We're working on porting some more of the classic maps right now, currently de_prodigy is in the works. We'll be releasing this as quickly as they are completed.

We're also working on one original map, which will begin internal playtesting this week. This still means we have a fair amount of work to do on it.

We're also working on two updated player models.

Most of this is scheduled to be released in the December timeframe.

BioWare Launches NWN Store 03:41 pm - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: role-playing (0 comments)
BioWare sends word that it has launched an online store for the purpose of dealing out new Neverwinter Nights content. "We really want to let our tremendous fan community know that we are committed to supporting them and listening to their needs!" added Dr. Ray Muzyka, Joint CEO of BioWare Corp. "Fans want to see more official content for Neverwinter Nights, and we are delivering just that. We'll offer great new modules from BioWare designers, as well as prominent fan community figures, with all of the content produced and approved by BioWare."

Check that out here.

Doom 3 (Xbox) Pushed Back Again; Expansion Dated 03:31 pm - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - consoles: xbox (0 comments)
Gamespot is reporting that the Xbox port of Doom 3 has been pushed back to March 2005:

Though many Xbox owners are likely headed for hell, it doesn't look like they'll get there this year. During an earnings call this afternoon, Activision President Ron Doornink said that his company is now planning to release the Xbox version of Doom 3 in March 2005.

Scrapland Gold 02:01 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: action (2 comments)
The quirky genre-melding title that has been developed with the assistance of American McGee, Scrapland, has gone golden:

Enlight, a global publisher of PC and console games, today announced that the PC version of the highly anticipated action-adventure game American McGee Presents Scrapland has gone gold and will ship to retail stores nationwide in early November. Scrapland will carry a MSRP of $39.99 and has been rated T for Teen.

Scrapland is a unique blend of breathtaking graphics, open-ended gameplay and an engaging narrative that creates a fun and challenging experience that is a refreshing change of pace from the abundance of violent games currently on the market. The one of a kind game design and solid story clearly show the influence and polish that gamers have come to expect from a title with American McGee's name on it. With over 40 hours of single player gameplay and fantastic multiplayer action, Scrapland is sure to satisfy the masses while setting a new standard in game design. The game will also be available in late January for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft.

Hurrah for this.

Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude - Uncut and Uncensored Released 12:33 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: adventure (7 comments)
The uncut and uncensored version of Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude is now available to buy:

Available on October 26th, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude - Uncut and Uncensored will be available to purchase online at Amazon.com or at the VU Games Store (store.vugames.com). The game will also be available via digital download on October 29th at the The Leisure Suit Larry - Uncut and Uncensored website (www.larryuncut.com) and IGN Entertainment's Direct2Drive website (www.direct2drive.com). Downloadable versions of Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude will be protected by Trymedia's ActiveMARK technology.

"The consumer demand for an Adults Only-rated version of Leisure Suit Larry prompted VU Games to give the fans what they've been asking for," said Philip W. O'Neil, President, North America, Vivendi Universal Games. "In Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude -Uncut and Uncensored we're taking a walk on a wilder side with even more outlandish misadventures and sexual escapades."

Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude - Uncut and Uncensored is rated "AO" by the ESRB and carries descriptors for mature humor, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content and use of alcohol, and carries a suggested retail price of $34.99.

Medal of Honor Pacific Assault Ships Early; DVD Version Even Earlier 12:21 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: action (5 comments)
Coming out of the 'we're scared crapless that our title will be lost in the mid-November rush' book is a press release from EA announcing that the two SKUs for Medal of Honor Pacific Assault will ship early:

EA GAMES is pleased to announce that the Medal of Honor Pacific Assault Director's Edition will ship in North America on November 2nd, arriving in stores across the country on November 4th. The Medal of Honor Pacific Assault Director's Edition is bursting at the seams with additional bonus content including six video features, two interactive applications, an exclusive weapon, and a Sweepstakes.

The standard version of Medal of Honor Pacific Assault will ship in North America on November 9th, 2004, arriving on store shelves within 48 hours of shipping.

More details in the comments section of this post.

Guild Wars Profile 12:21 pm - Jeff Tom - games: mmog (0 comments)
GameSpot have a profile of the ranger class in the MMORPG, Guild Wars. Here's a scoop:

The ranger's primary attribute, which can be used only by characters that chose the ranger as a primary class, is "expertise," an ability that reduces the energy cost for all of a ranger's skills. The most obvious strategy is to use expertise in conjunction with the ranger's many archery attacks to fire continuous flights of arrows, but this ability applies to all of the character's skills. A ranger/mesmer, for instance, might take advantage of this ability by repeatedly applying harmful hexes on enemy characters to continuously detract from their powers.

Pacific Fighters Ships 12:05 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: simulation (0 comments)
The Maddox-made combat flight simulator, Pacific Fighters, is now shipping to stores across North America following the earlier European release:

From the creators of the critically acclaimed IL-2 series comes an accurate and action-packed re-creation of the epic battles of the Pacific. Control over 40 fighters and bombers including the deadly Japanese Zero, the U.K.'s Supermarine Seafire and the U.S.-made Corsair and A-20 Havoc. Players will take flight and engage in combat over huge maps of famous WWII locations such as Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

Men of Valor Ships 12:03 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: action (5 comments)
The PC version of 2015's first-person Vietnam War shooter has now shipped to stores across North America:

Men of Valor follows an African-American Marine through the early stages of the conflict in Vietnam to the Tet Offensive. Touching on the some of the most familiar scenes of the war as they exist in the popular imagination, the player guides his group of fellow soldiers through the hardship and confusion of the battlefield, bonding with them as they do their duty for their country with the heroism and valor typical of the American soldier, but unsung during the turbulent times.

Need For Speed Underground 2 Demo 11:50 am - Andrew Burnes - games: racing (2 comments)
345MB of action-packed arcade racing is now available in the form of the Need For Speed Underground 2 demo:

Uncover the tuner underground in a massive, free-roaming metropolis. Get behind the wheel in one of 30 of the hottest cars and own the streets from dusk-til-dawn. Explore the city, encountering underground races, hidden hideouts, secret shops and unexpected challengers With comprehensive performance tuning options, all-new game modes, and the most sought-after cars on the circuit, Need for Speed Underground 2 delivers the most authentic tuner experience ever.

The Demo contains:

Free Roam (Beacon Hill)

Outrun Race

• Circuit (one event - accessible in world)
• Downhill Drift (one event - accessible in world)
• Stores (Car Lot, and Specialty Shop)

Quick Race

• Downhill drift (same track as in free roam)
• Circuit (same track as in free roam)

Online (full server, no LAN)

• Downhill drift (same track as in free roam)
• Circuit (same track as in free roam)

Cars
• Player car - Nissan 350Z Preview

• Performance Shop
• Body Shop
• Car Lot
• Graphics Shop
• Car Specialties Shop

You can grab it from one of the following mirrors:

• FilePlanet
• FileRush (BitTorrent)
• Gamershell
• Worthplaying

Publishers Count on Holiday Sales 10:34 am - Jeff Tom - games: general news (3 comments)
C|Net have posted a news story on the holiday sales and big titles hitting such as San Andreas, Metroid Prime 2, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, and more and what the games mean to publishers are far as revenue. Here's a clip:

Holiday business typically accounts for about 60 percent of annual sales for makers of games and related hardware. With U.S. game software sales expected to hit $8.3 billion this year, according to research company Yankee Group, the potential spoils are huge, as a slew of high-profile games and several new hardware options compete for gift-giving attention.

Hidden and Dangerous 2 Q&A; 10:29 am - Jeff Tom - games: action (2 comments)
The Hidden and Dangerous Community have posted up an interview with Illusion Softworks on their action game. Here's a clip:

Q. There's a new patch coming for H&D2; and Sabre Squadron can you tell us any detials about what they will fix or add? (old news but thought I'd kept it in)

RPG Vault Features 10:08 am - Jeff Tom - games: role-playing (0 comments)
Here's the latest from RPG Vault on this Tuesday. Enjoy:

• Telladar Chronicles: Decline World Interview
• The Witcher Peek
• Face of Mankind Screenshots

Vampire: Bloodlines Preview 10:04 am - Jeff Tom - games: action / roleplaying (2 comments)
GamePro have scooped a preview of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, which uses the Source engine. Thanks HomeLAN. Here's a clip:

The survival of vampires depends on keeping their existence unknown to humans, and hence hiding your identity is a significant part of the game. The "Masquerade" stat indicates how well hidden your identity is from the human world. Humans aren't too fond of vampires, and if you commit vampy acts in public (sucking blood, using overt special powers) you will draw the ire of both vampires and vampire hunters. Chillingly, after a certain point of violating the Masquerade, human vampire hunters will spawn somewhere and hunt you down--further hampering your freedom.

Children of the Nile Q&A; 09:57 am - Jeff Tom - games: real-time strategy (0 comments)
FileFront have slapped up an interview on Children of the Nile, the real-time strategy from Titled Mill. Here's some more background on the game:

Q: Can you briefly describe Children of the Nile for us, please?

A: Using a fully 3d environment we portray families and individuals living in ancient Egypt long the banks of the Nile. We put you in the role of creating a society with these people and then expanding your city and society into your empire. The primary mechanic is City Building but there are overtones of Sims type gaming and Civilization type games.

Update: The game also went gold today.

Cold Winter Q&A; 09:50 am - Jeff Tom - consoles: ps2 (0 comments)
Computer&VideoGames; have slapped up an interview on Cold Winter, an espionage first-person shooter. Here's a whiff:

Can you enlighten us on this interesting sounding item-combination feature? How will that work and what new features will it offer?

Widdows: The combined items feature was something we designed into the game at the outset, and although it takes on a slightly different guise now it's still a really cool addition to the game. Basically as you play through the levels you can pick up all sorts of seemingly random items left lying around the environments. By using the menu interface you can combine these items to create new and useful items.

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Officially Announced 06:55 am - Andrew Burnes - consoles: general news (5 comments)
The existence of this console action-adventure title has already been widely publicised via Game Informer magazine, so today here's the official press release:

"Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an Action/Adventure title that will help to expand the already wildly popular Mortal Kombat universe well beyond the fighting genre," said David F. Zucker, president and chief executive officer. "Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is also our first step toward delivering something that Mortal Kombat fans have been calling for: a new game set in the Mortal Kombat universe every year. We are planning our Mortal Kombat release schedule with the expectation that we will deliver a new Mortal Kombat title annually."

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an Action/Adventure title driven by both intense single and multi-player action. Similar to the recently released Mortal Kombat: Deception, background interactions (i.e., acid pits, living trees, spiked ceilings, etc.), multiple new fatalities, and action-based puzzles will also play an important role in the player's quest for an "outstanding" victory. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks will feature an impressive line-up of Mortal Kombat characters, as well, that make frequent appearances as enemies, in boss battles and during several additional in-game interactions.

You can pick that one up in around a year.

Batman Begins Announced 06:51 am - Andrew Burnes - games: general news (13 comments)
Warner Brothers has today announced a multi-platform title to coincide with Batman Begins, the in-production Batman film that stars Christian Bale as the bat:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, DC Comics and Electronic Arts today announced that the companies have joined forces to bring Batman Begins to multiple videogame platforms in 2005. In this exclusive co-publishing agreement, a game based on the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures' film starring Christian Bale will be released day and date with the film on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld videogame system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance.

"The theatrical release of Batman Begins will be the entertainment event of the summer. Leveraging our extensive experience with blockbuster franchises, we look forward to bringing this game to market," said Greg Richardson, Vice President and General Manager, EA Partners. "The Batman fiction is rich with style, drama and action -- three elements that define this game and will help plunge players into the heart of the experience."

FlatOut Goes Gold 03:44 am - Andrew Burnes - games: racing (5 comments)
The rag-doll happy, Destruction Derby-esque racing game, FlatOut, has gone gold in Europe:

Jussi Laakkonen, Business development director for Bugbear Entertainment commented: "It's done! It's an incredible rush to go gold with our first PlayStation 2 and Xbox game and also finish the PC version at the same time! We are sure the gamers worldwide will have as much fun playing the game as we had making it. It's time to GO FLATOUT!"

Paul Benjamin, Marketing Manager of Empire Interactive added: "This is a great moment - a big thank you to everyone involved for all their time and hard work, especially Bugbear, getting their first Playstation 2 and Xbox game out is a huge achievement - We now just can't wait to see the reaction from the eager gamers after such a great response from the press"

FlatOut will be released for the PC, Playstation 2, and Xbox on November 5th.

Guilty Gear Isuka Preview 03:30 am - Andrew Burnes - consoles: ps2 (0 comments)
Rounding up a trio of Playstation previews is a look at Sammy's Guilty Gear Isuka, over on Worthplaying:

Arcade mode is clearly meant to be the meat of this title, and I'm going to have to say that it bears the weight well. Guilty Gear Isuka is as technical a 2D fighter as you'll see anywhere. It's entirely possible to go from the easier-to-learn characters, button-mashing and gradually picking up skills, and take a few weeks to graduate up to more complex characters (like the more or less customizable projectile combos you can set up as Venom) with more complex techniques.

Add this to Dead Angle attacks (counters that burn through your Super charge meter), Dust moves (often useful as very slow combo launchers or weird mid-air attacks), row-change attacks, and a host of other manoeuvres, and you can be picking the bones out of this game for quite some time.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Preview 03:26 am - Andrew Burnes - consoles: ps2 (2 comments)
PS2.IGN got to grips with a finished Japanese version of The Nightmare Before Christmas:

The game begins after the events of the film as hero Jack Skellington briefly leaves Halloweentown in order to find new ways to scare people. Upon his return, he finds that things aren't quite as he left them. Not only have antagonistic skeletons overrun the town, but in Skellington's absence, pranksters Lock, Shock and Barrel have decided to revive Oogie Boogie, the villain from the movie. Using a Rubber Soul accessory given to him by Dr. Finkelstein (the game actually refers to this item as "Soul Robber" in some areas), Jack takes out the troublesome skeletons, then heads off in search of Oogie Boogie.

Jak 3 Preview 03:23 am - Andrew Burnes - consoles: ps2 (1 comment)
Eurogamer today shares their impressions of the upcoming Jak 3:

The action's split between Spargus, the Wasteland city to which Jak finds himself expelled at the outset, and the tattered remains of Haven City, the environment from the second game, which reintroduces us to many familiar characters and locations and populates them with new missions. Whether reusing the environment works or not is a debate we'll save for the review itself, but there's no doubting the quality and variety of Jak and Daxter's escapades in this instalment.

From rhythm-action to aerial combat, the game touches on pretty much every genre that lends itself to this kind of third-person setting, with particular emphasis on running-and-gunning and buggy-based missions, and whatever the activity it's always simple enough to pick up and play.

World of WarCraft Quickie 12:29 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: mmog (3 comments)
PC.IGN chips in with its own updated preview of the World of WarCraft beta:

Content-wise, there are very few glitches or known exploits. There's the constant class balancing, but it looks like that's unavoidable in this genre. The warlock, for example, could at one time channel health from a target without being interrupted by an attack. Then they removed that. Then they put a hybrid system in. The paladin used to be able to cast powerful "seals" on himself (temporary ability boosts) in addition to "auras" that act as permanent spells, like a ward. Then some popular seals were changed to auras, which isn't so fun since you can only have one aura active at a time. There were also some bugs with the Hunter pet, and full-screen bloom has been (in my opinion) oddly controversial. All in all, though, the level of complaint and general yelling is relatively quiet on the message boards. It seems like too many people are just playing and having fun to join in the rancor so common to other MMOs.

Gearbox Q&A; 12:21 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: action (0 comments)
HomeLan chatted a bit with Gearbox's Randy Pitchford about its new COGS program which looks to seek out new game development talent:

HomeLAN - Game developers always seem to have openings for new hires. What makes COGS different than a typical call for new people to join a game developer?

Randy Pitchford - Well, it isn't that much different. It's just focused on new talent. The idea is that new talent can apply to the COGS program and know that they've got an even chance - that they're not up against candidates who have 5 shipped games under their belts and all the credit and sample material in the world to prove it.

Game Reviews 12:15 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: general news (3 comments)
The first reviews of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas! Plus, The Bard's Tale gets ganked:

PC

• Atlantis Revolution - PC.IGN - 5.5/10
• Atlantis Evolution - Gamespot - 4.9/10
• Full Spectrum Warrior - Gaming Age - B-
• Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude - Reviewoutpost - 7.5/10
• Myst IV Revelation - Jolt.co.uk - 8.4/10
• Shade: Wrath of Angels - PC.IGN - 5/10
• Silent Hill 4: The Room - GameZone - 8/10

  Xbox
  

• Fable - GamingHorizon - 9.4/10
• Outlaw Golf 2 - Gamespy - 4/5
• X-Men Legends - GamingHorizon - 8.4/10

  PS2
  

• Ace Combat 5 - PS2.IGN - 9.3/10
• Ace Combat 5 - Gamespot - 8.3/10
• Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed - Gamespot - 6.4/10
• FIFA 2005 - Gamers Europe - 7.5/10
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - PS2.IGN - 9.9/10
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Gamespot - 9.6/10
• Sly 2 - Eurogamer - 8/10
• Taiko Drum Master - Gamespy - 4.5/5
• The Bard's Tale - Gamespot - 6.7/10
• The Bard's Tale - Gamesdomain - 7/10

  GBA
  

• Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django - Gamespot - 8/10
• WWE Survivor Series - Gameboy.IGN - 6/10

Hardware & Tech Nuggets 12:08 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - hardware: general news (1 comment)
For a mere $6,000 or so dollars, you too can own a new Alienware SLI system. Moniter not included!

Reviews

• Altec Lansing XA2021 2.1 Speaker System - 3D Game Man
• Aspire X-Navigator: A High End Gaming Chassis - Anandtech
• CoolMax 3.5 Xtreme Files F1-B 80GB Backup Drive - OCN
• Epox eX5-320S SFF PC - HotHardware
• Epox BT-HS02 Bluetooth Headset - Designtechnica
• Logitech X-620 Speakers - My Guy Games
• Pentium4 at 1066MHz System Bus - T-Break
• Shuttle XP17 LCD - Gamersdepot
• Thermaltake SilverRiver Portable 3.5" HDD Enclosure - Overclockers Australia
• Western Digital WD360 36GB SATA Hard Drive - The Tech Zone

  Other Stuff
  

• NVIDIA nForce Ultra vs VIA K8T800 Pro - Legionhardware
• PCI-Express: First looks and the future - OC Mod Shop
• VooDoo Vibe Q&A; - HomeLan

In Other News... 12:01 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - in-house: in other news... (41 comments)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is released today! I'd be even more excited if it was on the PC (cough). PS2 = cash cow, so I can't say I really blame them. Today must be like Half-Life 2 release day for PS2 fans (grin). It was great to see Crytek release that Far Cry 1.3 patch, so props to them. It's still a verly lovely game from a graphics perspective, with really just Doom 3 looking nicer, so it's worth a look if you haven't checked it out yet. Today's question is: Are you planning on checking out Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas today? Or for non-PS2 owners, How badly do you want a port of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for your system of choice?

• 'Alfa: AntiTerror' (PC) - Screens
• 'CSI: Miami' (PC) - Screens
• 'Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3' (PS2) - Screens
• 'Eschaton: Chain of Command' (PC) - Screens
• 'ESPN College Hoops 2K5' (PS2/Xbox) - Screens
• 'Ghost Recon 2' (PS2/Xbox/PC) - Screens
• 'GoldenEye: Rogue Agent' (NGC/PS2/Xbox) - Screens
• 'Knight Rider 2' (PS2/PC) - Screens
• 'Lord of the Rings: The Third Age' (NGC/PS2/Xbox) - Screens
• 'Mario Party 6' (NGC) - Screens
• 'Nexuiz' (PC) - Screens
• 'Origin Of The Species' (PC) - Screens
• 'Pathologic' (PC) - Screens
• 'Phantom Renaissance' (PC) - Screens
• 'PT Boats: Knights of the Sea' (PC) - Screens
• 'Resonance' (Xbox) - Screens
• 'Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed' (PC) - Screens
• 'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion' (PC) - Screens
• 'The Getaway 2' (PS2) - Screens
• 'Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines' (PC) - Screens

• 'Codename: Panzers' - Bonus Mission #4 Available NOW
• After 200 hours of development, producer Achim Heidelauf has released a new bonus mission with a completely new landscape, featuring 9 mission goals, 9 cutscenes, 2 secrets, at least 3 hours of fun!
• 'LMA Manager 2005' - v1.1 Update Patch Available NOW
• This update brings your retail game to v1.1 and addresses various game crashes, bug fixes and general enhancements.
• 'Sabotain: Break The Rules' - Demo Available NOW
• Avalon Style Entertainment released a demo for its 3D PC action role playing game giving you the chance to try out an early section of the full game, and a walkthrough is included for your convenience.
• 'Total Club Manager 2005' - Demo & Patch Available NOW
• This rather huge demo will let you try out part of the game, now available in Europe. The first patch addresses various bug fixes, game crashes and makes several game improvements.
• 'Wings Of War' - v1.2 Update Patch Available NOW
• This brings your retail game (or demo) to v1.2 and adds new multiplayer modes (bombing run, hangar), new Jutland arena, and fixes various game crashes and bugs.
• Various Trailers Available NOW
• 'ESPN College Hoops 2K5' (PS2/Xbox) - Trailer
• 'Ghost Recon 2' (NGC/PS2/Xbox/PC) - Trailer
• 'Jurassic Park' (PC) - Trailer
• 'Nanobreaker' (PS2) - Trailer
• 'Need For Speed Underground 2' (NGC/PS2/Xbox/PC) - Trailer
• 'PT Boats: Knights of the Sea' (PC) - Trailer
• 'RollerCoaster Tycoon 3' (PC) - Trailer
• 'Sabotain: Break the Rules' (PC) - Trailer
• 'The Witcher' (PC) - Trailer
• 'Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines' (PC) - Trailer

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Q&A; 08:01 pm - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - consoles: xbox (0 comments)
Team Xbox grilled Ubisoft's Bertrand Helias about Prince of Persia - Warrior Within:

The first noticeable aspect of the Warrior Within is the look of the Prince; he appears much more mature and almost scoundrel-like. What were your reasons for changing his appearance?

Bertrand Helias: The now darker, more mature Prince is a reflection of the hardships he has endured in between the years of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. PoP:WW begins several years after PoP:SoT. Having disrupted the Timeline when he saved the Sultan's palace, the Dahaka, the Guardian of Time, has been hunting the Prince, hell-bent on destroying and erasing him from the Timeline. So the Prince is battle-weary and tired. It is no wonder he looks the way he does.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Q&A; 07:38 pm - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: action (2 comments)
Gamesfire shot up an interview with GSC's Oleg Yavorksky about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (thanks Oblivion Lost):

GF: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. seems to pick the best elements of existing and soon-forthcoming FPS and action/adventure games: graphics, plot, action scenes, rhythm, A.I., realism... What new, exclusive features will make S.T.A.L.K.E.R. the new standard for the genre?

Mr. Yavorsky: My belief is what makes the game stand out is the life simulation we've implemented in there. This system is in charge of controlling every creature's behaviour and actions. It enables monsters actually live inside the Zone: all the monsters have the full life cycle in place - they hunt, feed, take rest, evaluate their chances in battle, run away scared and so on. Once an enemy disappeared from their field of view, monsters and NPCs in the game will try to guess where he could go, instead of knowing for sure where he is - therefore monsters and NPCs don't cheat - if they have checked all the spots they believe are good for hiding and haven't found the enemy, they will calm down and continue their regular course of life. It's important to say that life simulation works simultaneously for the entire Zone in the game - monsters fight with each other, migrate, stalkers get entrapped in anomalies and so on. Therefore, once the player takes a nap in the game, waking up he will see the world to have changed.

Fable Wrap Up 07:14 pm - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - consoles: xbox (7 comments)
1Up posted a final exam for Fable, which is a post-mortem of sort. Included, are quotes from Big Blue Box's Dene Carter:

"A combination of factors, over a prolonged period of time, altered our perspective on the task of completing Fable," he says. "These included technical scope issues (e.g., early indications of the size of the audio files), design decision legal issues (e.g., deaths of children), and the impact of certain design decisions on the schedule (the sheer number of problems caused by things such as the 'acorn-to-tree' idea.) In addition, we considered the level of quality we wanted to achieve (getting dozens of features polished to console standards is hard and time consuming) and the different types of gamer we wanted to address. Effectively you have to write a game twice: once so that you understand it, and then again so that people who haven't been looking at it every day understand it."

Counter-Strike: Source Update 06:09 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: action (2 comments)
I think we all know the drill now:

COUNTER-STRIKE: SOURCE CHANGES / ADDITIONS:
• Fixed server reliable buffer overflow errors
• Fixed BroadcastMessage:Reliable Broadcast overflow issue

No Online Co-Op In Halo 2 06:05 pm - Andrew Burnes - consoles: xbox (8 comments)
Confirming what was never announced or hinted to, IGN tonight states categorically that there is no online or system-link co-op in the forthcoming Halo 2:

The two-player cooperative function found in Halo 2 is just like it was in the original Halo. It enables two people, offline, to play through the single-player game cooperatively using a two-way split-screen.

Microsoft, however, did clarify an interesting new online feature, first revealed in EGM. Four people can play Halo 2 online using one Xbox via four-player split-screen. One player logs in to Xbox Live! using his or her account, while the other three play as guests.

World of Warcraft Not On November 22nd 03:31 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: mmog (8 comments)
A rebuttal regarding the earlier World of Warcraft launch news has been issued by the fine folks over at Blizzard:

We appreciate everyone's interest in determining when World of Warcraft will ship, but while we are rapidly approaching the open beta period and we are confident that we will meet our goal of shipping the game before the end of this year, nailing down an exact ship date is a little more complicated due to a number of factors. As soon as we have a specific date to announce, we will be excited to share the news with everyone. Please don't consider any announced release dates official until such an announcement comes from Blizzard. This is true for all announcements related to Blizzard games.

Sorry MMOG fans.

Raven Shield v1.60 Patch 03:26 pm - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: action (4 comments)
In other long awaited patch news, Ubisoft has released the v1.60 patch for Raven Shield. Snag a copy from:

• 3D Gamers
• FilePlanet
• WorthPlaying

Best Selling Games Of September 01:07 pm - Andrew Burnes - games: general news (8 comments)
The Sims reign supreme over the chart this month, unsurprisingly:

1/ The Sims 2 - Electronic Arts - $48
2/ The Sims 2 Special Edition - Electronic Arts - $49
3/ Call Of Duty: United Offensive Expansion Pack - Activision - $28
4/ Star Wars Battlefront - LucasArts - $47
5/ Doom 3 - Activision - $52
6/ The Sims Deluxe - Electronic Arts - $19
7/ Call Of Duty - Activision - $30
8/ Rome: Total War - Activision - $43
9/ World Poker Championship - Valusoft - $19
10/ Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic - LucasArts - $21
11/ The Sims: Makin' Magic - Electronic Arts - $20
12/ Madden NFL 2005 - Electronic Arts - $37
13/ Age Of Mythology - Microsoft - $28
14/ Tournament Poker: No Limit Texas Hold'em - Eagle Games - $18
15/ EverQuest: Omens Of War - Sony Online - $29
16/ The Sims: Unleashed - Electronic Arts - $20
17/ Rise Of Nations - Microsoft - $36
18/ Halo: Combat Evolved - Microsoft - $33
19/ The Sims Mega Deluxe - Electronic Arts - $35
20/ Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft - $30

Halo PC continues to sell despite Microsoft's attempts to kill it where it stands.

Ace Combat 5 Ships 12:48 pm - Andrew Burnes - consoles: ps2 (1 comment)
Namco's purdy looking Playstation 2 combat flight sim, Ace Combat 5, is now shipping to stores across North America:

ACE COMBAT 5 engages players in detailed dog fighting missions and intense squadron command to deliver the most invigorating experience to date in the renowned ACE COMBAT franchise of games. Players will find themselves entrenched in an unforgettable aerial experience as they aim to complete more than 30 missions ranging from air-to-air combat, air-to-ground fighting, air-to-sea assaults, rescue, recon and more. Impressive graphics created with satellite imagery and 3D models heighten the action in ACE COMBAT 5, as players travel over breathtaking environments inspired by recognizable real-world landscapes in more than 50 authentic licensed planes.

With its inclusion of Wingman Command, players of ACE COMBAT 5 can issue mid-mission directives to three wingmen and carry out coordinated group attacks. Players can also experience the game�s addictive Arcade Mode, which puts reflexes to the test through fast-paced missions measuring speed and accuracy. In addition, in-game radio communications lend depth, strategy and realism to the game�s dynamic battle sequences.

Find out more about this one, here

RPG Vault Features 10:22 am - Jeff Tom - games: role-playing (0 comments)
Here's the latest from RPG Vault on this Monday:

• Anarchy Online - Alien Invasion Wrap Report
• The Witcher Peek
• EverQuest II Media

Far Cry v1.3 Patch Released 09:24 am - Andrew Burnes - games: action (6 comments)
After the false start that was the 1.2 patch, Ubisoft and Crytek have finally managed to patch their first-person shooter, Far Cry, past version 1.1. The 77MB patch can be downloaded from the following locations:

• 3D Gamers
• FilePlanet
• Worthplaying

EverQuest 2 Q&A; 08:27 am - Jeff Tom - games: mmog (0 comments)
German website GamesDynamite have whipped up an interview on EverQuest 2, the MMORPG that will hit stores around November 8. Here's a whiff on gameplay:

Travelling was one of the weak points in EQ1 at least in the first few years, until the mounts went live. It simply took too long for friends to gather, even more if there was no one able to teleport folks using a druid ring. Now the story tells that those rings are disabled, so how will long distance travel be handled? We have learned about mounts and ships, but in EQ1 you literally were able to spent hours to get from one point of the world to the next, which was a pain for casual players. On the other hand, long travel times can create the atmosphere of a big world that has lots of landscape to explore and generally gives the feeling of a whole world that lies beneath the feet of an adventurer. What's your opinion on that, and what will EQ2 be like in that aspect?

We try to strike a balance. Our cities are massive, but they are easy to get around in because the zones are linked through mariner's bells that take you from one area to another. We want to preserve the feeling of the world being a big place, so our large overland zones will take time to travel across. Mounts and other means of transport can mitigate travel time somewhat, but we don't want to make the world seem too small this early in the game's life.

GTA: San Andreas Ships 07:43 am - Jeff Tom - consoles: ps2 (12 comments)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has shipped to retailers according today, according to the press release from Rockstar. The game will hit the PC sometime next year. Enjoy:

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), is proud to announce that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has shipped to retail stores in North America. Developed by Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is available exclusively for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be in stores in Europe on October 29th, 2004.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the next installment in the gaming franchise that has sold over 32 million units to date, including over 13 million units of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and over 11 million units of Grand Theft Auto 3.

EverQuest 2 Ships November 8 07:38 am - Jeff Tom - games: mmog (2 comments)
Sony Online Entertainment have announced that the MMORPG EverQuest 2 is set to ship to both North American and European markets on November 8. Hit the link comments for the full pr:

"After more than four years in development, the wait for EverQuest II is almost over," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "We've invested heavily on development of the game to ensure that EverQuest II has the highest production values of any online game produced to date. We want to deliver a game to our players that will provide an experience like nothing they've ever seen."

DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil Announced 07:11 am - Andrew Burnes - games: action (7 comments)
Shock! An expansion pack! Who'd a thunk it!?

id Software and Activision, Inc. will unleash an all-new assault on humanity with DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil, the official expansion pack to the fastest selling PC first- person action game ever in the U.S., according to NPD Techworld. Co-developed by Nerve Software and id Software, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil continues the terrifying and intense action of the already classic DOOM 3, which Maxim and Computer Gaming World awarded "five out of five stars" and the Associated Press called "one of the scariest games ever made." Through the discovery of a timeless and evil artifact you now hold the powers of Hell in your hands, and the demons have come to hunt you down and take it back. Following the events of DOOM 3 and featuring new locations, characters and weapons, including the return of the double-barreled shotgun, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil expands the terrifying action that fans and critics have been raving about. The title will require the full retail version of DOOM 3, and has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

"DOOM 3 defines first-person cinematic action, and the expansion pack continues right where we left off -- with a terrifying atmosphere, a new story and one of the most classic weapons ever, the double-barreled shotgun," states Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. "Now that fans have survived the horrors and edge of your seat action of the original, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil delivers players deeper into the heart of the UAC to uncover new secrets and technology used to destroy the demon force that's Hell-bent on destroying you."

Building on the most advanced game engine ever created, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil continues the frightening and gripping single player experience of the blockbuster original. The title also features even more multiplayer action with support for up to eight players in all new maps.

No release date quoted however.

World of Warcraft On November 22nd? 05:45 am - Andrew Burnes - games: mmog (2 comments)
The Detroit Free Press claims that the launch date for the massively popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, will be November 22nd, 1 week after the launch of Half-Life 2:

Most stores have predicted Nov. 15 would be the launch date for "World of Warcraft," guessing that Sony Online Entertainment's behemoth "Everquest 2" would come out on or near the same day. But Phil O'Neil, president, North America, of "Warcraft" publisher Vivendi Universal Games, said the game will actually launch a week after the company's other hot holiday title, "Half-Life 2," which debuts Nov. 16.

"We think that it will do extremely well," he said. That's pretty much a given internationally, since textbooks have been written on how earlier games from the developer of "Warcraft," Blizzard, have single-handedly changed the economy in countries like South Korea. Here, though, it may face stiffer competition from "Everquest 2."

Nintendo Sexes Up The DS 04:51 am - Andrew Burnes - consoles: general news (0 comments)
Retuers reports on how Nintendo is sexing up its advertising campaign for the Nintendo DS to differentiate it from the GameBoy Advance, when in reality both perform the same function:

But in an unusual move for Nintendo, known for games featuring animated characters Mario and Pokemon, the new ads aim to titillate with the tagline "Touching is Good."

Teaser spots start on Monday, playing up the dual-screen device's touch controls. A woman's sultry voice invites the viewer to come a little closer and get a feel.

"When you're a kid you're always told you can't touch anything," said Perrin Kaplan, vice president of marketing at Nintendo of America. "Touching is good. You're grown-up now, so read it how you want."

Argonaut Out Of Cash & Up For Sale 04:43 am - Andrew Burnes - games: general news (0 comments)
Argonaut Games, most notable for the successful Harry Potter Playstation titles, has run out of cash. With the studio now up for sale over 50 employees have been laid off, and operations suspended:

Hopes have been raised for successful management buyouts of some portions of the company, including Cambridge-based studio Just Add Monsters, which most recently developed the critically acclaimed Kung Fu Chaos and is currently working on a graphically stunning next-generation title which is believed to have attracted significant interest from publishers.

BBC Online is also covering the story.

Dungeon Lords Article 02:10 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: action / roleplaying (0 comments)
RPG Dot interviewed D.W. Bradley in article format about the upcoming hack-n-slash themed RPG - Dungeon Lords:

With time running out, I asked two obvious questions: how will old Wizardry fans like Dungeon Lords and what is the development status? "Oh, they'll love it!", was Bradley's instant response. "It never feels arcadey or like you're hacking through endless dungeons. Every area feels unique and it always feels connected to the story backbone". As for the development status, Bradley wouldn't be drawn too much although the game is clearly in the final stages. "Testing, lots of testing…there's 33 different class specialisations for starters but you only use 5 in a game".

Half-Life 2 Banned Down Under? 01:21 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: action (7 comments)
Snagged from Half-Life Fallout:

The folks over at Sumea have posed an interesting question, will HL2 be refused classification in Australia, in the light of the Pan European Games Information (PEGI) rating of R(18+) given to HL2? In Australia, no games have been accepted if they fit into the R(18+) category, so this means HL2 needs to fit into at most the highest category of MA(15+), or it will be refused classification.

Scrapland Quickie 01:14 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: action / strategy (0 comments)
Quickie previews seem to be the theme of the day so far, as Gamespy took a brief look at American McGee's Scrapland:

Visually, Scrapland is a striking game. It's not so much the game's engine -- some of the models and textures are fairly ordinary when viewed up close -- but the architecture and use of color make the game engaging to look at and explore. It's proof that you don't necessarily need cutting-edge technology to make an exciting-looking game; in Scrapland, imagination and design are every bit as valuable.

Armies of Exigo Quickie 01:08 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: real-time strategy (0 comments)
Gamespy took a gander at Armies of Exigo, EA and Blackhole Games upcoming fantasy themed RTS:

The first thing I noticed when I fired up the game is that while much of the gameplay is old-school, the finished look of the game isn't. The cut-scenes in particular are spectacular. Gamers may have already seen the opening movie, which was released as a trailer (link) for the game, but the rest of the game's movies are of that quality or even higher. Even better, the single player campaign seems to have taken the "cinematic" vision of the game to heart. First, it's remarkably long. Each race gets its own three-act story, and each act consists of four missions apiece. Second, every mission in the game is loaded with interludes and there are five or six mini-cinematics in each story that help move the story along.

Guild Wars Preview; Q&A; 01:02 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: mmog (0 comments)
GW Online shot out some new impressions of Guild Wars, Arena.net's upcoming action themed massively multiplayer game. On a related note, The Lair is hosting this week's fansite Q&A.; Meanwhile, Gamespot has a profile of the Monk class and the mesmer. Thanks Guild Wars Slovenija.

A Chat with WIll Wright 12:59 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: simulation (0 comments)
Redassedbaboon chatted a bit with Maxis's Will Wright, father of the Sims series:

The Sims was tremendously succesful, spawning a myriad of expansion packs and millions of fans. Wright expects the same from the sequel, which has already been translated into 21 different languages.

"Sims 2 is something like five times more open-ended than the original plus there are the meta-games on top of that - you can do character creation, make movies, build your house - and game play in general is much deeper," Wright said. "A lot of what the Sims 2 became was in response to what we couldn't do in The Sims."

Misc. Files 12:48 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: general news (1 comment)
A few misc. files from the weekend:

• Aces High II client & patch v2.00.11
• Battlefield Vietnam Battlecraft Vietnam editor v1.2.4
• Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron retail patch v1.12
• Hidden & Dangerous 2 retail patch v1.12
• RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 demo v1.2

Axis & Allies Quickie 12:45 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: real-time strategy (0 comments)
Also up at HomeLan this morning are some impressions of Axis & Allies, a WW2 flavored RTS coming out this week:

The game's two single player campaigns are divided between the Axis and Allied powers of WWII and through the single player campaigns you get to recreate some of the more famous battles from around the globe, from both the European and Pacific theaters, from Stalingrad and the Battle of the Bulge to even some alternate history scenarios such as a full Nazi invasion of London. Timegate's campaigns represent an ambitious look at the entire war, rather than just a few war campaigns like in other WWII RTS titles. In addition there is the World War II mode that's similar to the actual board game in that you play first on a global map in turn based mode then when you and your AI opponent meet in one country it switches to a randomly generated map in RTS mode. Having both a regular RTS campaign and a combo turn based-RTS mode certainly adds to the replay value.

WoW Beta Impressions 12:38 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: mmog (0 comments)
A couple sites have conjured up beta impressions for World of WarCraft including Boomtown and HomeLan:

Overall, our impressions of the game experience haven't really changed very much since our last look at the game in April. The game is still great to look at, it's extremely easy to just start playing the game (even if you are a newcomer to the genre) and Blizzard really has done an excellent job in transposing their slightly cartoony RTS world into a MMORPG experience. You can also tell that the game has been in beta for quite a long time. It's extremely stable and lag free and Blizzard clearly has made strides in improving the game before launch. There are a couple of odd bugs (a couple of times some monsters would not attack back if we were attacking from behind) but these are minor quibbles about the status of the game. We also like the fact that player vs player combat is in the game now.

Hardware & Tech Nuggets 12:16 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - hardware: general news (0 comments)

Reviews

• A.C.Ryan Accessories - Mikhailtech
• ASUS Radeon X600 XT Extreme - VR-Zone
• Albatron's PX915P-AGPe motherboard - The Tech Report
• GALAXY GeForce 6600 256MB - HEXUS
• Gateway M520S Laptop - Designtechnica
• Logitech MX1000 Laser Cordless Mouse - 3DX
• Mushkin PC2-4200 (DDR2) - hi-tech reviews
• OCZ DDR Booster Diagnostic Device - 3D Game Man
• Radeon X700 XT and PRO - Beyond3D
• Sapphire X700pro - Gotapex
• SilverStone Temjin TJ05 ATX Tower Case - Hardcoreware
• Tyan Transport GX28 1U Dual Opteron Barebones Server - AMD Zone
• Tyan Tomcat i915 - Phoronix
• Thermaltake TrueLight Memory Heat Spreader - ATR
• Wintec AMP-X PC2-5400 DDR2 - Oc Prices

  Other Stuff
  

• ATI AMD64 Catalyst Beta 2 Driver Performance - AMD Zone
• Doom 3 Linux Client Performance - AMD Zone

Game Reviews 12:15 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - games: general news (0 comments)

PC

• Call of Duty: United Offensive - Gameconnect - 8/10
• Club Football 2005 - PC.IGN - 7.7/10
• Kohan 2 - AVault - 3.5/5
• Leisure Suit Larry Magna Cum Laude - CGO - 81%
• Pitfall: The Lost Expedition - Gamespot - 7.2/10
• Superpower 2 - Gamespot - 5.2/10
• Star Wars Battlefront - Gamershell - 8/10
• THUG 2 - GG Mania - 85%

  Xbox
  

• Def Jam: Fight for NY - Boomtown - 9/10
• Men of Valor - Gamespot - 7.9/10
• Outlaw Golf 2 - Xbox.IGN - 7.4/10
• OutRun 2 - Xbox.IGN - 8.2/10
• Tak 2 - Gamespot - 6.7/10

  PS2
  

• Ace Combat 5 - Gamespy - 4/5
• Scaler - PS2.IGN - 8/10
• Second Sight - Gamershell - 8/10
• The Nightmare of Druaga: Fushigino Dungeon - Gamespy - 3/5

In Other News... 12:12 am - Robert 'Apache' Howarth - in-house: in other news... (12 comments)
I finally picked up the latest PC Gamer and thumbed through the Half-Life 2 review. I haven't read the entire feature, as I got hung up on the part that said if you don't want spoilers to just skip to the end for the score. I'm waiting on my next bowel movement to check out the rest. Nothing like reading a nice gaming mag on the can; best laxative ever!

This week's new releases look much better than the last. Axis & Allies, Men of Valor (PC) is coming out, as is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for you PS2 fans.

The comments appear to be a bit (cough) messed up at the moment, sorry about that. When the IGN tech guys come in Monday morning they should fix it. I think we'll just skip the question today since the the forums are fubar.