the future very smoothly.
The release of DirectX10 along with Vista should also prompt some of the more dedicated gamers to finally get out and grab a new video card that can take advantage of the platform. That might not happen until the next generation of cards since most games taking advantage of DX10 aren't due out till later in the year, but it will happen. Some developers may not be totally behind the product, seeing it as a ploy to get gamers to buy Vista, but the nay saying isn't going to matter. Millions will buy Vista and many will take the opportunity to upgrade their systems.
The rush to upgrade systems this year and the next will begin the swing back to dominance of visual quality on the PC. We can already see the jump with games like Crysis that offer up a level of graphics quality unseen on the current generation of consoles. Most games won't meet that mark now, but gamers will be boosting their performance this year which will continue to drive technology into the next.
Sounds good to me.
Bungie Weekly Update 06:45 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(0 comments)
A bit of a slow one this week, although Frankie tries his hand at damage control:
Bungie Hates Halo 2
Of course we don't. We love it. Was it perfect? Of course not. This week, weirdly, a bunch of websites ran excerpts from a month-old interview with Edge Magazine where some Bungie staff expressed dissatisfaction with various game features in H2. Of course we did. We're always trying to improve it. Anyhoo, long story short, for some reason, we got quoted out of context as basically hating everything about the dear old game, when in fact we love it, and want to build on it.
Crysis Interview 06:39 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(1 comment)
PC.IGN is sporting a new interview with Crytech's CEO Cevat Yerli who helps shed a little light on Crysis. Topics include: the current state of the game, cool new features, power armor abilities, game changes, weapons, level design, DX10 and oh-so much more.
IGN: How much of a difference is there really going to be between the DX9 and DX10 versions of Crysis?
Cevat Yerli: The difference is in the density of simulation, the quality of lighting & shading. Some of the visual features are DX10 only. Performance is improved and finally we are evaluating features that would do DX10 real justice in multiplayer gaming, with the goal to finally make a massive leap there.
IGN: Is there any concern about early mishaps with Vista that might put people off DX10 for a while?
Cevat Yerli: We are not concerned at this stage.
IGN: How far until we see Crysis hit gold?
Cevat Yerli: We are still assessing the definitive date, but you can expect to hear more from us on this subject not too long from now.
They have some new tasty DX10 video footage also.
World's Smallest Duke Nukem Forever Shot 02:07 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(42 comments)
In a job listing for a programmer, 3D Realms posted a tiny in-game screenshot of Duke Nukem Forever showing off a dual-wielding Duke and a blurry background of sorts. Thanks Shacknews.
Not exactly the media extravaganza I was hoping for, but it looks kind of neat.
Update: George B had this to say about the image in the official Duke forums:
I guess I'll reconfirm what I said last night. That's an in game, real-time shot of Duke standing in a random hallway. It was really done as a small teaser for a job ad on Gamasutra.com. Nothing more.
I'm glad some of you enjoyed it, and we'll show more later as we start to wake from our slumber and decide how best to show the game off.
Battlestations Midway Demo 01:01 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action / Strategy
(11 comments)
Here's a 570MB, one map, Battlestations Midway demo that you can play online or over a LAN. Download from:
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Special Edition Shots 03:56 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(20 comments)
Thought some of you may be interested in seeing a hi-res grab of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Special Edition box set:
(Click to Enlarge!)
Mario Kart 64, $10, Today 03:44 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Consoles: Nintendo Wii
(19 comments)
Mario Kart 64 is hitting the Wii later today for a fairly reasonable 1000 Wii Points ($10):
Racing fans are in for an extra special treat today as Mario Kart 64, one of the greatest games in the hugely popular Mario Kart series, is available to download to Wii's Virtual Console. Featuring tense racing action for up to four players, Mario Kart 64 is the ultimate trip down nostalgia lane for you and your friends for the small sum of 1000 Wii Points.
As if this great game wasn't reason enough to join the 1.4 million Wii users connected to the internet around the globe, Friday will see the launch of the first version of the News Channel, for free, across Europe. Once downloaded the News Channel provides instant on demand news from around the world at the press of a button.
This Friday will also see the release of Soldier Blade from Turbografx (PC Engine), which will join over 40 classic titles already available for the Virtual Console. Since launch a staggering 1.5 million games have been downloaded worldwide from the service.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. B.E.T.A. 01:01 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(5 comments)
Wanna beta test S.T.A.L.K.E.R.? Oblivion Lost points to a competition THQ is holding to let people in. You need to register, but who knows? You might get lucky and score a beta key.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 01:00 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 12:44 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
Online Worlds Roundtable #14 - Part 2
More perspectives from the development community on the merits and pitfalls of non-subscription revenue models
Heavy Duty Media #7
Seeking raw materials to aid in repulsing the aliens, we pay a visit to one of the resource facilities in Primal's game - Five exclusive screenshots
Game Reviews 12:32 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(5 comments)
In Other News... 12:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(28 comments)
The name change for Unreal Tournament 2007 sure came out of nowhere. I'm guessing it had something to do with them wanting to release it on the Xbox 360 and a deal with Sony to release "UT 2007" on the PS3. Now that it's UT 3, all bets are off! That's just speculation on my part, but hey. I wouldn't want to restrict a game of that magnitude to such a small segment of the console audience either.
Today's question:
What are some of the best and worst game names ever?
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Thursday , January 25, 2007 |
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Unreal Tournament 3 Replaces UT 2007 06:25 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(32 comments)
What's in a name? You tell me. Epic decided to rebrand its Unreal Tournament series in chronological order based on what engine it uses rather than the date it was released. You can read more about it at PC.IGN. Here's a new screenshot they released as well:
(Click to Enlarge!)
Also of interest, is that the game will be coming out on the Xbox 360.
Splinter Cell: Double Agent PS3 Screens & Info 04:41 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Consoles: PS3
(17 comments)
1. What are the main changes between the Xbox 360 version of SCDA and the PS3 version? Both for the single player and the multiplayer.
The PlayStation 3 version of SCDA is based on the Next-Gen design of the game, which has already been released on Xbox 360 and PC. However, this version features significant improvements and exclusive content.
The Multiplayer features an additional new spy character (a spy girl), 2 extra maps based on completely new environments and a new set of coop. challenges.
Moreover, the additional time allowed us to increase the polish of both parts of the game.
Overall, the improved accessibility, the multiplayer exclusive content and the motion sensor support are the advantages that make the PS3 version the ultimate version of Splinter Cell: Double Agent.
2. Is SCDA using the Sixaxis feature that makes PlayStation 3 unique?
The SIXAXIS sensor has been implemented in both part of the game as well.
In the Single Player mode, we were free to experiment various designs for the motion sensor implementation. It is used from time to time to operate various gadgets like picking doors or hacking security systems, or for Sam's special moves like swimming or paragliding.
In the Multiplayer mode, the player controls the Drone with the tilt function.
We implemented the SIXAXIS control when it was fun to play or adding value to the game play experience.
3. What was the big reason to implement a hot female multiplayer skin?
Having a female playable character in the game is something we wanted to have since we started working on Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow!
On Double Agent, this idea was still present, but we didn't have the chance to implement it on time for the first versions. Therefore, when we started working on the PS3 specific content, the spy girl was on top of our list.
We really liked the idea because it really embraces the fact that the spy should be cat-like, very nimble. And for players like me, it's always more pleasant to follow the acrobatics of a female character, supple and elegant, than those of a born-to-kill-guy!
4. And last, but not least, the PlayStation network has a different setup than Microsofts Xbox Live. Can we expect the same fluid play on Ubisoft's own servers?
The title uses a network middleware solution already successfully used on PC and PS2. The PlayStation Network Platform provides all the required services to match the Xbox live quality. The online part of the game has been on beta test since November 2006 on PS3 and we are 100% confident to provide a quality online experience.
5. Is there anything else you would like to share with gamers about SCDA for PS3?
Yes, we are very happy with the multiplayer's extra content we developed specifically for the PS3 version. Rather than just more of the same, the NSA training centre and Kinshasa multiplayer maps are really different than the original multiplayer maps. Those maps have been produced with Ubisoft Milan, Italy, the studio which previously worked on the PS2 Multiplayer maps and we hope the PS3 players will enjoy playing them just as much as we did.
Age of Conan Delayed Six Months 02:44 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(15 comments)
According to TDS Finans, via ToTheGame, Funcom's forthcoming MMORPG Age of Conan has been delayed six months, pushing the new projected release date to October 2007.
LoTR Online Offers Lifetime Pass $199 02:12 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(17 comments)
Turbine and Midway are offering some different types of subscription packages to play Lord of the Rings Online. One, is a one time $199 payment. The other, is your standard $9.95 a month deal. It's all part of the pre-order program that includes a spot in the open beta. Turbine, Inc. and Midway Games Inc. today announced the details of the revolutionary pre-order Founder's Program for The Lord of the Rings Online(tm): Shadows of Angmar(tm). The highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game, The Lord of the Rings Online, lets players experience the greatest epic fantasy adventure of all time and join with millions of fans from around the globe in the vast world of Middle-earth.
This exciting Founder's Program rewards all players who pre-order The Lord of the Rings Online with special $9.99 monthly subscription pricing, early access to the game (beta version), character roll-over and unique in-game bonus items. Players can become a Founder by pre-ordering the title at www.lotro.com/preorder or at retail stores nationwide beginning February 1, 2007. This limited-time offer is exclusively available to pre-order customers.
"The Lord of the Rings Online immerses you in one of the greatest literary works of all time," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine. "The Founder's Program pricing plan rewards fans for their loyalty with a special opportunity to join Middle-earth from the beginning."
Fallout 3 Update 02:08 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(1 comment)
Gamasutra wrangled up an interview with Bethesda's Pete Hines. Topics include: TES4: Shivering Isles, Star Trek and of course, Fallout 3:
Finally, when asked about Bethesda's highly anticipated resurrection of the classic Fallout post-apocalyptic role-playing franchise, Hines was obviously coy: "We are a fairly good ways into the process. The team has ramped up, and it will be a little while longer. As is the case with all of our games, especially those of this scope, we don't really want to talk about them until they are in a state where we can show you, rather than having you simply picturing it in your minds eye."
He added, simply: "Fallout is not a quick two year process, and we are already several years into the project."
Titan Quest: Immortal Throne Screens 01:58 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action / Roleplaying
(0 comments)
Three new screenshots of Immortal Throne, the upcoming expansion pack to Titan Quest:
(Click to Enlarge!)
  
Square Chooses Unreal Engine 3 01:47 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(16 comments)
Square Enix today announced that it has licensed the Unreal Engine 3 to power its next-generation of video games.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. today announced a licensing agreement with Epic Games that enables Square Enix to introduce Epic's Unreal� Engine 3 middleware into its next-generation game development process.
Square Enix has built its highly successful franchises such as FINAL FANTASY�, DRAGON QUEST� and KINGDOM HEARTS by pushing game consoles to their limits and providing unparalleled user experiences for more than 20 years. This was achieved through the company's proprietary technologies, which were mostly optimized for each game given the limited resources of game consoles. However, in order to ensure both game quality and development efficiency for next-generation game systems including consoles, PCs and network titles, Square Enix is now building a technology platform to be used throughout the company utilizing proprietary technologies as well as introducing third-party solutions such as Unreal Engine 3.
"The complexity of next-generation game systems featuring HD graphics and multi-core parallel processing poses a number of technological challenges to our game development. However, we can expedite our game development process significantly while allowing extra time and resources to be spent on game design and mechanics by establishing an effective technology platform," said Taku Murata, General Manager, Research and Development Division, Square Enix, Co., Ltd. "The technology platform for game development is becoming more important than ever. I'm excited to be partnering with Epic Games in such an important area."
"We're extremely excited to be working with Square Enix," said Jay Wilbur, Vice President, Epic Games, Inc. "Square Enix is one of the biggest and most influential companies in the world-wide game business, and having them work with Unreal Engine 3 is a major honor for us and something we're very proud to be announcing."
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 01:02 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 12:57 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 12:55 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(0 comments)
In Other News... 12:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(64 comments)
Yesterday was weird. When I woke up, my right eye lid was all puffy and sore. It was almost like someone slugged me. I don't recall getting into any fist fights, so I assumed it was an allergic reaction of some sort. After downing some Benadryl and a couple aspirin it cleared up. Exciting, huh?
Today's question is from Andrew Mulvey, who asks:
Which game(s), if any, have totally interfered with your real life to the point that you have had to quit or cut back?
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