Latest Articles (Page 3445)

Microsoft has issued a typically long and arduous press release today excitedly reporting that more than 50,000 people are using Xbox Live across Europe - which presumably also includes those accumulated by the Test Drive phase since November. In total, there are about 350,000 people using the service worldwide according to Microsoft's estimates. What's more, they say, the next couple of months will throw up a number of new titles to keep players happy.

These days, we half expect to find leftover remnants of development in PC games - particularly first person shooters. Old weapon code, unused levels, etc, all hidden away in data archives and unearthed by the mod-hungry communities, which invariably spring up in the face of a new and exciting title.

Monte Cristo today announced the planned release of Fire Chief for PC during the month of June. It's a simple enough idea - you control a squad of specialised firefighters and vehicles, and have to make the right decisions to tackle devastating blazes in various scenarios.

This week is actually not so bad for games, despite a bit of confusion as to whether they're out today. We hardly expect the shops to be closed tomorrow though, so you should be able to get them then regardless.

KOEI has announced plans to bring PS2-based Dynasty Warriors 4 to Europe on June 27th, the latest title in the popular Taction series (that's Tactical Action shortened - do you like it?). The fourth game has more than 50 levels across 17 maps, one-on-one duels with enemy officers, lots of siege engines, the ability to create your own officers and bodyguards, new character-specific special attacks, a brand new weapon experience system and a revamped Musou mode. All of the old characters return, too, with over 40 playable in total including three new fellas: Cao Ren, Zhou Tai and Yue Ying.

A few details of the Ritual Entertainment/Valve Software combined effort to bring Counter-Strike to the Xbox have been revealed. As well as tacking the original multiplayer game to the single player Condition Zero project, there are some extra features of interest that are apparently exclusive to the Xbox version. As well as being playable over Xbox Live (natch), there will be a couple of extra weapons, namely a machete and a syringe, and also the ability for players to formulate custom game modes. We're not quite sure what that last bit means yet, though, as details are extremely scant. More information when we get it.

A sequel to Terminal Reality's BloodRayne is in development according to this job advert requesting applications for a lead artist on the project. Sounds like a good job too - I wish I got dental insurance with this gig!

Mythic Entertainment is planning another, free expansion pack. Or should we say extension? Entitled Dark Age of Camelot: Foundations, it introduces houses to the online RPG, allowing players to buy the deed to one of several types of house, customised for each realm, and then add decorative trophies, weapons and such, and even basement trade areas and vaults for up to 100 items. As well as offering safe haven and a decent meeting place, the houses will act as a valuable asset, with a housing market which is expected to fluctuate according to demand.

Zoom's Mr. Moskeeto is to get a PS2 follow-up, also according to Famitsu this morning. Known as Ka in Japan, Moskeeto was obviously quite popular, because it was picked up by Eidos for their Fresh Games label (whatever happened to that?) and released to utter disinterest over here. It wasn't a bad game though, although Martin might disagree with me, it was just a bit difficult to control and a bit boring after a while.

Nintendo has shed some light on Cube title Kirby's Air Ride in Famitsu, and it sounds quite good. Instead of a platformer, Air Ride will have players struggling to keep a handle on Kirby, whose warp star is seemingly out of control and speeding away on its own. The A button is used for braking, drifting and charging up power for some sort of headlong dash. You'll also be able to half-inch abilities from enemies (by swallowing them, we'd imagine), allowing Kirby to smack things around with a sword, to throw bombs, and to douse himself in flames. What's more, as the screenshots tottering around the net confirm, there will be a four-player split-screen mode to enjoy.

A Japanese gaming superpower could be on the cards, after it emerged last night that Namco is keen to re-open merger talks with Sega.

We would have brought you something about this last night, but having sat there looking at a zeroed teaser counter for about ten minutes, we got bored and went to the pub.

Codemasters is today confirming that it has commissioned tactical strategy title Operation Flashpoint 2, currently in development by Bohemia Interactive, and has pencilled in a release date of late 2004, suggesting that this isn't a mere case of reinventing the wheel.

Apparently somebody did go to SCORE 2003 this year (it's an independent retail trade show thingamajig), and that somebody was an Infogrames representative, who told the assembled ranks that Enter The Matrix is going to appear on multiple discs - for each format. According to IGN, the PS2, Xbox and GameCube versions will each be a two-disc product, which sort of makes sense, while the PC version will be a six CD offering. Yes, six. In a double-DVD-style case. And what's more, PC owners will have to pay extra for the privilege of owning this monstrosity. Hello? Earth to Infogrames? Use a DVD?

A demo of Splash Damage's Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory free multiplayer add-on is currently undergoing a private beta test according to publisher Activision (do they still count as a publisher, given that it's free?), and a public release of one map is on the cards for next week. Good news, eh? Yes.

Before the Fellowship, there was only one. And he was a short, scruffy little git who wouldn't look out of place at a garden centre. The Hobbit! To celebrate his coming (not for a while, mind), Vivendi sent us this rather lovely trailer for the game (18MB), showcasing plenty of in-game footage - and looking pretty interesting too, despite our pessimism about Vivendi's Tolkien games in general (which they kind of asked for with the lacklustre FOTR). Take a look for yourselves, just make sure you have the latest Windows Media codecs before you do.

The official Vice City website has been updated with a new PC section, showcasing a few new screenshots, and information on the game including the long-awaited system specifications. According to Rockstar, the game is being built "from the ground up" to fit the PC this time around, and there will be all sorts of new features including player skinning, custom radio stations, a replay mode and lots of other bits and bobs. It all sounds rather excellent.

Activision has announced the first console title to bear its Call of Duty umbrella brand. This Call of Duty (helpfully there's no subtitle or anything) is in development at California-based Spark Unlimited, and is due out on PS2, Xbox and GameCube next year. It's been in development since late 2002, and is totally different to Infinity Ward's previously announced FPS.

TDK has joined the long line of publishers rushing to tell us what we can see at this year's E3. Their stand will be in the South Hall (ooh!), booth #1400 (great stuff), and we should be able to see Outlaw Volleyball, Conan: The Dark Axe, Knights of the Temple, The Haunted Mansion and Corvette - the latter being the next branded racing game in line with the Mercedes-Benz-based WorldRacing on Xbox.

Midway has revealed some details about its intriguing new survival horror title, The Suffering. Set in a maximum-security prison, the player assumes the role of the rather naffly named death row prisoner, Torque, as the ghosts of past executions besiege the prison. Accidentally released during all the fracas, Torque sets off across the game's nine levels to discover his past and confront not only the apparitions running amok, but other prisoners and prison guards. The player's actions during the game will determine which of three endings they will end up seeing.

According to the New York Post, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is working on a game about himself. In the game, players will have to build up a massive entertainment corporation by signing acts, marketing them and acquiring assets. "The line between the entertainment and marketing and advertising world has virtually disappeared," reads P. Diddy's marketing firm's press release. "And this new game will have Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs' likeness in a top-of-the-line video game, which will reach the elusive youth and urban markets," they continue.

Wanadoo seems incredibly excited about Pro Beach Soccer, a new arcade sports title developed by fellow Frenchmen Pam Development. The game is aimed at football fans and arcade gamers alike, and apparently combines "a wide variety of acrobatic feats with a sound and light extravaganza" - blimey.

EverQuest leash-holder Sony Online has announced that its massively multiplayer online first person shooter PlanetSide has reached the open beta phase, and that 30,000 new players have been introduced to the environment to help test it ahead of the game's mid-May launch in the US and Canada.

LucasArts has launched its E3 website, giving us an idea of the developer/publisher's plans for the trade show next month. Although this is by no means a definitive list yet, the site should be updated over the course of the next few weeks with more and more. To begin with, we're told that epic tactical RPG Gladius, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy and Star Wars Galaxies will be on display. And while we're on the subject, hamsters on the rumour treadmill claim that the latter may have slipped until the end of 2003. Eek!

And so it begins. E3 kicks off roughly this time next month, running from May 14th to 16th at the LA Convention Centre - sorry, Center - and publishers are starting to send us their line-ups. Codemasters is first, then, exhibiting at booth #746 in the South Hall (not that you care), and their stand is described as the firm's "biggest E3 presence yet".

Hardware manufacturer Hercules is jumping on the ATI RADEON 9800 PRO-powered graphics board bandwagon by introducing their latest model, the Prophet 9800 Pro, the marketing for which does not include gratuitous and completely unnecessary use of capital letters, thankfully.

Vivendi Universal has released a trailer of the forthcoming HULK game, showcasing Banner's exploits both calm and angry. The game aims to combine elements of stealth during our green friend's quieter moments with the expected smashing the crap 'em up mechanics - and the latest trailer shows that aspects of the game have promise. We particularly liked the visual style, and the ability to pick up enemies and slam them around like rag dolls. You can download the 11.2MB WMV trailer here, and you'll need the Windows Media 9 codec to play it back. But it's worth it, as HULK could potentially be as good as a film licence should be.

Maxis is running a competition for budding mayoral legends with their "Wow" contest. All you need to do is send your city to Maxis, and their panel, including Will Wright himself(!), will judge the most impressive creation. The prize? An EA game of your choice, a SimCity 4 T-shirt and your city uploaded to the official website for the world to marvel at. Wow.

In Japan, Sony is to release a new model of PlayStation 2 (SCPH-50000) on May 15th for 25,000 yen, the platform holder has announced. The new model is focused on DVD playback enhancements, and will finally introduce progressive scan support, as well as reducing fan noise through "new design and improved airflow".

French developer Gaming Side has revealed details about its 3D shooter, Hill Project. The focus is on an apparently action-packed game that takes the player from the Earth to the Moon, during which time they're charged with destroying waves of drones, huge bosses and navigating asteroid fields.