May 2003
Operation Resurrection Ships
 Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:38 PM |
Category: General |
Activision has announced that Return To Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection has shipped to retailers. Operation Resurrection is the Playstation 2 version of the acclaimed PC game. This version includes a new mission involving Agent One which begins in Egypt and eventually ends up in Castle Wolfenstein. ”We’ve created Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection with the goal to make the best first person experience on the PlayStation 2,” said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. ”From tense covert and tactical combat to the overwhelming action of mowing down the Fuhrer’s zombified henchmen, Operation Resurrection will keep fans glued to their PlayStation 2s.” The game retails for the usual $49.99 price tag and has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB.
More On Sony's Game Boy Killer
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:32 PM |
Category: General |
In yet another step in making the Playstation family of gaming machines a one stop entertainment center, Sony has released a little more information on its upcoming Playstation Portable (PSP). The PSP is being planned to not only play games, but also to play music and movies. The tiny discs planned for the PSP will hold a whopping 1.8 Gig, and while that might not seem like a huge number, the ability to play MPEG-4 video means you could hold several hours of video onto one of the discs. The movies wouldn't be as crisp and clear as a DVD you'd have on your shelf, but with the small LCD screen, you'd hardly notice the downgrade in quality. Check out this article for some more in depth information.
I think my opinion differs from others, but I like the new PSX and PSP ideas. It's no secret that Sony has been playing with the idea to make the PS2 a TiVO like system for years, and even Microsoft's experimental "Freon" (an Xbox with TiVO features) made the news some time ago. Our consoles play DVD movies now, it's only natural to keep adding these home entertainment features.
3DO Tanks?
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 10:05 PM |
Category: General |
According to sources, 3DO has terminated all of their employees and filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is sad news indeed, however, 3DO has stated the opposite. They claim to still be kicking and have several games in development, but they are up for sale. It's very confusing but from the looks of it the company is indeed near death if not already. We can only hope someone will bring the company under their fold, or at the very least, buy the game franchises and bring the employees along with them. We'll keep you posted on this as we get more information.
Halo Preview
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 9:48 PM |
Category: General |
Although everyone is now drooling over Halo 2, Gearbox is still hard at work on a PC port of the original game. Gamespot has a new hands-on preview of the port.Halo's PC multiplayer options have been beefed up to include six new maps, three new vehicles, and one new weapon. The online multiplayer will allow many more players to compete together, so many of the new maps are large. One map we saw was a huge forested expanse with rolling terrain and team bases on opposite sides. This map included what might be mistaken for a regular warthog, but it's really the new rocket-launcher warthog, which can fire up to three rockets before requiring a lengthy reload. The same map included another vehicle not present in the Xbox multiplayer, the tank. We saw the third vehicle, the banshee, on a map that featured a bridge crossing a foggy chasm. Having players dogfighting in the map's three flyers will add a new dimension to the competition. This game looks to be shaping up nicely. Despite already owning the Xbox version, I may need to invest in the PC port. Halo is due out by the end of the summer.
Video Games Are Good For The Eyes
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 9:37 PM |
Category: General |
Video games supposedly rot your brain (like everything that's fun in this world apparently is), but at least while it's mushing your brains it is also helping your visual skills. According to this article, people who play video games can track up to five objects at one time, 30% better than a non gamer. Also, gamers can react to fast moving objects quicker than a non gamer. We aren't talking about all kinds of games. Tetris, apparently, won't help you. Action games, such as a fast moving game like Quake, however, will. Action games could be used to help rehabilitate visually impared patients or train military officers. There's just one more reason why video games rule.
Playstation 2 To Become TiVo-Alike?
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 9:26 AM |
Category: General |
GameIndustry.biz is reporting that the PlayStation 2 console is going to be morphed into some sort of a home multi-media device. Codenamed the PSX (same as the original Playstation was), Sony is attempting to extend the success of its games division into its struggling consumer electronics department.The new device will feature a TV tuner, hard disc drive and a DVD recorder alongside the games console functionality, making it into an "all in one" device for gaming, media recording and playback. Weird and sad, in my opinion, because I just want to play GAMES on my consoles. But maybe that's just me. Details of this device are a bit thin at the moment, but the announcement brings more questions than answers, particularly regarding the PS3... I'm sure one of your avid Mindless reporters will be posting more about this soon.
True Fantasy Live Online Preview
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:18 PM |
Category: General |
IGN has a new preview for the upcoming Xbox MMORPG True Fantasy Live Online. The name of the game sounds pretty dumb, but the game looks to be a great addition to the genre.Sure to be one of the most intriguing aspects of the game is its shop system. You're free to set up shop to sell your items, but only some people will be able to set up shop in the game's bazaar area. Also, in order to set up shop, you need to obtain a special item. Once you've obtained this item, you can open up shop on roadsides and in dungeons if you please. New details have also been revealed on the game's battle system. Expect something action-oriented where rather than simply selecting commands from a menu you have to actually point your character in the right direction and attack. Players will be able to make use of around 70 forms of magic and can, while in battle, ride horses and dragons that they've caught and raised. New information on the game should be arriving soon as the game is apparently nearing completion in Japan. It looks like Xbox Live gamers have even more to look forward to.
Sega And EA Considering Partnership?
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 2:15 PM |
Category: General |
The word at GamerFeed is that Sega and EA are in talks now about a possible partnership.
"Sega President to be, Hisao Oguchi, has confirmed that Sega is in talks with EA regarding a partnership that will help bolster Sega's North American sales, while helping EA's Japanese sales grow."
"The deal being discussed with Sega is similar to what EA has done with Square in the past, in which the two companies had a sales alliance in Japan and North America. The Square and EA partnership became nullified when Square merged with Enix." I wonder who Sega is going to form a partnership with since the deal fell through with Sammy? EA would certianly be an interesting partner.
First Annual Austin Gaming Expo Announced
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:07 PM |
Category: General |
We've been sent word that the Austin Gaming Expo will be held at the Marriott Austin North on July 26th from 10am through 8pm. This is the first time the expo is being held and it will have vendors that you can buy games, play arcade games, check out new games for the older consoles (yes, there are people still out there making old games), tournaments, and door prizes. This sounds like a lot of fun, so if you are in the area, it could be worth checking out.
.hack//OUTBREAK Footage
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 2:07 PM |
Category: General |
The folks over at IGN got their hands on some new footage of the third installment of the .hack series: .hack//OUTBREAK. It looks similar to the first two games in the series but shall bring thing closer to the next and final chapter. You can watch the new videos here
I've been watching the anime series .hack//SIGN and can't wait to get my hands on the games.
The Matrix Online Site Launches
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 6:57 PM |
Category: General |
Next year we will be freeing our minds with a great new MMORPG based on the greatest scifi series of all time, The Matrix. 2004 is still quite a ways off, but you can keep up to date with the game by checking out the new site for The Matrix Online today. It's being made by the cool people at Monolith (the American company, not the Japanese one) and will be published by Ubisoft.
Starcraft: Ghost In 2004
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:45 PM |
Category: General |
According to an IGN article, we won't be seeing Blizzard's Starcraft: Ghost until 2004. It hasn't been officially announced as a delay, however, a Blizzard representative was quoted as saying the development time has extended through 2003. That basically means 2004. We'll have a wait a little longer, but honestly, did you really expect it to ship on time?
Jedi Academy Clip
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 7:41 PM |
Category: Developers_Corporate|x|PC_Action |
German fansite, Jedi Knight2.de is offering an unofficial Jedi Academy video from E3. The short clip shows some gameplay footage from Raven's Jedi Outcast follow-up, currently in development.
Various Raven News
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 3:15 PM |
Category: General |
Raven Software's got a lot going on lately with their upcoming games and we've got a few quick links and tidbits you would be wise to check out.Enjoy! Make sure you post something good for Quake IV. Go wild too! I don't see why Corvus as a hidden character should be out of the question. Come on, you know that would be the coolest.
MechAssault Gets More Downloadable Content
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:35 PM |
Category: General |
MechAssault is arguably the flagship title for the Xbox Live service, much as SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals is for Playstation 2. Much of the reasoning behind this has to do with the downloadable content the game has available. Microsoft has unleashed the newest content for the game for everyone to download. The biggest feature is the capture the flag gameplay mode, but also included are two new mechs, the Loki and Hellbringer. Another feature is the ability to see who's talking (which could be helpful for many reasons) as well as a rematch feature. No word yet on when, or if, more content will be available down the road.
Washington Bans Sale Of Violent Games To Minors
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 12:56 PM |
Category: General |
If you're a minor, and you live in Washington state, you might have a hard time buying or even renting video games depicting violence against police. The state just put the new law into effect which will fine a store $500 for selling the games to a minor. A list of games from an IGN article include Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Hitman, and State Of Emergency.
I'm not against these kinds of games, in fact, I'm all for them. Lets face it, they are fun, and I know police officers who enjoy GTA. Even still, this isn't such a bad idea. Video games can have a variety of effects on a person, just like any other type of entertainment. As long as lawmakers don't take it too far, I don't see the problem with taking a few precautionary measures.
Unreal Championship Auto Updated
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 12:38 PM |
Category: General |
Players of Unreal Championship on their Xbox Live subscriptions will now get an update installed to the console to adjust certain things in the game for a better multiplayer experience. Several weapons have been tweaked for balancing, performance issues have been worked on, and the stats system has been modified. The updates will be downloaded as soon as a user signs online in the game. Atari says that new content should be available shortly.
Newest AMP II Engine Demo Released
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 12:57 PM |
Category: Developers_Corporate|x|PC_Action |
The newest version of 4DRulers' Amp II Engine Demo has been released. These are the newest features:- Support for ATI 9600 and newer cards.
- Support for Nvidias latest drivers.
- Speed improvement up to 25%.
- Vertex blending. Now animations can blend between up to 4 bones for realistic smooth joints and facial animation. What you see in Max or character studio is what you get in the engine.
- Alpha cutout support for transparent textures like fences, gratings, with bump mapping.
- 2048 texture support.
- Various improvements to the map and textures.
- Added impact steam effects when you shoot the pipes.
- Added shadow casting shrapnel to grenade explosion.
As always, you can download the Amp II Engine Demo from us right here locally.
Fear Factor Coming To Your Home
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 8:24 PM |
Category: General |
ARUSH Games sends word that they are working on a new game called Fear Factor: Unleashed based on the show of the same name. The game will feature the stunts, gross, and extreme challenges that the contestants always face.The games put the player in the shoes of a Fear Factor contestant to complete grueling challenges in order to advance to the next round, and will feature both a Show mode and a Tournament mode. Fear Factor: Unleashed will include many of the challenges fans of the show expect, such as verbal psyche-out attempts, gross-out challenges and death-defying stunts. The video games will also feature even more insane stunts, ones that could never be pulled off in real life. These dangerous stunts will have gamers' pulses racing and add an edge to Fear Factor that can only be done in video games. Look for more information on this game as it becomes available as the game is scheduled for a 2004 release.
Unreal Tournament 2003 Software Renderer
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 6:47 PM |
Category: General |
If for some reason you've got a good processor but a weak video card (is that even possible these days) you might be itching for a game of Unreal Tournament 2003 that runs faster than 2 frames per second. Epic Games is offering a new software renderer for the game that should allow those of you without a lot of video power to enjoy this spectacular game. You can get the renderer directly here, but please be sure to check the Unreal Technology site for further instructions (you'll need to add lines to your .ini files).
New Tunes
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 6:35 PM |
Category: General |
For anyone interested, there's a few new music releases today that get the official Fraust Seal Of Approval. First up is the fourth effort (yes fourth) by the band Staind. It is entitled 14 Shades Of Gray. Lately I haven't been into this new rock stuff, but this album is different. This is one of the few new rock bands who continue to improve enough that they will survive the eventual collapse of this newest genre of music. Keep an ear open for the song Layne, which is a tribute Layne Staley. It sounds so much like Alice In Chains it's scary.
The other album I recommend is from Live. The new album, Birds Of Pray, is a great return to their older sound and is a must have for fans of this band. Hopefully the new tunes will get some radio play.
Both of these new releases come with a DVD packed in. Click on the album titles and add some new CDs to your collection.
Rent DVDs Without Returning Them
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 5:06 AM |
Category: General |
Ever rent a DVD and then forget that it was due back to the video store last week? Disney may have the solution to your problem. Starting in August, Buena Vista will launch a new rental concept where the DVDs simply destroy themselves after 48 hours. It's not some weird software program either, it's all chemical.(CNet) The discs stop working when a process similar to rusting makes them unreadable. The discs start off red, but when they are taken out of the package, exposure to oxygen eventually turns the coating black and makes it impenetrable by a DVD laser. No price has been set for these DVDs yet, but they plan to sell them almost anywhere. Sounds good to me.
Unreal Tournament 2004 Details
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 9:09 PM |
Category: General |
IGN has some details on Epic's newest version of their future sport, Unreal Tournament 2004. The game will be available in the fall (while still being compatible with Unreal Tournament 2003 servers) with new maps and gameplay types. The first gameplay type is a return of Assault from the original Unreal Tournament. The second is a new one called Onslaught, which reminds me slightly of Quake 3's Overload. In Onslaught, you and your team try to take over the opponents base by destroying their power source and then claiming the base for your own. The maps for this mode of play are said to be absolutely massive and because of that, you'll be able to drive vehicles! In addition to vehicles are new weapons which are designed to destroy them (spider mines anyone?). Another excellent idea is "UTTV" (Unreal Tournament TV). Log into Epic's servers and watch games in progress and even vote on which maps you'd like to see the contestants battle in next.
This series is truly becoming much like a future sports game as they've intended. I look forward to seeing other new innovations.
River City Ransom Returns!
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 3:16 AM |
Category: General |
This is the news I have been waiting to hear for a long time. Thanks to the folks over at IGN for spreading the word of a new upcoming River City Ransom game for the Gameboy Advance. "Slick, the meanest, most powerful gang lord in River City, has issued this ultimatum - and the entire town is powerless in a grip of fear. Fortunately, Alex and Ryan weren't in school the day Slick took it over. But now, their fellow students are prisoners - including Ryan's girlfriend! It's up to our two young heroes to battle their way past several dangerous city gangs, then defeat the gang lord to free the students of River City High and restore peace to the panic-stricken populace!" River City Ransom is a cult classic among many. It ranks in the top 3 of my personal favorite games and I'll be the first in line to pick up a copy of this new title. No word on a release date yet. See the origianl article here.
New Gamecube Bundle In June
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:58 PM |
Category: General |
Nintendo has announced that while both Playstation 2 and Xbox have dropped to $179 price tags, the Gamecube will remain at its $149.99 price. The console won't be selling at that price alone though, the upcoming Game Boy Player will be bundled with the system giving even more incentive to buy the struggling console. This might just be the deal that sells me on the system finally. Expect to see the new bundle hit stores on June 23rd.
Enter The Matrix Today
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:34 PM |
Category: General |
For anyone who hasn't picked it up yet, Enter The Matrix has been released on every gaming platform (oh wait, except for Game Boy Advance). The game is a blast to play and it helps fill you in on the background of the newly released The Matrix: Reloaded. We'll have a review of the Playstation 2 version of the game soon, so keep on the look out for that.
Incog's Downhill Domination
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 9:38 PM |
Category: General |
Incog Inc, the folks behind the incredibly fun Twisted Metal: Black and the way too addictive War Of The Monsters, has come up with a new twist on the extreme sports genre. Their new game, Downhill Domination is mountain biking with combat. Sounds like a good idea to me. I'd love to ram a tree branch or a metal pipe into someone spokes and win a race. Check out the preview here. Knowing the good people at Incog, I think this will be another game that no one will want to miss.
Day 3 It Is!
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 4:33 PM |
Category: General |
Here's a wonderful list of some of the latest happenings at E3 so far on day 3.
Movie preview of The Legend of Zelda Four Swords
Resident Evil 4 first look
Gran Turismo 4 screen shots
Three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle screen shots
The Matrix Online Announced for PC
Super Mario Advance 4 Impressions
XBOX Price Drop to $179.99
Stay tuned for more of the information you need to know.
Jedi Academy
Posted
by
Jason 'FACE.UK' Sloan
at 3:33 PM |
Category: General |
IGN has had a look at the latest in the Jedi series, Jedi Academy. Here is a Snip:Just a few weeks ago LucasArts surprised everyone with the sudden announcement of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the third in the Jedi Knight series. Scheduled for release this year, it seemed there was no way Jedi Academy could be anything more than a small upgrade from Jedi Knight II. Boy, was I wrong. Jedi Academy is not light years ahead of its predecessor, but the game has some distinct changes and improvements that should make it the best iteration yet. In this E3 level You take on the roll of a Twi'lek Jedi who has to rescue some trapped academy students. One of the most impressive features of this demo was the lightsabre:The lightsabre, double-bladed just like Darth Maul's, can be separated into two different sabers for double-fisted style with just a press of a button. More over, you can change the colors and properties of your sabre at the touch of a button. It may sound strange, but it's fantastic in practice. There is also a piece on the X-Box Version but this article is insiders only. Basically this means you will have to register.
An Article On Raven
Posted
by
Jason 'FACE.UK' Sloan
at 3:13 PM |
Category: General |
JS Online has posted a piece on Raven Software just prior to E3. The article talks a little about Raven's history and the latest developments at the software house. Here is a small snip of what to expect:Pat Lipo, a Raven programmer and project leader for "X-Men Legends" game, said it took his team time to adjust to all of the technical nuances of designing the squad-based action and strategy game, which is expected to be finished next year. "We did a lot of learning," Lipo said. "And there is definitely a more involved story than the first-person shooters we have done before. It is very much a comics game." Cast your eyes over the rest at JS Online.
PS2 Castlevania Officially Announced
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 9:00 PM |
Category: General |
It's been rumored for a billion years, but now, thanks to E3, it's official. The Playstation 2 is getting it's own Castlevania game. Entitled Lament of Innocence, you will play the forefather of the Belmont clan, Leon. The name is slated for release this November. You can read about more of the game and glance at some awesome screenshots here.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Unveiled
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 8:30 PM |
Category: General |
The leaked video hit the net a few days ago, but the quality was poor and many were questioning if it was even real or not. All signs point to yes as Konami has announced that Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is coming. The game looks absolutely beautiful in the jungle setting. IGN has posted several screenshots of the game. Just as the article here says, details about the game are scarce, but Metal Gear Solid fans everywhere are jumping for joy right now (there's a lot of us, can't you feel the tremors). As soon as more details emerge, we will post them.
Producer Yoshinori Kitase Mentions Possible Final Fantasy VII Sequel
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 8:13 PM |
Category: General |
A new clips over at Playstation.com tells us that Quiter, a Japanese website, producer Yoshinori Kitase has mentioned a sequel to the Playstation (and PC) RPG Final Fantasy VII."According to Quiter, in an interview in the mag, Kitase says that he would like to make a continuation to FFVII -- and lots of other people do, too, including character designer Tetsuya Nomura (who recently debuted as a director in his own right with Square's immensely popular Kingdom Hearts.) Kitase goes on to say that since there are so many ardent fans of the game, they don't want to make a bad game. Consequently, concrete plans and a schedule for the game have not been decided upon." I just recently played through FF7 again and I certainly hope that this idea goes through. FF7 is close to the top on a lot of gamers most loved titles list and if FFX gets a sequel, why not 7?
Super Mario Advance 4 Is Coming!
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 7:48 PM |
Category: General |
GamesAreFun.com has posted some screen shots of the fourth upcoming Super Mario Brothers Advance video game. The game is Super Mario Brothers 3 with updated graphics. You can see the screen shots here. More details will be coming soon!
I wanted to play this wonderful game on my GBA for a while now. Well I can die in peace now. Thank you, Nintendo.
Halo 2 In-Game Demo
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 5:34 PM |
Category: General |
I wasn't so sure that Halo 2 could improve upon its predessor by leaps and bounds, but I'll shut my mouth now. IGN has a very high quality video of Halo 2 being demoed by Bungie's Joe Staton. In order to view the video, which is available here, you'll need to have a subscription to IGN Insider but if you've got one, you're ready for one hell of a trip. This is the best game I've seen come out of E3 so far. Keep your eyes peeled for a lot more from this game and if I can find a free video of this game in action, I'll certainly post it.
Some More E3 Highlights So Far......
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 4:27 PM |
Category: General |
Here's some more E3 excitement for you!
Sony announces their own handheld
Nintendo announces new Zelda Cube game: The Legend of Zelda: Tetra's Trackers
New Mario and Luigi Screenshots
Final Fantasy XI and PS2 Harddrive due out Q1 of 2004
Metroid: Zero Mission Screenshots for the Gameboy Advance
There's many great announcments so far, and there's still plenty of time left! Stay tuned!
E3 Barrage Of Updates!
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 11:31 PM |
Category: General |
Here comes some quite interesting announcments from E3 so far!
Mega Man X7 coming to PS2
Resident Evil Outbreak Movie Footage
Conker is coming to XBOX, Live and Uncut
First Sonic Heroes screen shots
EverQuest II Incentives Announced for PC
Half-Life 2 Preview!
The Fall Of Max Payne Announced!
He-Man: Defender of Grayskull Details
Nintendo's Upcoming Lineup
I'm pretty happy with all the happenings so far, now only if an updated Booth Babes site would float around...
Spy Hunter The Movie?
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 4:35 PM |
Category: General |
Gamedaily.com is reporting that Universal Pictures has obtained the rights to produce a movie based on the classic video game Spy Hunter. Chuck Gordon and Adrian Askarieh are teaming up to produce the video game flick. Michael Brandt and Derek Hass, both who teamed up previously to write the screenplay for the 2nd Fast and Furious movie, are also writing for this movie. Universal has their eyes on casting Dwayne Johnson (Also known as THE ROCK in the WWE) in the lead role of the movie.
Midway also plans on releasing Spy Hunter 2 for the Gamecube, XBOX and Playstation 2.
Mindless Babble
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 1:39 PM |
Category: General |
Last night was the first Friday I had off from work in about a zillion years. I took full advantage of it by going to a WWE wrestling match. It was a house show, but lots of good matches went on. The highlight of the night, I thought, was after the Dudley Boys won their table match, ripped the broken table apart and invited a few kids from ringside into the ring. The kids got their pictures taken with the Dudley's and got themselves a chunk of the table to take home. How cool is that? I picked up a Goldberg shirt while I was there, so I didn't come home empty handed (though I did come home with nothing in my wallet, hah).
After I got home, I watched a DVD that I bought a few days ago, Requiem for a Dream. I don't think I've ever felt so horrible after watching a movie. I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say that watching four people downward spiral and ultimately crash right before your eyes is quite disturbing and leaves you with this pit in your stomach of disgust and pity. It is definitely not the feel good movie of any moment in human existance. It is an excellent movie though, and I'll be watching it again soon.
Finally, how about that Metal Gear Solid 3 trailer Hades posted about last night? As a huge fan of the MGS series, I simply can not wait for this game. The name is pretty dumb, "Snake Eater", but hopefully that will change. Either way, the game looks stellar and it's cool to see Snake in a jungle atmosphere this time around. For one thing, that's where the Metal Gear saga began years back, and second, I was hoping to see something besides just metallic bases and ships this time around. I'll have my eyes glued to information on this one.
Leaked Metal Gear Solid 3 Video
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 12:37 AM |
Category: General |
The folks over at IGN have acquired a trailed to the next title in the Metal Gear series: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The video clip shows our beloved friend Solid Snake wetting his appetite on a snake, then shooting up some baddies. Check it out here.Where the video came from is still somewhat of a mystery, as the original source was credited to the personal webspace of a German-speaking Deep Throat who posted the file to an obscure Chinese server. No other details are known at this time and Konami of America could not be reached for comment. The video will likely be part of what is shown by Konami at E3 on the 13th. Only time will tell.
The Lord Of The Rings MMORPG
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 12:25 AM |
Category: General |
AVault is reporting that Vivendi Universal Games and Turbine Entertainment, creators of the MMORPG Asheron's Call, have agreed to develop a new PC MMORPG titled: Middle-Earth Online. Fans of the Lord of the Rings series will happy to play in the land of the rings. Characters will be based upon the races of those found in the LOTR Series.
Half Life 2 Preview At IGN
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:42 PM |
Category: General |
IGN got the opportunity to see Valve's Half Life 2 in person. The preview is detailed and gives you a really good taste of what the game will be like. The engine sounds extremely advanced (the physics alone will blow your mind). Another point of interest is that the game has been in the works for quite a while but the folks at Valve didn't want to use that "When it's done" excuse, so they waited until the game was nearing completion before even announcing it. You can read all about the game here. I have to admit that while I enjoyed Half Life I wasn't overly excited about the sequel, but I think I'm changing my mind after reading this preview.
Prince Of Persia Site Launched
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 3:01 PM |
Category: General |
Ubisoft has launched their official site for the upcoming Prince Of Persia game. Initially opening with screenshots, artwork and forums (the community is starting early it seems), they promise the site will grow as more content about the game is available. Check out the new site at www.prince-of-persia.com.
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory Update
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:56 PM |
Category: General |
Activision was kind enough to send word that their upcoming, totally free, stand alone game Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory is being tweaked and fixed up for release thanks to feedback from people like you who have played and tested the recent map test. They are also working on balance issues and hope to release the game early next week. In the meantime, you can check out the new site www.castlewolfenstein.com.
Day Of Defeat Comes To The PC
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:52 PM |
Category: General |
Activision has released Valve's World War II multiplayer shooter Day Of Defeat for your PC. The game runs on the Half Life technology and is selling at a price tag of $29.99."With true to life WWII weapons and multiplayer at its best, Day of Defeat captures the intensity and emotion of fighting alongside other soldiers in the battlefields of Western Europe," said Larry Goldberg, executive vice president, Activision Worldwide Studios. "Whether you're playing as Allied or Axis forces, Day of Defeat takes the fast-paced action and heart-stopping gameplay that its fans have come to crave to a higher level with updated graphics and new maps and classes." Now go out there soldier, buy this game and defend your country... or something.
New F-Zero and Mario Kart Footage!
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 2:39 PM |
Category: General |
Planet Gamecube has posted some new footage of 2 upcoming Nintendo releases: Mario Kart Double Dash and F-Zero GX. You can watch the eye candy yourself by clicking here. Enjoy!
Mindless Babble
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:34 PM |
Category: General |
Every year there's one or two CDs that really stand out in my mind as standouts. This year will be no exception, and it will be hard to pick a definitive "Metal Album Of The Year". Right now, my pick is the absolutely perfect Anthrax album, We've Come for You All. This is a masterpiece and I encourage anyone who has a taste for heavier music to pick it up. Anthrax have always been cool in my book, and this album is continuing to climb the ranks to my favorite Thrax album. Yes, it's that good.
More stand outs in the metal world this year include Black Label Society's The Blessed Hellride, which until the new Anthrax came out, was my favorite metal album of the year. The next huge release, however, is the long awaited St. Anger from a little band you may have heard of called Metallica. Everyone, fans and haters alike, are going to be keeping a close eye on this one.
Finally, in a more pleasant world than metal, my favorite "mellow" album of the year comes from Opeth, and their 70's rock meets eerie folk music blended album, Damnation. This is definitely an excellent album to listen to and just sink into the music. It's calming, although depressing, and the songs will get stuck with you for some time.
Just a little music rant for the day. Now on to some real news that you can use (could that have sounded any more stupid than it did).
Sega Says No To Sammy Corp
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 10:49 PM |
Category: General |
In some more corporate news, a Bloomberg.com article has stated that Sega has declined the merger offer from Sammy. The reason for the decline was a disagreement in the purchase price. I thought that merger seemed a bit out of place in my head. Now the merger with Namco on the other hand...
Infogrames Becomes Atari
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 10:33 PM |
Category: General |
You've probably noticed that a boatload of new games coming from Infogrames lately have been branded with the Atari logo. To make things less confusing, Infogrames went ahead and just decided to go by the name Atari from now on. The company will now be known as Atari Inc. and will be traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ATAR.“In any language, Atari is synonymous with video games and it’s recognized for transforming entertainment,” said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of IESA and Atari. “Our industry is now outpacing the Hollywood box office and by choosing Atari as our signature, we are demonstrating our commitment to this growth and our determination to take entertainment to the next level for gamers worldwide. This is pretty exciting news I think. The fact that they've been releasing so much under their Atari brandname lately, I'm surprised no one saw this coming.
Ubisoft Announces Record Sales
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 8:25 PM |
Category: General |
Ubisoft sends word that sales are up a whopping 98% for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2002/2003 that ended March 31st, 2003. With a solid lineup of games they've been releasing lately, it's no surprise.As expected, North American sales are increasing at a brisk pace with growth of 35% for the fiscal year (52% at a constant rate). During the first quarter of 2003, Ubi Soft ranked 7th among console publishers in the United States*. This territory represents 40% of annual sales. Europe recorded growth of 20%, and represented 56% of Ubi Soft's sales. Growth was particularly strong in the United Kingdom, with an increase of 48% (54% at a constant rate) and a succession of bestselling games since 2002. Growth of 60% in Spain is also worth noting. Last year was excellent for the company and this year looks no different. Keep your eyes open for Ubisoft's 2003/2004 lineup because I'm sure they are looking to improve even more.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Announced
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 8:16 PM |
Category: General |
Those of us who enjoyed the last game in the series, Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption, will get to play more of this great RPG series. Activision has announced that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is in the works and will be running on Valve Software's Source Technology to power the game (the same engine used in the upcoming Half Life 2).Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines' combat will be instantly familiar to players of first-person action games. In addition to vampire skills and powers, gamers will be able to call upon a devastating arsenal of weapons including stake guns, shotguns, flamethrowers, submachine guns and sniper rifles, to name a few. Once players arm themselves to the teeth they will be ready to tackle the host of human vampire hunters, ghouls, werewolves, and enemy vampires that inhabit the City of Angels after nightfall. The game is under development by Troika Games. No word yet on a release date other than 2004, but keep your eyes peeled for more on this game soon.
Return To Castle Wolfenstein Once Again
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 8:04 PM |
Category: General |
Activision sends word that Return To Castle Wolfenstein: Tides Of War has been released for the Xbox. Added to the game are new features and levels to the game, along with Xbox Live support for unmatched online play.id’s new hit for Xbox features the definitive multiplayer experience, including squad-based warfare over Xbox™ Live or System Link, along with an action-packed storyline for single player and two-player split-screen cooperative action. The title has already received critical acclaim including a 9.2 rating and “Editor’s Choice” award from Official Xbox Magazine, and “five out of five stars” from Maxim and FHM. Developed by Nerve Software, Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War carries a suggested retail price of $49.99 and is rated “M” for mature by the ESRB. I was considering this for my next purchase, the online play alone should be sweet. It's one thing to play with a team of players, but to actually be able to talk to them is a whole different level.
Metroid Prime Finished Fast
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 2:29 PM |
Category: General |
The folks over at Gamerfeed.com have posted an interesting accomplishment. Henru Wang from Berkeley, California has finished Metroid Prime in only 1 hour and 46 minutes!
(GF) Mr. Wang employed strategic use of the Morph ball and bombs to move faster through the game. Furthermore, he memorized what upgrades were not necessary as he sped through Metroid Prime. Mr. Wang claims that he is very happy with the time; however, he feels he can improve on it.
I can't imagine beating Metroid Prime that quickly! Heck, I haven't even beat it yet and I've put over 12 hours into the masterpiece so far.
Indiana Jones Box Set On DVD!
Posted
by
Sean 'Hades' Connolly
at 2:08 PM |
Category: General |
Indiana Jones fans better sit down for this bit of news. Since the debut of DVD’s in 1997 the Indiana Jones series has been in the top 10 list of requested DVD’s. Over 5 years later the wish has come true. The Indiana Jones box set is due out November 4th, 2003. It will include the trilogy and an added disc packed with bonus material. You can find more information here. Retail price is expected to be $49.95.
I’ll check another requested DVD off my list. Back To The Future finally came out, now Indy… now only if Star Wars 4-6 would’ve came out I’d be in DVD bliss.
Mindless Babble
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 6:58 AM |
Category: General |
Happy Monday! Or not. After not waking up until 4:30pm yesterday (these night shifts gotta go), I was cursed last night by not being able to sleep at all. Good old TV kept me company, although MTV (eMpTyV) music videos sucked as I saw way too much Eminem. Luckily, TBS provided me with the Problem Child movies and the Sci Fi channel came through by offering me a few episodes of what is probably the greatest show of all time, The Twilight Zone. So now I have no sleep, a final exam in a few hours, working around the house all day today, and then going to work again tonight. I won't get to sleep until at least 3am tomorrow morning. As I said before, these night shifts have to get the boot. It's job hunting time. I want my life back, heh.
On a good note, I saw X2: X-Men United last night. I'm not sure which movie I liked more, this one or the original. Wolverine kicked way more ass in this movie and Hugh Jackman has the character down perfectly this time around. Either way, it was a great movie and I'll probably go to see it again soon.
Tired and broken,
Fraust
Wrestling Star Miss Elizabeth Dies
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:43 PM |
Category: General |
Not a whole lot to say here, but as a big wrestling fan, I was really saddened to hear that Miss Elizabeth has died. I always remember her as the classy valet for "Macho Man" Randy Savage in the WWE and later in WCW with big stars like Lex Luger and the nWo.(WWE) We are saddened to hear of the death of Elizabeth Hulette. Miss Hulette played the very popular character of Miss Elizabeth in WWE from 1985 to 1992. She finished her career at WCW, from Jan. 1996 through Jan. 1999. We at WWE send our sincere condolences to Miss Hulette's family. I am shocked to hear this news. With the WWE bringing back characters like Roddy Piper, Sable, Goldberg, among others and the possible additions of The Ultimate Warrior, Sting, and Lex Luger in the near future, I'm sure I wasn't the only one hoping Miss Elizabeth would be making a return as well.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Details Soon?
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 3:19 PM |
Category: General |
IGN is reporting that Hideo Kojima is almost ready to unveil the newest member of the Metal Gear Solid family. With E3 so close we can taste it, one has to wonder if we will see anything at the event. According to Kojima, "We'll soon be at the point where we can show the game. In actuality, we'd like to, just like Star Wars, release the game without revealing any information on its content until the end. Although we probably can't do that." This sounds like an E3 unveiling is possible considering the show has been known to show off Metal Gear Solid games. Another interesting bit of information from the article concerns the name of the game. Kojima has denied the rumored subtitle of "The Patriot" for the game. He says they are not yet ready to reveal the name of the game, but "The Patriot" is definitely not the title. We hope to hear more information soon.
American McGee Interview
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 2:53 PM |
Category: General |
Fans of id Software or American McGee's Alice will want to read this new interview with the talented game designer American McGee. While it doesn't really delve too much into his games in specific, it picks at his brain and finds out how he thinks of his game designs.Ultimately, game design, like all skills, can be taught but that doesn’t mean that every student is going to turn into a Beethoven. Creativity is innate. Marketable creativity is not. "Genius" in a particular field is usually more a function of extreme focus and hard work on the part of an individual than anything else. While it doesn't go in depth, you can learn a little bit about the upcoming American McGee's Oz (yes, a twisted look at the Wizard Of Oz). Hopefully we'll hear more from American soon, as the world is ready for another twisted fairy tale.
Don't Wince, It's Voodoo Vince
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 12:04 AM |
Category: General |
Microsoft Game Studios is working on a rather bizarre title heading for the Xbox this fall.Voodoo Vince will put players in the role of a beat-up voodoo doll, who, in a unique twist, must seek out danger in order to fend off enemies. Vince can beat on himself, poke himself with pins and even light himself on fire in order to inflict pain on his foes. The adventure game will take place in an “exaggerated” New Orleans. Beep Industries is developing Voodoo Vince. This game makes me think of a weapon from Blood come to life.
Some Sound Investements
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 11:57 AM |
Category: Hardware |
Creative has plans for developing a range of USB Sound Blaster products to target entry level and advanced users. The Sound Blaster MP3+ is the first product that will make it to the market, and TechSpot has some product shots and info on this cigarette packet sized, USB powered soundcard.
Mindless Babble
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:24 PM |
Category: General |
Yesterday I got the newest Official Xbox Magazine in the mail. I've been waiting all month for this one, and do you know why? You don't? Well, it's because they have the world exclusive preview of Halo 2. There's a few screenshots in here, which look outstanding, and a lot of concept art, but the really great part about this article is the wealth of information on the gameplay. While the graphics have been boosted to new heights, the gameplay has just as much (if not more) additions and may turn out to be my favorite part of this game. The ability to use two different guns at once is used in a way so that combos are possible. I always wanted to be able to man that cool gun on the back of the warthog and let someone else drive and I'll soon be able to. AI has advanced enough so the marines will be able to drive around in the vehicles. The game will have better use of lighting, so if I read it right, you'll be able to use shadows to create cover. There's a lot of new features, but for those of you who are still waiting for the magazine to arrive, I won't spoil it.
This is the first time I've been thinking about my Xbox in quite a while. I was on a Playstation 2 kick lately, playing the handful of games I haven't finished yet. Then I stopped playing the PS2 when my new PC arrived. Unreal Tournament 2003 owns me now. This is the absolute smoothest online play I've ever had and the most addictive shooter I've played in some time. I think Quake 3 Arena is the definitive deathmatching experience, but Unreal Tournament 2003 is starting to sway that opinion in the other direction. The game is excellent in just about every way, even the single player campaign rocks (I never expected the oppotunity to trade players with other teams). I'm still a sucker for these deathmatch games. Cheers to Epic Games and Digital Extremes for keeping this tradition going.
New Features Coming To Xbox Live
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 4:03 PM |
Category: General |
Are you happy with your Xbox Live service? Whether you are or are not, there's some new features on the way that just might make your experience even better. According to the latest Official Xbox Magazine, Microsoft has been looking at new features and upgrades to your online experience. The Xbox dashboard will be a more personal touch, depending on your Gamertag, you can enter lobbies without going through game software to get there. My favorite new feature will allow you to know when your friends on Xbox Live appear online via the already very useful MSN Messenger. You will know who's online no matter where you are. Another interesting feature in the works is uploadable challenges. The example in the magazine would be to record your best timed race in Project Gotham Racing 2 and post the "ghost" of yourself in the game online for people to race against. It's a bit of an online/offline combination that sounds very interesting to me. Word has it that these new features will appear this fall (I would presume as a downloadable update).
Unreal Tournament 2004?
Posted
by
Christian 'Fraust' Wilson
at 3:50 PM |
Category: General |
This is rather interesting. According to Gamestop, they are now taking pre orders on the never announced Unreal Tournament 2004. One would believe that this means the game is indeed on the horizon, but it could easily be just a mistake. Maybe we'll hear about it at E3. If the game exists, according to Gamestop, it will be released on 11/18/03.
A New Fighting Game
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 12:43 PM |
Category: General |
Metro 3D’s new Xbox exclusive game, Stake: Fortune Fighters, should be showing up in stores soon. The fighting game was developed by Gameness Art Software, a Taiwanese company. It features a third-person perspective, eight characters, three modes of play, and supports up to four players in split-screen mode.
Powercolor's Xabre 600 Pro
Posted
by
William 'Phoebus' Mull
at 12:35 PM |
Category: Hardware |
A bit of PC hardware related news for you. Techware Labs just posted a review of Powercolor's Xabre 600 Pro based video card.As the spotlight focuses on the battle raging between Nvidia and ATI for the top slot in the high-end video card competition, the release of middle-of-the-road, affordable cards, that don't occupy an AGP slot, and render the neighboring PCI slot useless, often slip by unnoticed. SiS would like to believe the Xabre 600 is on the line between the enthusiast, extreme performance market and the mainstream, quality performance markets, allegedly making it a worthy contender for press attention, especially as they lead the GPU market to the 0.13u process. Are the technical feats achieved in the Xabre 600 enough to warrant your money? Read on to find out...
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