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Pariah Hands-On 10:11 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(0 comments)
PC.IGN scored some hands-on impressions of Pariah, which is being developed by the co-creators of Unreal and UT, Digital Extremes:
In the first several hours, you also encounter a variety of bad guys armed with a variety of weapons, and they're not afraid to be aggressive. They'll come in waves, patrol in groups, and guard key locations. They also have a bunch of well-delivered catchphrases, but the frequency could be toned down a bit, as some of them get used a bit much. The bad guys also make an effort to stay behind cover, fall back, and keep clear of grenades.
With a cool weapons system, complex environments, lots of character and style, Pariah looks like it's going to be a pretty fun and involving game that puts the Digital Extremes stamp on single-player shooters in a way that Unreal II couldn't quite do. I don't know if it will blow you away, but you'll have to make an effort to not have some fun.
Empire Earth 2 Impressions 10:05 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(0 comments)
Gamespy kicked up some impressions of the single player portion of Empire Earth 2:
Empire Earth II is very much a traditional, big-scale real-time strategy game. If you played the original game, then you already know what's involved. But if you didn't, here is the gist: Empire Earth II will let you guide a civilization from the dawn of history to the near-distant future in a single game. This means that you'll start in the Stone Age, gather resources, construct cities, and research advances to propel your civilization forward through history. At least, that's the case if you play the traditional skirmish mode against the computer or human opponents.
Star Wars Republic Commando Patch 10:01 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(0 comments)
3D Gamers has a new patch for Star Wars: Republic Commando: "The first update for Star Wars Republic Commando is now online, keeping the recent sci-fi first-person shooter by LucasArts at version 1.0. This release is less a patch and more an add-on, as it adds one new multiplayer map titled Hangar, suitable for up to 16 players in all multiplayer modes." It comes in at 2.9 megs.
Counter-Strike: Source Update 05:19 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(11 comments)
Another update, including the activation of SourceTV:
Counter-Strike: Source
- Enabled support for SourceTV
- Fixed a rare bug that caused some bullet impacts to be counted twice
- Improved map overview support
- The message of the day file is now required to be in the main game directory
- Fixed an issue with player names being out of sync with the server
- Fixed "purple checkerboard" problem for Message of the Day scrollbars
- Fixed some localization issues related to player chat
- Death notices are no longer displayed while blind
- Death notices retain the correct team color even if the player quickly changes teams
- Bots immediately change their names to match the bot_prefix when it changes
- Bots join dedicated servers immediately if the bot_quota is nonzero
- Fixed bug where bots would repeatedly fail to join with an invalid Steam ID
- Added mp_logdetail at the request of server administrators
Source Engine
- Player sprays now persist through round restarts. The number of rounds a spray survives is determined by r_spray_lifetime
- Fixed a bug causing the first message from a plug-in message to be colored incorrectly
- Consistency checking is now skipped during demo playback
- Added sv_visiblemaxplayers
- Fixed timing precision error causing slower framerates on servers running continuously for more than a few days
Looks like there's a new Valve Hardware Survey running via Steam too.
WPG 05:16 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(0 comments)
Brothers in Arms Patch 03:45 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(3 comments)
Gearbox released a new patch for its recently released World War II inspired first person shooter, Brothers in Arms. Pick up a copy from: The update comes in at around 8.7 megs and focuses around multiplayer support.
Lara Shows Off New Boob Job 01:59 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(20 comments)
The world gloriously sighed in disinterest today as Eidos announced the new Tomb Raider title, Legend:
"In setting the stage for the Tomb Raider franchise moving forward, we took ourselves back to Lara's origins, asked ourselves the hard questions and challenged ourselves to think differently," said Chip Blundell, vice president of brand marketing, Eidos Inc. "Who is Lara Croft? What makes her tick? How is she relevant today? Only by answering these questions could we ensure that gamers get the experience they deserve with the character they love."
Eighteen months ago, Tomb Raider team members at Crystal Dynamics embarked on their own quest to rediscover Lara Croft. During their soul-searching mission, they unearthed past consumer surveys, conducted new research, re-read every game review, listened to lots of passionate pleas and opinions from gamers and re-played through every Tomb Raider product. From this introspection and open-minded search for a fresh perspective, Tomb Raider: Legend was born.
Tomb Raider: Legend revives the athletic, intelligent and entertaining adventurer who won the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide. Lara comes alive with intricately animated expressions, moves and abilities. An arsenal of modern equipment, such as a magnetic grappling device, binoculars, frag grenades, personal lighting device and communications equipment, allows gamers to experience tomb raiding as never before.
Eidos and Crystal Dynamics shaped Lara's look and movements to be an inherent extension of her skills, motivation and personality. Lara's character model features natural structure, realistic textures, detailed facial features, reactive eyes and fluid motion, all of which make her part of a living environment.
New character animations and controls allow her to move through stunning environments with grace and precision, while an understanding of the game's original appeal reinvigorates the fundamental explore-and-solve adventure experience.
Just below you can check out Lara's new look, which obviously required a lot of that soul-searching:
(Click to Enlarge!)
SWAT 4 Ships 11:11 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(0 comments)
The excellent SWAT 4 should now be showing up in North American stores:
SWAT 4, the latest edition of the popular award-winning SWAT franchise, has shipped for the PC to retail outlets nationwide. Developed by Irrational Games, SWAT 4 allows players to take control of a squad of up to five SWAT officers tasked with performing dangerous operations such as high risk warrant service, rapid deployment, barricaded suspects and hostage situations. To ensure authenticity, VU Games enlisted Ken Thatcher, a 24-year SWAT veteran, as the game's consultant.
From intense hostage situations to high risk undercover operations, players will tactically command their teams and address every situation differently, where a split second mistake could lead to failure. Tension is the key element of SWAT 4, and the game emphasizes tactical deployment over pure run-and-gun action. Proper use of a broad range of real police gear, including tactical mainstays such as the Colt M-4 carbine, the Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun and Surefire tactical lights, will help the team to overcome any obstacle, rescue endangered civilians, and bring the bad guys to justice.
SWAT 4's 14 single-player missions feature random enemy placement ensuring the player's experience is different each time the level is played. Players can also use the quick mission maker to create and customize missions, including modification of enemy and civilian AI, mission objectives and more. SWAT 4 includes extensive multiplayer functionality including co-operative modes and team based competitive modes with up to 16 players.
Check out the official site for more.
Update: The friendly folks at TeamWarfare send word of a Sierra sponsored SWAT 4 TDM tournament that includes expensive bits of tech as prizes.
Another Sims 2 Expansion Pack... 10:40 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Simulation
(6 comments)
Yes, another expansion pack for all you closet Simaniacs to buy:
Electronic Arts announced today that The Sims 2 Nightlife is under development from the celebrated Maxis studio, the creators of the widely popular franchise, The Sims. This is the second expansion pack for The SimsTM 2 which took the world by storm in September 2004 by becoming the fastest selling PC game and selling over 4.5M units worldwide to date. With The Sims 2 Nightlife, players will be able to take their Sims out to hit all the swanky hot spots in the all new downtown location and spice up their lives with an all new dating gameplay and a new life goal focused on pleasure seeking.
The Sims 2 Nightlife takes Sims into the night to explore all of their favorite after-dark activities. Players can either head out and discover their love lives or have a crazy night out with friends. With the new dating gameplay, players will see if their Sims have chemistry with others which will determine their romantic fate. The newest addition to the game includes the brand new pleasure seeker aspiration allowing players to explore a life filled with unforgettable dates, endless nights of dancing and fine dining. Make your Sims nightlife fantasy a reality with over 125 new objects including a DJ booth, Electro Dance Sphere and all you need to design the ultimate nightclub and VIP lounge.
Autumn is the rough release date, so you better book the entire 3 months off work in advance.
Prey At E3? 10:26 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(20 comments)
CNN Money's latest column suggests that Prey, originally a 3D Realms game, will be making its first appearance at E3 since 1998, and as expected it'll be powered by the Doom 3 engine:
The show's biggest surprise, though, will likely be the revelation of "Prey". Gamers first heard of "Prey" in 1997. The game, originally about a Native American who fights several nefarious alien races, was thought to be cancelled, but quietly restarted a few years ago. The new version will use the "Doom 3" graphics engine and is said to be a visually striking title. There's no word on whether the story has changed.
Human Head Studios is developing; for nostalgias sake you can view the 1998 trailer here.
Connery Back For Bond 03:14 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(15 comments)
Word out of the Hollywood Reporter today is that Sean Connery is reprising his excellent rendition of 007 for EA's forthcoming From Russia With Love, which will also feature the likenesses of other cast members, including the deceased Desmond Llewelyn:
Connery will record dialogue for the game, and his likeness will appear as it did in MGM's 1963 hit movie, his second outing as the suave British super spy.
He will be joined by other likenesses from the original film's characters, including Q (Desmond Llewelyn), Donald "Red" Grant (Robert Shaw), Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), Kerim Bay (Pedro Armendariz) and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell).
In addition, EA said it will work with Hollywood talent to round out the game's experience. "As an artist, I see this as another way to explore the creative process," Connery said. "Video games are an extremely popular form of entertainment today, and I am looking forward to seeing how it all fits together."
All the talent in the world can't save this game if it's as bad as GoldenEye: Rogue Agent.
The Few Who Pwn The Many 01:26 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: MMOG
(10 comments)
Mythic's Scott "Lum The Mad" Jennings updated his blog with his thoughts on Guild Wars' claim that you don't need to actually play very long and be able to kick anyone's ass in it. It's just all about having C-S twitch like skills and not having to worry about gaining experience, items, and all that other jazz:
Now, what skill based games DO well is give you the illusion that you have a chance - similar to slot machines in Vegas, there's always the chance that you could possibly defeat that top ten percent, whereas in most time-investment games higher level mathematically must always defeat lower. So the key, I feel, is to introduce that element of "fairness", that a lower "level" or whatever advancement schema you are using at least has a ghost of a chance of defeating a higher "level", while still meaningfully rewarding those who have invested in their character. It's definitely a very fine line to travel down. Basically, you have to ensure the 90% are still enjoying themselves, even while knowing that the 10% are running amuck through the rest of the ecosystem.
Because, whether due to greater skill in tactics, twitching or time, the 10% will always pwn the 90%.
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 12:45 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(0 comments)
Game Reviews 12:30 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(0 comments)
The Doom 3 expansion scores roll in:
In Other News... 12:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(28 comments)
Allergies are wtf pwning me today...
Today's question: What is the last game you bought and what are your impressions of it?
You might've noticed Steejee added a little comments link under the poll. He says that there should be a number display under it as well after he figures out how to hack it into our current design. Speaking of which, the IGN guys should be starting work on the new site (knock on wood) fairly soon. I'm told that pop-up ads will be a thing of the past, plus less of those full screen thingies, so woot for that. Obviously there are ways to kill all the ads now like using Firefox or signing up to be an Insider (well, the tower and side ad still show), but it's a nice start. Ideas for a new logo? hmm...
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