Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Nudies 07:04 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(15 comments)
Betheda released some new screen shots plus a developer's diary written by programmer Steve Meister for Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Here are some local versions of the screens they released for you lazy bastards who don't like to click on stuff:
(Click to Enlarge!)
  
WPG 06:22 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(4 comments)
Blizzard adds /Panda 02:34 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(4 comments)
To compete with EverQuest 2's /pizza service, Blizzard has announced a deal to serve up gamers with that oh-so tasty orange chicken goodness found at many malls:
Blizzard Entertainment, in conjunction with the Pandaren Xpress� chain of quality restaurants, is proud to announce the /panda program! Don't let the inconvenience of eating impede you from reaching your Maximum Gaming Potential! Click here to read more!
Shadow Warrior Source Code Released 02:18 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(11 comments)
3D Realms has released the source code to Shadow Warrior today:
It's April 1st, so we have some news for you today. We've released the source code for Shadow Warrior!
Available now for download, the source code is being released under the GPL license - we still retain copyright on the game (plus we still sell Shadow Warrior). We've been asked many times to release this since our release of the Duke3D source two years ago, and we decided today was the day. You can check out the readme here before downloading the entire archive.
The folks reading this who aren't programmers probably won't have any interest in this release, but those who are programmers might want to check it out. A big thanks go out to all the Shadow Warrior fans around the world who have waited for this. We hope you enjoy it!
RPG Vault Bits 01:21 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth - Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
The Witcher Peek #14
Our guide to the fantasy realm in which CD Projekt's is set place tells us
about weapons including a special bow.
Fate Media #1
Timberwolf, Basilisk, Gargoyle and Mottled Lurker are some of the pet
transformations in WildTangent's game. - Four exclusive 1280x1024
screenshots
WoW Merges with Guild Wars 04:44 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(20 comments)
Blizzard Entertainment today announced that it has signed a deal with Arena.net where the pvp content of Guild Wars would be incorporated into World of WarCraft, giving the popular massively multiplayer RPG an actual end game.
Blizzard President Mike Morhaime said "Without a doubt, World of Warcraft is a huge success on every level. We've sold millions of copies of the game, have over 1.5 million paying subscribers; blowing away the competition in the US and around the world. The only real negative the game suffers from is a lack of any real end game for our level 60 population who craves some solid player vs player combat. This is where Arena.net comes in.
Jeff Strain, one of the men who came up with the idea behind Battle.net, now CEO of Arena.net had this to say. "When we left Blizzard, we didn't have any hard feeling towards Mike and the managment in place today. Vivendi was looking to sell the company and we didn't feel very secure. We moved on (hey, even Bill Roper left) and created Guild Wars, a massively multiplayer RPG which is almost the polar opposite of World of WarCraft. We focused on the PvP side of things; what we can offer, will make World of WarCraft by far the coolest MMORPG ever made. What WoW needs is solid PvP and we can provide it now. We are happy to have signed this deal and feel right back at home working with the people we came up with."
Guild Wars and WoW are the perfect fit.
Carmack Contacts Aliens on Cell Phone 04:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(7 comments)
As mentioned in John Carmack's latest blog update, the id programmer has been working on cell phone gaming technology. In a freak accident while trying to improve the bandwidth in which a cell phone operates, Carmack inadvertently opened an interdimentional line of communication with an alien species the US Government has classified as "hostile". When asked for comment, all Carmack could say was "[taking a deep breath] I'm sorry it had to happen this way, but the time has finally come..."
3 Out of 4 Gamers Want the Phantom! 04:06 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Vaporware
(14 comments)
So says this timely press release:
According to a recent study conducted by media research firm SmithGeiger LLC and commissioned by Infinium Labs, Inc. (OTC BB: IFLB), three in four respondents (76%) said they would like to have the Phantom Game Service.
The majority of respondents said they see the Phantom service as an attractive alternative to current game rental and purchase options, with convenience, simplicity, timeliness, and ease of access to a wide range of current titles and old favorites as key drivers.
The study, which was conducted by SmithGeiger in February 2005, surveyed over 600 current or former console or PC gamers with residential broadband internet access.
"The initial interest in the Phantom Game Service is substantial and validates the promise of this new platform. There is a tangible demand for a new alternative in gaming that better serves lifestyle and interests by delivering a more convenient way for consumers to experience PC quality games through the TV in their own living room" explained SmithGeiger principal Seth Geiger.
OMG, SIGN ME UP NOW!
DAoC 1.75 Final Notes 03:03 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(1 comment)
Mythic today announced the final beta notes for the 1.75 update for Dark Age of Camelot. Here are a few of the highlights:
NEW THINGS AND BUG FIXES
- Due to overwhelming population imbalances, we have removed the realm of Albion from the game on two out of every three clustered servers and have credited players with an equivilant toon in Midgard or Hibernia. Simply visit the class trainer of your choice in either captital city (TNN - Hibernia or Jordheim - Midgard), type in /restore [nameofplayer] (which has to be on your account, no cheating now!) and all of your master levels, items, money and realm points will be restored. As an added bonus, we have awardered a free single line skill respec as well!
- We have reverted back to the Old Frontier zones, but retain the use of the new Frontier style keeps. Towers have been removed for the most part, although each zone has four watchtowers which can be claimed.
CLASS CHANGES AND FIXES
Valkyrie
- We have added the option of selecting the banelord master level path and have awarded a free master level respec.
- The entire Odin's Will spell line has had its damaged increased by 50%; reduced mana costs by 75% and where applicable, can be cast on the move.
- The Realm Rank 5 ability has been changed to "Odin's Recall" an area-effect rez with a radius of 750 giving all members a perfect recovery from death with 10% life, mana and endurance.
MASTER LEVEL CREDIT CHANGES
- If a player has a master level 10 character, each level 50 alt on that account will be automatically awarded the rank of master level 5. The only requirement is that they need to finish the .10 step and gain enough master level XP to qualify.
CRAFTING CHANGES
- We have added a "craft all" option which will automatically crafts as many items selected as you have resources currently in your backback.
The rest of the changes can be found somewhere in my dieased mind.
Prey Becomes Reality Show on Fox 02:52 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(10 comments)
Fox announced today that it has signed a deal with 3D Realms to develop a new reality show this fall loosely based on "Prey", a first person shooter currently in development at Human Head Studios using the Doom 3 engine.
"This isn't some crappy Survivor wannabe", laughs Fox spokeswoman Chesty McGee. "We're going to have actual teams of highly trained [and armed] mercenaries chasing the contestants all the way from the jungles of Brazil to the Rio Grande; the first person to make it back across the American border alive wins the million dollars, plus is eligible to compete for our all-star $10,000,000.00 grand prize event being sponsored by Mountain Dew. The rules are simple, as long as you don't fly or use any form of commercial transportation [and can get back before the one week time limit is up], you win. We have a lot of safeguards like global tracking devices and cameras fitted on every contestant, but we don't want to give too much away before the show debuts this fall during sweeps."
Prey will be hosted by former NFL star Howie Long and Evil Dead star Bruce Campell.
Gabe Newell Leaves Valve 01:25 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(10 comments)
On a sad note (or happy, dependong on your point of view), Valve's Gabe Newell has left Valve to pursue his career as the frontman to a Grateful Dead cover band:
Today we're proud to bring you the exclusive story which will change the future of the Half-Life series. Gabe Newell, managing director at Valve Software, has given us the scoop on his move from gaming to the music industry. Finishing up at Valve last week, Gabe has started touring full-time with his 3 piece folk-rock band, Left of the Dealer.
When asked about the change, Gabe let us know that "it wasn't because of any conflicts at Valve -- they're a great team. And don't get me wrong, I love making games. But there's a ton of creativity I'm just not able to express unless I'm with my guitar."
Unreal III Announced 01:21 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(8 comments)
Epic today announced development of Unreal III: RALEIGH, NC, USA (April 1st 2005) Epic Games has announced today the latest highly-anticipated sequel in the popular Unreal franchise - Unreal 3: Slug Saga - The Adventures of Ne'ban! The highly-anticipated Unreal 3 takes gamers into the mysterious past of their favorite royal alien parasite inside the body of a giant slug, TCA pilot Ne'ban, last seen being blown to smithereens at the end of Unreal 2.
U3:SS-TAoNB sees the return not only of that giant slug from Unreal 2, but also the dastardly space-clown Mr. Crow, first seen in Unreal Tournament 2003 and often described as a cross between Michael Jackson and a swiss army knife.
"Mr. Crow is the ****." said Lead Designer Biff Cleszinski, "I mean seriously, who'd want to **** with an undead space clown with a giant codpiece, a hat made of human flesh and spiky blades of death on the end of each finger. He's the perfect villain, and makes the Skaarj queen look like a lovable little kitten."
Huxley Interview 12:57 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox Next
(0 comments)
TeamXbox interviews H-Studio's Kijong Kang about its Unreal Engine 3 powered MMOG, Huxley:
I guess you'll make an extensive use of UE3's Seamless World Support feature, recently demoed at GDC. What kind of technology have you developed to adapt the UE3 to a MMO genre?
Kijong Kang: The most important thing is network technologies. As the Unreal 3 Engine is mainly designed for single player and MO games, we need to develop a network system that supports more than five thousands players per server. Our own network layer will be added.
While thousands of players connect to servers, real-time lighting systems of UE3's Engine will be a burden to the servers. It's our goal to develop new technologies to handle these issues specific to MMO game features.
Finally, UE3 is originally designed to be cross-platform. Hence, we are planning to add next-generation console specific technologies. I think this will be possible because UE3 is a good engine.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 12:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 12:22 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(0 comments)
In Other News... 12:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(26 comments)
Happy April Fool's Day! I think this year I'm just going to make stuff up all day long. Writing news is so much more fun when it isn't based on any form of reality as we know it. Today's question: How excited are you about Duke Nukem Forever demo being released later today?
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