Latest Articles (Page 3580)

Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcment of the GeForce 2 Ultra graphics processor from NVIDIA, ELSA have announced their Gladiac Ultra card based on the new chip. Due for release in October, the card will boast 64Mb of 460MHz memory, a video out module, and the DVD player software ELSAMovie 2000 amongst other features. ELSA claims the card will give a 30% performance boost over the already impressive GeForce 2 GTS.

The original Dark Reign was released back in 1997, unfortunate enough to be released within weeks of Total Annihilation, and quickly written off as just another Command & Conquer clone.

Massively multiplayer games generally fall into two categories at the moment - third person fantasy role-playing games and futuristic space sims. Bucking the trend are the curiously named Cornered Rat Software, currently working on "World War II Online", which producer Chris Sherland describes in an interview with RPGVault as "the first real virtual battlefield".

The latest UK release schedule has just arrived from Take 2 Europe, with several interesting changes and some interesting non-movers. Although the game is already available in America, the UK release for Ritual's Quake 3 engined third person action game "Heavy Metal FAKK2" is disappointingly still set for the end of September. Meanwhile Bungie's anime inspired action game "Oni" has slipped from October 27th to November 24th, and "Max Payne" has slipped from first quarter 2001 to second quarter 2001 - late next spring in other words. For all the latest UK release information, check EuroGamer's comprehensive UK release date list, now tracking over 100 titles due for release over the next year.

NVIDIA's GeForce 2 might already be the world's fastest 3D graphics card, but with 3dfx's monstrous four processor Voodoo 5 6000 and ATI's Radeon 256 on the horizon, the company isn't happy to rest on its laurels. They have just announced the latest addition to their GPU family, imaginatively naming the bundle of joy the "GeForce 2 Ultra". The GeForce 2 chip has been sped up from 200 to 250MHz, while the old 333MHz memory has been replaced by 64Mb of the new 460MHz variety, increasing memory bandwidth from 5.3 to 7.4GB/s. Ouch.

Developers 3000AD recently announced that they had cancelled their Tactical Engagement first person combat add-on for Battlecruiser, partly thanks to the company behind the engine they had licensed for the add-on going bust recently, and partly to allow the company to concentrate on an entirely new game for PC and X-Box using the Serious engine.

Back in the day, the idea of network gaming in your own home was utterly ridiculous - the closest I ever got was playing Doom over a serial cable at a friend's house.

CPL founder Angel Munoz has posted to the CPL forums about some of the events that will be taking place at Frag 4 in Dallas in September. He talks about how the structure of the event is very different to those that have come before it. For example, everyone who's on the attendee list is guaranteed a shot at the $25,000 prize purse in the team tournament. Established clans are also welcome. Aside from that it's usual LAN Party fare, although news of a Compaq and Razer -sponsored Doom II tournament will no doubt bring a tear to the gaming world's eye. The various sponsors will be showing off their wares at the event, including Mad Catz and others. Telefragged are sponsoring an all-female tourney after the success in previous years of the "FFF" (Female Frag Fest), which has recently met with controversy from some quarters. Katherine Anna Kang (John Carmack's other half) who organised the first FFF, has been vocal about her opinions in favour of the tournament, but nonetheless it's meeting with some stigma. The Rocket Arena 3 tournament at Frag 4 will be the biggest of its kind with official sponsorship from Bawls, Case Ace and Cached.Net. All in all it looks as though it will be one of the most entertaining LANs in history. If you can get there, make sure you book your place!

This weekend's preview here on EuroGamer takes a look at MoHo, a bizzare looking new arcade action game from the warped minds of Lost Toys, a company formed by veterans of Bullfrog. With impressive graphics, a decidely odd plot, and a range of strange modes to play in, this is certainly looking like one of the more unusual titles due for release this year. To find out more, read our preview!

According to a report in the Canadian newspaper "Globe And Mail" yesterday, Activision has decided to appeal against the recent decision by British Columbia to classify "Soldier of Fortune" as the equivalent of an adult movie, preventing anyone under the age of 18 from renting or buying the game. A representative from Activision complained that "the action of the Film Classification board undermines consumers' rights of freedom and choice of expression and sets a precedent for government censorship".

Peter Molyneux's departure from Bullfrog is probably the most high profile thing to happen to the company in recent years, other than the release of Dungeon Keeper II. It's a shame, because it's not as if Peter (bless his heart) was the only creative influence at Bullfrog.

With the game already available in the USA, Ritual and the Gathering of Developers have released a demo version of their stunning Quake 3 engined third person shooter, "Heavy Metal : FAKK2". Weighing in at over 70Mb and featuring four new levels, eight weapons, five monsters and three different skins for the heroine Julie, you can grab the demo from any of the following sites -

The demo version of the official "Age Of Empires II" expansion pack "The Conquerors" is now available. Weighing in at a relatively modest 36Mb, the demo includes one multiplayer map, one single player campaign scenario, and two new civilizations (the Aztec and Mayans), giving the demo something of a meso-American flavour. Unlike the full version, the demo is a stand-alone game so you won't need Age of Empires II to play it.

The venerable Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper role-playing system is set to collide with computer gaming next year, with Wizards Of The Coast announcing that their new "D&D Master Tools" CD-Rom will use a customised version of the tile-based map editor created by Troika for their computer RPG "Arcanum : Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura". The editor will be included in the Master Tools kit to allow would-be dungeon masters to more easily design their own adventure settings for the insanely popular table-top role-playing game from the comfort of their PC. Details are still fairly thin on the ground, but if you want to find out more read the press release or head over to the Master Tools website.

David Braben is probably still best known as one half of the team behind the classic space trading sim "Elite", but since then he has worked on a string of other games with mixed success. His latest effort is Infestation, a vehicle-bound action game featuring vast sprawling terrain to explore and some pyrotechnic eye candy. In an interview on the newly re-opened Infestation website, David explains that "Infestation was originally conceived as a sequel to V2000, but the design very quickly became much more than that".

It has been an absolute age since I have played a "track and field" style game on a home computer, with my last memory being "Hypersports" on the Spectrum 48k!

They Hunger 2 for Half-Life reviewed on Hangar 16

have decided to run an open vote on whether or not their "3D SeeThrough Technologies" should be released in future versions of their graphics card drivers. The new "features" allow players to see through walls and play games in wireframe mode, which could give users of ASUS graphics cards an unfair advantage in 3D multiplayer games such as Quake 3 Arena, Unreal Tournament and Counter-Strike.

Swedish developers Daydream Software sent word that the first venue pack for their online game "Clusterball" is now available on the game's official website. Costing just shy of $15, the pack adds three more venues to the two included in the standard version of the game, which you can download for free. The city-scape "Metropolactica", curry-flavoured "Taj Mahal" and frigid "Antarctica" are the three new maps in this first venue pack. For more information, read the press release.

This week's interview on EuroGamer is with Philip Oliver, gaming industry veteran and co-founder of BritSoft developer Blitz Games. We spoke to him a couple of weeks ago about his long history in the gaming industry, how he sees it developing in future, and of course the company's work on "Titan AE", an action-adventure game based on the sci-fi animated movie.

has posted MPEGs of a pair of "Cybernet TV" programs filmed at their Razer-CPL event earlier this year. The first one features interviews with John Carmack of id Software and his wife Katherine Anna Kang, as well as CPL founder Angel Munoz and several professional gamers. The second is titled "How To Be A Pro Gamer".

Blitz Games (neé Interactive Studios) carved something of a niche for themselves during the 1990s, pumping out a whole string of games based on established licenses, ranging from Chicken Run to Action Man, and Frogger to Wargames.

Ever fancied being on television? Well now's your chance! "Channel 20-20" are looking for both male and female gamers aged between 16 and 30 to take part in a TV series to be aired on Sky "focusing on games, gaming and groovy lifestyle features". Auditions will start in September, and British, French, German and Swedish residents are all needed for the show. As well as getting your mug on the tube, winners will take home "top prizes", and get an all-expenses holiday if they make it through to the grand final in London. If you fancy signing up or want to find out more, read the press release!

"A European Commission has given the go-ahead to a 2 million Euro project to research and develop an exciting new generation of online gaming and edutainment authoring tools," reads the press release from Iridon Interactive. Delving a little deeper we discover that four "distinguished corporations and establishments" will be bringing us this exciting new [yadda yadda]. Giunti Multimedia, blaxxun Interactive, Iridon Interactive and the Istituto Trentino di Cultura (ITC). Fair enough. What is a little alarming about these claims is the timescale and grandiose plan for the whole venture. It all looks very officious. On top of this they make the usual claims about state-of-the-art 3D game engine and an "unrivalled AI component". Personally I think this is a little pushy; here are four companies no-one's ever heard of promising to revolutionize online gaming by developing a game engine to trounce all others and artificial intelligence to span the globe. Well perhaps, but I'm sceptical. Read the rest of the press release for more information - prepare to be mystified. We'll bring you more on this when we get it..

UKGamer has posted its coverage of the UK Modem Only QuakeWorld league. While some might argue that a QuakeWorld tournament is a little outdated, there's evidently demand for it, with plenty of clans signing up and taking part this season. UKGamer have also given their predictions for the final standings for this term, promising more coverage coming soon. Check it out.

BallSnatchers have posted a tutorial about producing custom skins for Clusterball

For today's EuroGamer review we sent resident sports fanatic DNM out on to the green to take a look at UbiSoft's "Ultimate Golf Simulation". Can it live up to the rather over-ambitious name, or will DNM be wrapping his golf clubs around my head for foisting the game off on him? Does the innovative option to play from a first person perspective actually add anything to the game? And what's with the invisible crowds? Find out in our review of the game!

According to the press release we just got from 3DO officially announcing their Heroes of Might & Magic Chronicles games, the first two episodes will now be released in September, with the second two in November, and the possibility of further episodes next year.

The game is played in a standard third person perspective, with the camera following behind and above your chosen character as he or she romp through the expansive levels. Each new mission is introduced with a lengthy narrated background story with your tasks defined and a few clues thrown in for good measure. Most of the missions are pretty standard grab item, get key, chop up the baddies you meet on the way to bits fare, hardly brain surgery but interesting enough. This is a game that undoubtedly focuses more on the bloody slashing action than brain-bending adventure. More depth is added with the introduction of Blessing Wisps, which are rewarded for successfully completing a mission with additional bonus Wisps scattered in secret locations around the levels. Every five of these collected can be traded for an upgrade to your character by adding an ability or gaining some weapon or piece of armour. At the end of each level your given the choice of category to upgrade such as Rank, Offence, Defence and various different types of magic. Selecting offence will grant new weapons, defence will give new armour and the magic categories add to your arsenal of offensive and defensive spells. It's a far cry from a full on Role Playing Game, but it adds a compelling angle to the game, your driven to search for those extra Wisps that'll allow you to try out newer spells or wield a bigger chopper. Letting the player have a choice of which character to take through the game also gives the title a bit of variety. The beefy male character Cynric is strong with combat and can take quite a beating which favours an close up, full on approach to the game, while the foxy female Aeowyn is more magically gifted and strong but physically weaker so requires a careful and more considered approach. While this doesn't change the way you progress through the game, it does offer a choice based on your preferred approach, and players wanting maximum value could even have a go at completing the game with each character greatly adding to the potential longevity. By far the most enjoyable element of Dragons Blood is actually getting your hands wet with the blood of your evil enemies. Initially the combat looks like a simple hack and slash affair, it's actually quite involved with various different sword strokes available and a good selection of combo's to discover for each different kind of weapon. Marching right up to your foes and taking a swipe out of them will result in a damp red heap of hero, you have to approach combat carefully and make liberal use of the defence button and shoulder button strafing if your going to get a swipe in without taking damage. The enemy intelligence is also impressive, you find them circling and dodging, waiting for you to expose yourself before they take a lunge, making combat intense and engaging. Unfortunately a slew of graphical problems prevent Dragons Blood from being a fantasy action masterpiece. Textures break up, the frame often becomes choppier than a butchers block and glitchy collision detection results in your hero disappearing into walls or losing half his legs into the landscape. The environments are huge, and have some fantastic detail but the ambitious rolling hills in the outdoor areas look extremely angular and suffer from some fairly close up fogging. Also irritating is the weird save game system, which allows you to make marker saves at any point, but will only let you actually save a game to the memory card in-between levels. Some of the missions are huge, and take ages to finish making for some long sittings in between saves.

I'm not one for passing up another round of computerised golf, and when Ultimate Golf landed in my lap with it's unique first person view feature, I was eager to check it out.