Sept. - Oct. '04

10-29-4

Doomsday HQ now features a new version 1.8.3 of the Doomsday modification of the DOOM source code. The new iteration is a maintenance release, and the plan is to offer another maintenance release around Christmas, and they are also striving to release another Mac OS X beta before the end of the year.

Wrighting Sim history on RedAssedBaboon.com looks for Mr. Wright, as they discuss the little people with their virtual father: "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. A lot of what the Sims 2 became was in response to what we couldn't do in The Sims."

GameSpy's 25 Most Memorable Games of the Past 5 Years.

ASUS Radeon X600 XT Extreme Video Card on VR-Zone Hardware.

10-27-4

DOOM 3 Linux Client Performance on AMDZone.

The PlanetBattlefield Forums feature downloads of a new 11 minute ShakyCam movie of a Battlefield 2 demonstration at LanVages in Germany. The 24 MB clip shows off some new features, but requires registration to download. Also, a new Sabotain: Break The Rules trailer is online, showing off Avalon Style Entertainment's upcoming first-person shooter/role-playing game hybrid. The 22 MB download is available on 3D Gamers, FileFront, GenGamers, and Worthplaying.

The Codename: Panzers Website now offers downloads of a new bonus map for Codename: Panzers created by Codename: Panzers producer Achim Heidelauf in his spare time. There are separate English, German, and French editions of the map, which is described like this: "The map contains 9 mission goals, 9 cutscenes and 2 secrets. With a size of 22MB the map assures at least 3 hours of fun with some crazy surprises and sounds!!"

Microsoft Announce Halo 2 Xbox Live Starter Kit.

10-26-4

The Atari Forums has the release of the UT2004 edition of the UT2003 Community Bonus Pack. The pack offers all the maps from the original CBP, updated to UT2004 and bug-fixed, along with a new bonus map.

The Total Club Manager 2005 Website now offers downloads of new patches for various language editions of this soccer/football management simulator. In addition to the patch, they are also offering a new demo of the game, allowing the chance to check it out in exchange for a whopping 502 MB download. Coincidentally, Codemasters now offers a new patch for LMA Pro Manager 2005, updating this footies management sim to version 1.1

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Website is now online.

For the old DOS gamers OpenGL ports of CLASSICS!.

10-25-4

The DOOM3[CC] Website has the release of a second transcription for DOOM 3, adding text to Level 2, Mars City. Word is that several other transcriptions are in progress, and that now that the DOOM 3 SDK is available, significant progress on the full mod is being made.

Todd Hollenshead's .plan file has word from the id Software CEO on his unofficial contest looking for id Software inspired tattoos, offering "one free copy of DOOM 3 + strategy guide + new 'Making Of DOOM 3' book," and because if you are dedicated enough to get an id tattoo, there's a good chance you have the game already, he will also autograph that copy of DOOM 3.

Vivendi Universal Games sends along the eagerly anticipated press release that Half-Life 2 has gone gold, and is scheduled to ship world-wide on November 16, 2004.

HomeLAN Fed's Half-Life 2 Q&A talks with Valve's Doug Lombardi on the occasion of Half-Life 2 going gold: "In terms of graphics, Half-Life: Source is the most straightforward of the Source porting work done thus far. These ports began as tests to see what MOD authors would experience if they attempted to bring their HL1 MODs forward to Source. HL: Source was the first test, and proved quite informative. But unlike CS: Source, which included new art and audio throughout, folks here had pretty firm opinions about not changing the content in HL1."

Version 1.0 is now available of the Xfire server-browser/instant messenger client for gamers. The new release adds a feature called "Cross-game messaging," that allows messages to be sent to players who are already playing a game, and can even send messages from a player within one game to a player within an entirely different game, with this example offered: "So for the first time, a gamer playing Quake 3 could send messages to a friend playing Everquest or to a friend playing Counter-Strike, and so on."

New reason to avoid 'unsubscribe' links.

FTC stops bogus anti-spyware firm.

Coping with a Serious Data Loss from your Computer.

10-24-4

DOOM 3 for Xbox Neraring Completion.

Play Halo on Xbox with a Keyboard & Mouse and the related discussion - Is this fair in multiplayer games?

How Many Words-Per-Minute Do You Read?

10-23-4

The Doom3[CC] Website now offers the first "stopgap" release of the DOOM 3 [CC] modification that augments much of the game's audio with visual cues to assist the hearing impaired. The first release, created without the benefit of the just-released SDK, adds supplementary emails that describe the content of the videodisks collected throughout the game, as well as email versions of the PDA audio logs.

The Need for Speed Underground 2 Website now offers downloads of a new "Coal Harbor" movie from the upcoming street racing sequel. The clip shows off more of the game's fender-to-fender racing, afterburners, and in-game advertising, available in either high or low resolutions.

ATI CEO confirms AMD PCI-E chipsets shipping.

10-22-4

This Atari PC CD-ROM Titles Page has a few new listings, including one for Civilization IV, the unannounced (albeit no-brainer) follow-up to the popular epic strategy game series. No information is listed other than the title. There are also listings for previously unannounced projects Enemy In Sight and Rat Race (also with no accompanying details), and a listing for Chronos, an indication that Saber Interactive's first-person action game has found a publisher.

A new version 1.1 of the RollerCoaster Tycoon demo is now available, offering an updated sample of the theme park simulator from Chris Sawyer and Frontier Developments. The 163 MB download is available on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, Fileaholic, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

Are Hackers Now Gunning for the Mac?

10-21-4

A new patch is now available for America's Army, updating the freeware Unreal-engine military shooter to version 2.2.0. The update adds a couple of new multiplayer missions and a variety of teaks and fixes. Downloads can be found on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, FileFront, FileShack (registration required), Gameguru Mania, Gamer's Hell, Games-Fusion, GameSpot DLX (registration required), and Worthplaying.

A demo version of Knight Rider: The Game 2 is now available, offering the chance to bust out your Members-Only® jacket and test-drive KITT, the nasal super-car, in a sample of Davilex Software's TV series-based sequel. The demo is a 248 MB download, available on 3D Gamers, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

A new beta version 1.93 of the Navy SEALs Covert Operations modification for Quake III Arena is now available. The new release includes four new maps, a couple of maps that previously were not official, and a bunch of new features.

10-20-4

The new version 0.8 of the Desert Combat modification for Battlefield 1942 is now available. The 361 MB update to the modern combat mod for the military shooter requires version 0.7 to be already installed. Downloads of the client (and in some cases the updated server files) can be found on Boomtown (registration required), FileFront, FilePlanet (registration required), Filerush (torrent), Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying. There is also a new Desert Combat Final Q&A on FPS Central conducted immediately prior to the new release.

The official World War II Panzer Claws II Website is online, as well as the Product Page for the game from publisher ZUXXEZ, each revealing production on Reality Pump Studios' RTS sequel featuring World War II armored combat.

10-19-4

Steam News has word that further preloads of Half-Life 2 content over the online content delivery service are now underway, supporting a rumor of Dubious Quality suggesting a gold announcement nears. Here's word on the preloads:

The sixth phase of the Half-Life 2 preload begins to Steam account holders today. This will allow users to download the Half-Life 2 maps in encrypted form. No purchase is required to pre-load Half-Life 2, but is required to activate the game. The moment the game is made available, those who have pre-loaded and purchased the game via Steam will be ready to start playing.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Details on IGN offers a Q&A with Mathieu Ferland of Ubisoft about the next installment in Sam Fisher's sneaky adventures: "In SCCT, because of the AI improvements, we're not forcing this scan in a zone anymore. NPCs are moving more, and an alarm will be triggered only if an NPC is "physically" seeing the body. Don't get me wrong, hiding bodies is still very important. It's just that we're trying to remove alarms that are misunderstood, and removing the body indication will enhance the tension since players still need to be very cautious."

10-18-4

Sproing Interactive Media announces development of 12 Volt, an upcoming slot-car racing game for PCs and consoles. No release date is yet offered for the project, which is described in part like this: "The cars can move freely on the track, they are not bound to a specific lane or slot like conventional slot cars are! This way the game combines the look of a die-cast-racer with the feeling of a full-physics arcade rally game!"

Atari's Betatests.net is now accepting sign-ups from those interested in beta testing Act of War: Direct Action, Eugen System's "near-future military strategy experience." Word is: "Act of War™: Direct Action takes you through a frightening and believable reality filled with suspense, international intrigue and geopolitical military conflict, wrapped in a top-quality strategy gaming experience."

10-17-4

Id Museum.

Gamers mark 30 years of Dungeons & Dragons.

The Doom 3 [CC] project is underway: "to provide deaf and hearing impaired gamers (of which there are many) the facilities to play and enjoy this superb game by providing them with a full text transcription of every piece of audio from every level in the game, including audio logs, video disks, environmental sounds, enemies and NPC conversations. In addition, a full modification to the game itself is in production to include closed-captioning of every piece of audio, written in the game engine and displayed as text on screen during gameplay."

10-16-4

Again digging into the new PC Gamer magazine as a source, HomeLAN Fed reports the latest issue of the print mag has a confirmation that Vampire: The Masquerade -- Bloodlines, Troika's upcoming Source-engine vampire game, will not feature multiplayer support.

VU Games announces the completion of development on the PC edition of Men of Valor, 2015's Vietnam War first-person shooter. The PC version should be in stores on October 26, a week after the Xbox version.

10-15-4

A new demo is now available for Live for Speed S1, updating the sample of this online racing sim through the recent Patch H. The demo, along with an updated installer for the full game, can be found on the Downloads Section of the framed site.

Access Gamer has the announcement of Dark Region, an MMORPG using Garage Games' Torque Engine in the works at indie developer Uber Real Games. There are no details at this point other than a brief outline of the game's science fiction-themed storyline, and a note that the game will be available for both Windows and MacOS.

10-14-4

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords screenshots on the LucasArts Website.

A new Call of Duty: United Offensive Linux dedicated server version 1.41e is now available. The new version adds some memory fixes, that hopefully address the Jeep crashing problem. The 474 KB download, which requires the retail game to run, can be found on 3D Gamers.

10-13-4

The Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight Website now features downloads of a new version 9.1 patch for the latest installment in the long-flying flight-sim series. The update improves stability and framerates while also adding in over 160 missing bridges as well as new auto-gen detail for JFK airport.

Matrix Games announces that Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great has been released and is now available for sale through the Matrix Games Online Store. "Easy to learn but difficult to master, it places you in the role of Alexander the Great during his conquest of the known world. Guide Alexander through his grand campaign from inheriting his father’s legacy at the battle of Thebes to his conquest of Darius III and the Persian Empire through his last great battle at the Hydaspes, in the heart of Asia against the Indian army of King Porus."

10-12-4

A new Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron movie is now online, showing off the upcoming expansion for Illusion Softworks' World War II tactical shooter. The clip is available in your choice of two resolutions on 3D Gamers.

This Vivendi Universal Games Downloads Page offers the promised TRIBES Vengeance Dedicated Server Client Beta, allowing a dedicated multiplayer server to be run without a CD key. The download is 174 MB.

10-11-4

It's a Wrap! Halo 2 Goes Gold!

There's a new The Matrix Online Diary on GameSpy concluding Monolith's guided tour of their upcoming MMORPG with a jaunt around Kowloon. Also, the Children of the Nile Designer Diary on IGN is online, as "Jeff Fiske gets into the life, luxury, and luck of being Pharaoh in ancient Egypt." Finally, Kuma\War Mission Briefing #9 on RPG Vault has Kuma Reality Games describing the latest mission in their current events shooter: "In June, US Marine forces en route to mount a surprise attack on Taliban stronghold were ambushed along the way."

The first patch is now available for Conflict: Vietnam, updating the latest installment in Pivotal Games' squad-based shooter series to version 1.1. The update addresses a couple of bugs, including a save game issue, and game's saved under the old version are not compatible with the patched game. The patch is available from Take 2 Games and mirrored on 3D Gamers, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, Games-Fusion, and Worthplaying.

10-10-4

The latest version of the Unreal Tournament 2004 dedicated server is now available, updated to version 3323. The 870 MB download contains the required files to run a dedicated Win32, Linux, or Mac server without a retail copy of the game by making use of a key created by the Unreal Tournament 2004 Server CD Key Generator. Downloads are mirrored on 3D Gamers, FileFront, and Worthplaying.

10-9-4

The Battlefield: Vietnam Website announces that the version 1.2 patch for Battlefield Vietnam will be released tomorrow, October 7. This previous update has details on the patch, while the newer update has some movies showing off the new patch. Thanks Frans.

10-8-4

A post on Halflife2.net reports they've received indications from U.K. retailers that the Half-Life 2 will be released in the U.K. on DVD only. They don't have word on the remainder of Europe, though they point out and that the Far Cry CD edition was not sold across the pond either.

10-7-4

Penguins, start your flashlights! The DOOM III GNU-Linux FAQ now offers GNU/Linux x86 DOOM 3 version 1.1 as well as the GNU/Linux x86 server and a Linux version of the DOOM 3 demo (thanks Crusader). Word is: "This release is compatible with the 1.1 patch for Windows released earlier this week."

10-6-4

Machinima.com has downloads of a new machinima movie made using the Battlefield 1942 engine offering a small dose of espionage starring James Bond (or a Desert Combat soldier who makes occasional wise cracks in a British accent)...

10-5-5

A third official trailer from Vampire: The Masquerade -- Bloodlines is now available, showing off more of the blood-sucking action from Troika's upcoming Source-engine game based on the pen-and-paper Vampire: The Masquerade RPG. The clip can be downloaded (registration required) or streamed from GameSpot, with downloads mirrored on 3D Gamers and FileFront.

10-4-4

World of Warcraft coming in November? on IGN offers a revelation from deep within a VUG earnings report of some release dates they've listed for World of Warcraft, Blizzard's upcoming MMORPG. The report lists a November U.S. release date, a December date for Korea, Early 2005 in Europe, and later that year for China and Taiwan. They also point out that it is Blizzard, not Vivendi, that has the final say in the game's release, so these dates might not be accurate, though the staggered release over various territories is probably an indicator of how the game will actually be rolled out around the world.

10-3-4

A new version 3.82 of the Qtracker server browsing utility is now available. The new version adds support for the Counter-Strike: Source beta and Call of Duty: United Offensive, while fixing an Alien vs. Predator 2 connection issue.

10-2-4

Atari's Axis and Allies Website has been redesigned (thanks Frans). In an unfortunate usability decision (or non-usability), the site now not only requires Flash, but will also not run in a browser where pop-ups are blocked or disabled. On a related note, there's a new 20 MB prelude movie for the game available for download on FilePlanet (registration required). The movie is mirrored on 3D Gamers.

10-1-4

The Katana News Page announces the release of the Katana Max Payne modification, the cutting edge conversion that adds swordplay to Remedy's third-person shooter.

9-27-4

Half-Life 2 set for 26th November in Europe on Eurogamer.net admits that Valve's shooter sequel has yet to achieve gold status before mongering a rumor they've come across that a November 26 European release date is to be announced soon and that the North American release for the game will be November 23. They cite "retail sources in the UK" for this information, though there's no indication where this originated beyond that. They contacted VU Games about this and learned: "There is a good chance Half-Life 2 will make it before this Christmas. We're targeting the holiday season." They also have word from Valve's Doug Lombardi saying "Unfortunately, I do not have a release date from VUG right now," going on to express their own confidence this was just a smokescreen, saying Doug was "no doubt under orders to wait until it's 'officially' announced." They also have word that online reviewers will not get pre-release versions of the game.

9-24-4

The Kult: Heretic Kingdoms Demo is now available, offering the first four levels from 3D People's role-playing game. The demo is a 190 MB download, which debuted on Gamer's Hell, with mirrors now available on 3D Gamers, FileFront, JustGamers, and Worthplaying.

9-21-4

The Shade: Wrath Of Angels Website has news of the availability of Black Element's action/horror game, though it seems likely that this announcement applies to the European version of the game. In other shipping news, Ubisoft announces the North American availability of Secret of the Silver Earring, Frogware's mystery game starring Sherlock Holmes, the famed fictional detective. Word is: "Join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they investigate the crime scene of a wealthy construction tycoon who has been murdered. Players will explore nineteenth-century London while questioning witnesses, investigating clues, and collecting evidence that might help to solve the crime."

9-18-4

Macintosh edition of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is in stores now.

A new CATALYST! Control Center for ATI cards is now available. This is a new user interface for ATI's CATALYST drivers, offering access to tweaks and other special features. The Control Center requires use of that .NET framework dealie. Write-ups/reviews of the new utility can be found on AnandTech, Beyond3D, bit-tech, HEXUS.net, and Neoseeker.

9-15-4

Aspyr announces that the Macintosh edition of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is gold, and the lauded RPG should be in North American retail outlets by September 18.

The Internet at 35: Still evolving.

9-1-4

A teaser image on The Elder Scrolls Website has folks abuzz over the possibility that the announcement of a fourth installment in the popular Elder Scrolls series (rumored to be titled "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion") is imminent.

WinZip 9.0 SR 1 is now available.