July - Aug. '04

8-28-4

Steam News has word that the second part of Half-Life 2 preloads is underway (thanks [SFM] Hobbes). Word is: "This will allow users to download the majority of the audio of Half-Life 2 in encrypted form."

Intel in new chip breakthrough.

8-25-4

A problem with ATI's drivers in DOOM 3?

8-20-4

The Multi Theft Auto Website now offers a new version 0.4.1 of the Multi Theft Auto modification that adds multiplayer support to Grand Theft Auto. Word is: "The MTA Team is proud to announce the release of MTA 0.4.1, which builds on top of MTA 0.4′s features to drastically reduce bandwidth and increase stability (although, crashes still exist)."

8-15-4

A new version 1.152 of the Action Battlefield modification for Battlefield 1942 is now available. The new version fixes the scoreboard, fixes the Punkbuster enable button, tweaks some weapons, and adds ABF_Moon, a new map. Thanks OzForces.

8-10-4

One can never have enough DOOM 3 as it is the greatest game in the world.

8-3-4

DOOM 3 IS OUT.

8-1-4

Commemorating the final weekend before the game hits store shelves, the final official DOOM 3 trailer is now available offering one last appetizer for the imminent shooter remake. The clip is a 40 MB download, available on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, Computer Games Online, Doom3.de, Doom3Maps.de, FilePlanet (registration required), FileShack (registration required), Fragland.net, Gamer's Depot, Gamer's Hell, GameSpot (streaming for free), GameSpot DLX (registration required), Gamehelper, Gaming Horizon, GenGamers, OzForces, and Yahoo! Games Domain. Also, a post on the Shack forums (thanks Ant) points out a post on The Awful Forums (subscription required) that notes an Easter Egg in the trailer where the original DOOM marine's face can be seen, as depicted in this screenshot. In further DOOM 3 hysteria, there is also story on IGN about their ecstasy from getting their advance copy of the game running.

7-30-4

Happy System Administrator Appreciation Day. "A special day, once a year, to acknowledge the worthiness and appreciation of the person occupying the role, especially as it is often this person who really keeps the wheels of your company turning."

7-25-4

A new version of Qtracker, the versatile server tracking program, is now available. Version 3.8 addresses some bugs and add some tweaks and new features, including support for Halo Custom Edition, Painkiller, and the Steam network. Additionally, word is: "This new release focuses much needed attention on the new user experience by providing first-time users with a quick-start guide and an initial setup wizard, as well as numerous interface changes and visual enhancements."

7-22-4

There's a Cold War Q&A on FileFront talking with DreamCatcher's Rudolf Matousek about their upcoming third-person shooter set behind the iron curtain: "We are all fans of stealth games, but we didn’t want to create another 'stealth in-line agent killing machine' game. So we chose a different type of hero and a slightly different type of gameplay. And the Cold War era was quite easy to choose. You know, we all have lived under communist oppression for some time, so we really know everything about living in a state where you are less than a cog in the machine, constantly being fed propaganda."

7-19-4

A playable demo for Knight of the Temple is now available, offering the chance to sample the third-person action/adventure formerly known as Templar. The demo is a 207 MB download, available on the TDK Mediactive Europe Website, and mirrored on Gamer's Hell. There's also a version on 3D Gamers that's 24 MB smaller thanks to the removal of a Direct X 8.1 installer that most users won't need. Here's the deal: "The PC demo sets the player into immediate action: In the rank of a Commander of Knights he has to make his way through the lost city of Petra and to face groups of opponents armed with different weapons using unique fighting techniques.

7-16-4

Activision is eager to pass along word that DOOM 3 will have a presence at G4/Tech TV's upcoming G-Phoria "the Award Show for Gamers" featuring gaming icons Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro: "Wanted to let you know that id Software confirmed today that they are bringing DOOM 3 PC and the DOOM 3 pod to 'G-Phoria – the Award Show for Gamers' this Saturday at the Shrine Expo Center in LA. G-Phoria guests will get the chance to play a preview portion of DOOM 3 single player on the PC, ahead of next week’s release. G-Phoria premieres on G4TechTV on Aug 6."

7-13-4

Global Star Software has posted an Army Men: Sarge's War product page, dedicated to the continuation of the green versus tan wargame. According to Gamestop's listing, this game is now available in stores.

7-10-4

There's a new World of Warcraft gameplay movie on World of Warcraft OGaming Forum showing off the Night Elf Priest Elusia. Also, the Captain Blood E3 movie is now available, demonstrating Akella's upcoming seafaring strategy game. The movie is available on 3D Gamers. Finally, There's a listing of Richard Burns Rally movies on Black Hole Motorsports.

The Warlords Battlecry III Website now offers downloads of a new version 1.02 update for various language editions of the fantasy-themed RTS game, though word is the French and German editions of the patch are still undergoing testing. Thanks Frans.

7-9-4

Doomsday HQ now offers a new version 1.8.0 of the Doomsday version of the DOOM engine is now available. Word is: "As far as I'm concerned, the 1.8.x series will see no new major features. I intend to keep fixing the remaining issues and generally maintaining the codebase, but I want to shift my attention to other projects, such as Doomsday 2.0 (a.k.a. Hawthorn)."

Battlefield 1942 mods for Macintosh.

7-5-4

A new beta version 1.91a of the Navy SEALs: Covert Operations modification is now available. Word is: "Also I wanted to tell you all that NS:CO is progressing and I will try to get back to more regular updates for this website. We're currently working on porting NS:CO to the Quake3 Point Release 1.32 to kill some bugs but with mIc having less time this will take some more time than expected."

The debut release of the Clone Bandits modification for Unreal Tournament 2004 is now available. Here's the storyline that combat in the mod follows: "In a post-apocalyptic future, two warring clans of ruffians and ne'er-do-wells have built their outposts over the ruins of an abandoned military research compound, which just happens to be stocked with life-giving clones. Sweet, sweet clones!"

NVIDIA's Linux Drivers Portal Page now offers new NVIDIA Linux drivers.

7-4-4

Happy Independence day to all Americans.

Slashdot | Microsoft Patents Grouped Taskbar Buttons.

7-3-4

The Warcraft III Bonus Maps Section now features another new map for the Frozen Throne expansion for Blizzard's RTS game. The map is titled Rolling Hills, and here's the description: "Thump... Thump... War approaches. Booming drums call the troops to death and glory. The lines are drawn, and alliances are set. Nothing will hold back the bloodshed. War is here. Thump... Thump!"

A new official Unreal Tournament 2004 Mod Author Support Site is now online, offering a helpful collection of resources for UT2004 modification authors courtesy of Epic Games.

7-2-4

The Warcraft III Website offers details on new version 1.16 patches for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. The Frozen Throne patch can be found in this FTP directory, while the Reign of Chaos patch is available in this FTP directory. Both patches are mirrored on 3D Gamers.

The Unreal Tournament Website now lists the Make Something Unreal contest Phase 3 Finalists for Non-FPS and Mutator and Vehicle and Karma Physics. Also, Raven Shield Platoon is running a Rainbow Six 3/Raven Shield mapping competition, giving away some high-end ATI video cards among the contest's prizes.

7-1-4

Version 1.19 of Q2K4, is now available, a modified version of the Quake engine. Q2K4 offers features found in other engine modifications, along with a couple of new wrinkles.