UT 2004 Beta Patch v3353 Notes 06:39 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- games: action
(0 comments)
Beyond Unreal posted up the patch notes for the forthcoming v3353 update for Unreal Tournament 2004. Check out the complete list of changes here.
DAoC Server Clustering Begins Tomorrow 06:25 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- games: mmog
(4 comments)
Starting tomorrow, Mythic will begin clustering servers together to combat its shrinking active player base. First up are four servers, Palomides, Iseult, Bors, and Gawaine, which really doesn't make a lot of sense since it's a three realm game, although they could've added that fourth in there to throw people off trying to create spy characters. Aside from the clustering (not to be confused with merging) is news that the 1.74 patch will go live which adds quite a bit of cool stuff like easier to farm Volcanus scrolls and oh-so much more. Here's some poop: At 8:00 AM EST on Tuesday, February 8, all the servers will be taken down for 1.74. At 10:30 AM, all servers will return except for Palomides, Iseult, Bors, and Gawaine. Those servers will be clustered and brought back online at about 3:00 PM EST.
Regarding characters from different realms within the cluster that already exist: We will obviously not be erasing any characters. However, players on clustered servers will not be able to log into different realms within the cluster for eight hours after logging out of any particular realm. For example, if you log in to your Midgard character on Bors, and log out, you will not be able to log into your Hibernian from Gawaine or your Albion friend from Iseult for eight hours. You can log into any character from Midgard, of course, but that will reset the "realm timer."
After tomorrow, players with no characters on any of the servers in the cluster will be able to choose one realm, and will not be able to make characters of a different realm anywhere in the cluster.
All keeps and relics will be reset on the clustered servers also.
Monday WorthPlaying Goodies 06:21 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- games: general news
(0 comments)
Activision Posts Record Profit 03:28 pm
- Jeff Tom
- games: general news
(7 comments)
PC.IGN have a news story with word that Activision posted record profits today but some bad news as well as the Doom 3 expansion has been delayed: Despite the cheerful news, Activision has a slight downer for fans of demon-slaying: DOOM 3 for the Xbox and the DOOM 3 PC expansion have both been pushed back to the company's fiscal 2006, which would mean April at the earliest. While neither title had received a solid date, Xbox gamers in particular have been eager for id Software's hot FPS sequel.
Soaked Q&A; 03:27 pm
- Jeff Tom
- games: simulation
(0 comments)
Another interview on the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 expansion Soaked has popped up today, this time over at GameSpot: GS: Will the expansion make any specific improvements or additions to the sandbox mode and editing tools?
JW: As with RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, all the new Soaked! features will be accessible in sandbox mode. The ability for players to construct pool complexes, build submerged covered walkways, and create beautiful waterfalls gives budding roller coaster tycoons the ability to create even more amazing theme parks. We've implemented a major improvement in the track designer to allow you to save rides and scenery along with your coaster designs. Interconnected pool complexes, their associated rides, and scenery can also be saved in one file, making it easier for players to share park resources.
Cell Processor Details Leak 11:49 am
- Jeff Tom
- consoles: ps3
(7 comments)
The Inquirer have posted some details on Sony and IBM's cell processor, to be used in Sony's PlayStation 3: According to papers to be presented at the ISSCC, the initial Cell chip has a single processing unit that can pass computing tasks out to as many as 8 other processors. Thus, working in tandem, it can process up to 10 sequences of instructions simultaneously. This compares well with rival Intel x86 architectures, which can process just two, according the conference paper.
Update: Non-leaked info is now available Inside the chip, eight processing units will churn through data at speeds above 4 gigahertz, or billions of cycles per second, ahead of even the fastest chips from Intel. "It sets a new performance standard," said Jim Kahle, the director of technology for Cell development and an IBM fellow.
Updated Darwinia Demo 11:41 am
- Andrew Burnes
- games: real-time strategy
(0 comments)
As promised, Introversion Software has released an updated version of their Darwinia demo that incorporates a tutorial for those confused by the original proceedings. Grab it from one of the following locations:
Sims Sells 54 Million Units 11:38 am
- Andrew Burnes
- games: simulation
(5 comments)
Since the initial release of The Sims way back in 2000, 54 million Sims games and expansion packs have been sold worldwide:
Electronic Arts today announced that the award winning computer game franchise, The Sims, will celebrate its fifth anniversary this month. The very first The Sims videogame for the PC began shipping to stores this week in February 2000 and took the nation by storm by becoming the #1 selling PC game in four out of the last five years. Since 2000, the franchise has spawned 7 expansion packs, been translated into over 17 languages and has sold more than 54 million units worldwide. In September 2004, the next-generation sequel The Sims 2 quickly became the fastest-selling PC game.
In just five months, sales have already reached over 4.5 million units worldwide. The first expansion pack for this award-winning game, The Sims 2 University, will be in stores March 1, 2005 and will allow players to send their Sims to college and experience the ultimate on-campus fantasy.
Additionally, the original The Sims has sold 16 million copies, with the sequel selling 4.5.
Is The Half-Life 2 EULA Illegal? 11:28 am
- Andrew Burnes
- games: general news
(3 comments)
That is the question The Inquirer today asks in a lengthy article:
No mention of the Steam software is made in the EULA for Half-Life 2. This means that the terms of the Steam EULA that you agree to when installing that software are almost certainly not incorporated into the contract you agree to when installing Half-Life 2. Consequently, the $10 transfer fee would not be enforceable because it isn't in the HL2 contract, and Valve would be acting illegally in blocking any sale of the game from one person to another.
Flatout Interview 11:24 am
- Jeff Tom
- games: racing
(0 comments)
Computer Games Magazine have scooped an interivew on Flatout, an arcade racing game from developer BugBear:
Computer Games - Bugbear must have gotten comments to the effect that FlatOut looks and feels like the game that any of the Dukes of Hazzard games should have been like. How did the game's dev team decide on the overall art direction for the game?
Jussi Laakkonen - The comparisons to Dukes of Hazzard have been quite frequent and it is quite natural with both games prominently featuring muscle cars. The gritty feeling of FlatOut was a natural choice for us as we wanted to make the game different from the leagues of games with ultra shiny cars blasting away in yet-another-urban-metropolis during a neverending rainy night ;-). Seriously speaking, FlatOut is all about combining destruction derbies and track racing, so dirty, gritty feeling is just what the doctor ordered. It makes the game much more believable and sets the tone for no-holds-barred racing!
Constantine Preview 11:22 am
- Jeff Tom
- games: action
(1 comment)
WorthPlaying have scooped a preview of Constantine from Bits Studios and THQ due out next week. Here's the intro: For comic geeks such as myself, Constantine represents a sort of crash-course in bizarre filmmaking. The film is ostensibly based on a comic called Hellblazer, from DC Comics's mature-readers Vertigo imprint, but the two are distinctly and drastically different. Hellblazer is a book from the Chainsmoking British Bastard school of UK fiction, about a subtle magician who has a tendency to leave bitter enemies and dead friends in his wake; Constantine is about a Californian magus with a "holy shotgun" who sometimes hangs out in Hell.
WoW In Europe Friday 11:04 am
- Jeff Tom
- games: mmog
(1 comment)
WorldofWar.net sends word that World of Warcraft will launch this Friday in Europe after beta testing concludes tonight with a massive attack by the Infernals on Ironforge and Stormwind already under way.
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Soaked Q&A; 10:53 am
- Jeff Tom
- games: simulation
(0 comments)
PC.IGN have scored the first interview on the Rollercoaster Tycoon expansion Soaked, also announced today and due this June. Here's a bit from the interview: IGNPC: Obviously, this game is going to have to do with water parks instead of your typical roller coaster park. What sorts of rides can we expect? Water rides like the log flumes, or water slides that give visitors water enemas as they're sliding down at breakneck speeds?
Absolutely - plus a lot more! RCT3: Soaked! is like no other RCT expansion pack because players can build a different kind of amusement park than they ever could before. This is definitely not just "roller coasters with water." Soaked will include 50 new ride and coaster types - including flume rides, water slides, pool, wave pools, beaches, and more - as well as new coaster tracks and cars, etc.
You can also read the official announcement of Soaked! here.
RPG Vault Features 10:46 am
- Jeff Tom
- games: role-playing
(0 comments)
Here's the latest from RPG Vault on this Monday:
Half-Life vs Half-Life 2 03:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- games: action
(20 comments)
The topic of this week's VE3D poll is Best Half-Life ever? Yes, that's right - Half-Life vs Half-Life 2. Thus far, HL2 is undefeated in all the polls it's been in, so it's time to put it to the real test. Is Half-Life 2 better than the game that started it all? You make the call by voting in the poll on the right hand side of the page!
Results of the last poll are in, and no one should be surprised in the outcome.
BFME Crashing? Bring your PC to EA! 12:48 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- games: real-time strategy
(30 comments)
Do you live in the LA area and are getting wierd game crashes after installing the latest Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth patch? If so, EA invites you to bring your PC down to their EALA studio so they can check it out. Just make sure to delete the porn and other dubious downloads first.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 12:30 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: general news
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 12:28 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- games: general news
(2 comments)
"Cute fact about Pharaohs; some, apparently, ceremonially ejaculated into the Nile to secure the requisite inundation of the Nile to replenish the farm-lands. Ruler of an empire, cheerfully knocking one off the wrist while an anxious crowd waits and an uncaring Nile sits there. Don't see any developer building that into a game." - Eurogamer on Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile.
In Other News... 12:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- in-house: in other news...
(23 comments)
Yay! It's Monday... (cough) On the bright side we should have some hands-on previews this week, plus maybe a review as well. I just need to find my registered version of Paint Shop (double cough) first. I actually did buy it before. :)
Today's question is: Who is your favorite console game developer?
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