SWAT 3 is different because all the mission execution is done on the fly. You can give orders to your men and by and large, they will obey them as you expect. They can handle basic orders like searching a room, covering an entry way, or falling into formation behind you. What's really impressive is how they handle complex orders such as "Breach, Bang, and Clear," which means to break down a door, toss in a flashbang, and then quickly clear the room of threats. In fact, the squad AI is so good that you can often beat the easier missions by just delegating tasks to your team instead of doing them yourself.

Thanks SuppressiveFire for the news.

As with the original, each level offers a fresh challenge and you'll find very little that's repetitive as you surreptitiously shoot your way to victory. Whether it's searching for missing Americans or liberating Greek villages from the clutches of communism, every mission is vastly different from its predecessor and will always pull your skills and tactics in every direction.

Sounds good to me. Devil's Bridge has been spotted in stores, so go grab a copy today.

Delta Force 2 review [02:16:46 EST] by - Rush
I saw over at SuppressiveFire that GameSpot UK has posted a review of NovaLogic's Delta Force 2 along with some cool screen snaps. Here's a bit on the game AI:

The enemy is more efficient this time around and you need to move carefully - your life depends upon it. Enemy AI can be adjusted upwards to fanatic level, but even set to normal they're somewhat faster and more accurate than in the original game and will crouch or lie down behind doors and obstacles. They operate as a group more effectively, too - peppering you with crossfire. Although, there are still quite a few who let you walk right up behind them for close-up dispatching.

Good review, give it a look..

More Urban Ops info [01:49:27 EST] by - Rush
Rogue Spear Retreat has posted another interview (#4) with RSE on the upcoming expansion pack for Rogue Spear, Urban Operations. Here's a snip:

1. With the introduction of medium machine guns, how will these guns perform in your AI teammates hands? Will they be able to lay down suppressive fire or will they shoot in short bursts like other weapons. Will there be a new class for the medium machine gunners such as the one for snipers?

The purpose of the changes made to the Urban Operations executable has been to enhance the Rogue Spear engine, while not creating a different game. For this reason, we have not added any new AI code to deal with medium machine guns, and they will be treated just like any other weapon that an AI team member is carrying. We had debated coming up with a new class of AI to handle the medium machine guns, but the risk associated with such a change is pretty high. We don't want to introduce more bugs into the code by adding that much complexity. -- Joe Sauder (RSE)

More great stuff in there, so check it out. Thanks VE for the news.

Devil's Bridge in stores [01:29:11 EST] by - Rush
Cpl Budha (who works in an EB store) let me know that Devil's Bridge, the expansion pack for IllusionSoft's Hidden & Dangerous, is now in stores! 

Spec Ops 2 patch info [22:38:12 EST] by - Rush
I've received word from Zombie on the latest developments in the Spec Ops line. Here's the scoop:

They are actively working on a 'major' patch to fix bugs in the current release of SO2, for both D3D and Voodoo users. For D3D users, we'll be getting fixes for the shadows, flashlights, crosshairs in scopes, and more. The Voodoo users will be getting higher screen res support. There will also be some menu changes as well (I suppose for "everyone" that hated the menus...) 

However the release is still "several weeks away", and not expected till early March.

No official word on Mission 2000 or Spec Ops 3 yet, but as soon as there's news, I'll have it for ya's.  Thanks to ME for the news!

Surviving combat in Spec Ops II requires constant vigilance and intelligent teamwork. Once enemies have been alerted to your presence, if not suddenly exterminated they become absolutely lethal, and will bring almost instant death upon anyone walking(or running) into their field of fire. Acting as a one-man army in Spec Ops II is a tactic that will humble you very quickly. Instead, you must use the combined firepower of your teammates to draw fire from the enemy, distract them, and reduce their effectiveness to let one of you to deliver the decisive kill. These combat aspects are merciless, offering you zero leeway in terms of your tactics, response time and accuracy.

Good honest review, just like we like 'em. The review has some wicked screenshots as well. Def check this one out! Thanks to SuppressiveFire for the news.

Devil's Bridge goes gold! [21:43:56 EST] by - Rush
Damn web server stopped serving pages again! The hardware is fine, but the software seems to lock up at least once a week. :(

Anyway, Avault has posted word that the expansion pack for Hidden & Dangerous, Devil's Bridge, has gone gold (in the U.S.) and is expected in early February. Here's what AVault reported:

The Adrenaline Vault has confirmed with TalonSoft that the U.S. version of its Hidden & Dangerous add-on, Devil’s Bridge, has gone gold. The expansion to the popular 3D tactical combat title is due to hit stores Feb 4.

Shouldn't be long now! Thanks VE for the news.

SWAT3 and RS reviews [13:39:03 EST] by - Rush
I noticed over at SuppressiveFire that there are 2 reviews of interest to us over at Electric Playground. 

Good reads.. check 'em out.

[WKA] ASDU of the Delta Force Squad WE KILL ALL has just finished a new version of his program called: "DF Remote IP Logger (Beta 0.35)".

This program is for Delta Force 1 v1.00.03.03 and has the following options:

* Remote Administration 
* Password protect User Names 
* Set which weapons can ONLY be used 
* Change Gamenames, levels, passwords, time left and more on the fly without restarting the server 
* IP Logging, IP checks and more to prevent those irritating cheaters coming to your server 
and A LOT more useful options...check out the complete list here

If you're running a Delta Force 1 server v1.00.03.03 then this program is a must have.

You can get more information and download this program at:
http://www.we-kill-all.de/iplogger.html

Good news for DF1 server admins...

I was excited to learn about a new gameplay type I have mentioned in the forums before called 'defend'. Tell us a little about this new gameplay option. Will we be able to play this in multiplayer?

Defend is really a single player game type. What we’ve done is given the player a starting location (a base, if you will), and you have to kill all the terrorists before they overrun your base. In some cases, the actual things you are defending can vary (a detonation button, a hostage, etc) but the gameplay is the same – keep the terrorists from reaching their objective! They will throw grenades at you, come in swarms or alternate attacking areas. Eventually, you’ll have to secure the area once you’ve fended off their initial attack, and that’s when they’ll ambush you!

Way cool! 

[Update]: Also check out Avault who has 2 new screenshots of Urban Ops. (Thanks SuppressiveFire for that bit o' news.) And D'oh! I posted the same clip from the interview as SF. Ah well.

Tournament Info
Time: 4:20pm Pacific (See Below) 
Where: NovaWorld Delta 2 Force Main Lobby 
Game Type: Deathmatch, Tracers OFF

RE-Introducing the Lock n' Load Deathmatch Tournament Series on NovaWorld. NovaLogic is currently hosting a series of Delta Force 2 Deathmatch tournaments. 128 Delta Force 2 operatives kick off each tournament on eight different NovaWorld battlefields. Three rounds of intense Deathmatch games are then played to determine the winner of the tournament. The winner is crowned champion and receives NovaLogic merchandise in addition to recognition on the NovaLogic's Delta Force Hall of Fame tournament page.

Hit the NL Lock 'n Load page for the full scoop!

That initial design session generated over a hundred possibilities that we then winnowed down to a handful that we thought had star potential. The only one that we unanimously agreed we had to build was HRT — a game based on the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team.

The Concept
It was a long road from HRT to Rainbow Six, but along the way, the basic outline of the title changed very little. We knew from the start that we wanted to capture the excitement of movies such as Mission: Impossible and The Dirty Dozen — the thrill of watching a team of skilled specialists pull off an operation with clockwork precision. We also knew that we wanted it to be an action game with a strong strategic component — a realistic shooter that would be fun to play even without a Quake player’s twitch reflexes.

Great stuff. Check it out.

** General Game Fixes **
Mission R (storm drains) now ends correctly - if you disable only 1 bomb, you fail (always did), but now you won't get a medal for it the original fix for the above (in some localized versions) caused you to ALWAYS fail the mission; this has been fixed as well. Mission X (penthouse) now ends correctly - If President Stomas is killed, you are no longer able to play Mission S (city hall); this was confusing people since once Stomas dies your career is lost, even if you complete the objectives for Mission S. Edit boxes / console / anywhere else you can type are fully operational again (this was broken during localization.)

** AI Fixes **
When officers placed in Cover, they will not wander around and will only leave cover if an officer goes down. When officers finish clearing a room, they will not leave that room unless it is to return to the area they entered the room from. Officers are more responsive to suspects. Less stuttering should be encountered due to AI delays. (Smoother frame rate) If player is using a 1911, MP5, or MP5SD and switches ammo, any officer with one of those 3 weapons will also switch to that ammo. Officers performing Mirror and Bang actions are less exposed to enemy fire. The number of times you can shoot an officer before the officers consider you a rogue cop have been increased. The settings for suspect attributes on Hard and Easy have been fixed (some settings made hard easier and vice versa).

** Other fixes and additions **
Added "SWAT3_FAQ.htm", containing answers to the most frequently asked questions about SWAT 3: CQB.

Private Wars info [16:07:39 EST] by - Rush
The official Private Wars website has been updated finally, but not the full-blown update as you'd think. Basically, there's just an announcement of their future plans with their game, Private Wars, which as we now know will be split into 2 titles, the hardcore version, Private Wars: Tactical Heaven (dunno if that's the real title or not :), and a 'lite' version, Private Wars: Countdown, which foregoes money management but gives you the full range of weapons. (Holy run-on sentence Batman!) Read the full announcement here.

Hostages in the game do well to create a true air of chaos in progress. Men and women, young and old, run around buildings frantically and will often run from police and terrorist alike. Some comply willingly, while others force you to pursue and toss a few CS canisters at them. Hostages do everything from offer assistance (which you refuse by handcuffing them), to screaming that your president will hear about this (which you respond to by handcuffing them), to generally shrieking in terror (which you respond to by CS gassing and then handcuffing them).

Sergeant Dan Snyder interview [22:46:55 EST] by - Rush
Stomped has a really cool interview with Sergeant Dan Snyder, who co-designed Marine Doom that the U.S. Marine Corps was using to simulate a 4-man 'fire team'. He's now working on another military sim, called TET, using the Unreal engine. Here's a cool sip:

jcal: The Marine DOOM mod for Doom was one of the most famous mods for the game ever made, with the development of the mod even making the cover of Wired magazine. Did you and the fellow developers of the mod ever think it would get that much attention inside and outside the gaming industry?

Snyder: Never in my wildest imaginings did I think that the modification would be anything other than a 'proof of concept' for tactical simulation. We had talked quite a lot about the features of Doom that made it a tactical urban trainer. The opportunity to modify the elements of the game gave us the ability to simulate live fire situations. Once we put an actual fireteam together and ran through the exercise, we were pretty happy with the result. People were utilizing the knowledge they had been trained up with and observing the results. Soon, after demonstrating the mod in many places, we posted it to the web to facilitate distribution. Because of the publicity it generated, people in the outside world began to download it. Simple answer, no, I had no idea that this would catch on. I just thought it was a good way to explore some tactical questions at the fire team level.

Great interview, give it a look! Thanks VE for the news.

SWAT3 review [21:07:41 EST] by - Rush
TeleFragged has put up a review of Sierra's SWAT3. Here's a snip on the game interface:

SWAT 3 has a basic interface that is much more accessible than it first looks. Choosing a mission randomly selects one of the 16 situations and allows you to jump straight in without having to do much, good if you're up for getting into a mission quickly. For the player who wants a little more tactic wise there is the Career option which allows you to create a player and go through the 16 scenarios, gaining badges etc. Once you are briefed on a mission you are presented with a plethora of options, which way you'd like to infiltrate the structure, whether you'd like it to be a stealth or dynamic entry and of course you're able to fit out your team with a selection of weapons and various other odds and ends.

Good review, check it out. Thanks to Tactical Planet for the news.

DF2 patch [20:49:03 EST] by - Rush
3DFiles has put up the 1.04.26 patch for DF2 as a downloadable file. (5.3 MB) Grab it there.

Devil's Bridge movie [20:27:19 EST] by - Rush
TalonSoft has put up a movie of IllusionSoft's upcoming mission pack for Hidden & Dangerous, known in the U.S. as Devil's Bridge. (1 min, 20 MB) Thanks VoodooExtreme.

Update: SuppressiveFire has converted the AVI to RealVideo to a much smaller file, so head there if ya want to grab it.

The game is spread over five campaigns spread around the world - Antarctica, North Korea, Thailand and Pakistan. [They forgot Germany. - Rush]  Each campaign is broken up into smaller progressive missions, which ultimately lead to the main mission. For example, in North Korea the main objective is to escort the Defense Minister who is defecting. In order to do that, players must secure the beachhead, locate the defector, eliminate any resistance and safely escort him out. There is a common thread with all these missions; the action quotient has been increased dramatically. Just when you think things start to settle down, BOO YA! Enemies are biting your ass and the bullets are flying.

I really can't understand how many of these reviews say the game has poor graphics. I think they're pretty awesome. The models have more polys than SO1 and actually have depth and aren't just flat textures, and then there's the dynamic lighting, shadows, flashlights, footprints,  changing time-of-day, various terrain (snow, sand, jungle, indoors..), lights you can shoot out, etc. Ah well.. (Maybe they're playing on a P166 with a Voodoo1?! I dunno..) They also incorrectly say the game doesn't have mouse invert, which it does as an option.

Delta Force 2 update info [01:48:32 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has the word on what the DF2 patch 1.04.26 from Sunday actually does. Here's the low-down:

Search and Destroy Now Available on NovaWorld
A new game type, Search and Destroy, is now available NovaWorld's servers. The object of this team-oriented game is to infiltrate the other team's territory and destroy specific targets -- before the enemy can do the same to you.

Note: You'll need to be sure your team includes demolitions experts carrying satchel charges to destroy enemy buildings. Enemy vehicles may be destroyed with satchel charges or LAW rockets. There goes the neighborhood!

New Tournament Servers Added
A dedicated set of new tournament servers has been added to NovaWorld. These games will be reserved for tournament use according to the schedule listed on the NovaWorld Web Site at www.novaworld.com. While not in tournament use, these games will be available as regular NovaWorld games.

So it seems all stuff is MP server related, and no actual fixes or enhancements.. 

SWAT3 review # 512 [01:44:52 EST] by - Rush
On to the news then..

Abnormaility (ha, great name) has a review posted of SWAT3. Here's how they kick it off:

So you've played Delta Force, Rogue Spear, and Spec Ops and your wondering what Swat 3 can offer you that none of those other counter-terrorist/hostage rescue games can. Since this is the first game that isn't military based let me set the scene for... you play an LAPD swat officer first person instead of the overhead view that the first two SWAT games used. The general idea is that you are only meant to use deadly force when it is totally necessary and all other tactical alternatives have been used. Unlike Delta Force you totally control the four men that are assigned to you and they aren't the stupid team mates from Rogue Spear that get in your way, you tell them to do something and they will do it. A nice menu similar to the one used in Battlezone is employed for all your communication with both your men and the people you encounter during a mission. So now instead of killing everyone you can try to arrest them first.

Thanks BluesNews for the info.

E-mail overload and server stuff [01:34:17 EST] by - Rush
Welp, I'm suffering from e-mail overload again. If you've sent email and have not yet received a reply, don't feel slighted. I'll get to it soon. Thanks!

Also, I dunno why, but the server stopped serving pages (hence the late updates..), so I had to reset everything. (Had to run in to work at 1 am!) All's well now tho.

SWAT3 review [00:33:56 EST] by - Rush
I noticed at the always-updated SuppressiveFire site that there's a review of SWAT3 over at GamesDownload, where they give it an A-. Here's a snip on being the element leader:

However, the most important innovation in SWAT 3 is the way you use your team, called an Element, to accomplish your objectives. Your role is Element leader, not point man. You play by standing back and using a comprehensive menu system to direct your team. In fact, you'll win many missions without firing a single shot. The tactical depth of the menu system is every bit as involved as Rainbow Six's planning screen; however, SWAT 3's menu system takes place in real time and you adapt it as the situation evolves.

Good honest review, but a bit short..

Send in your pics! [00:17:48 EST] by - Rush
I'm sure you've noticed that the 'Current Recon Photo' hasn't been updated in awhile. If you have a memorable moment in a game (humorous or otherwise), take a snapshot of it and send it in, and I'll be glad to post it!

As usual, no word on what it fixes, and still no fixed-gun emplacements yet, but there is a new MP game option available: Search & Destroy.

Seems everyone feels the need to go 'Urban' these days, first with SWAT3, and with Zombie working on Spec Ops: Mission 2000, and now Rogue Spear doing Urban Operations. As they say on Green Acres, "gimme that countryside!" I like splashing thru puddles, crossing bridges, wandering thru the forest, sniping a guy from 800m out, and freezing my a$$ off in the Artic!

SWAT3 strategy guide [00:37:11 EST] by - Rush
I saw over at VE that GameCenter has posted a strategy guide for SierraStudio's SWAT3: Close Quarters Battle. Here's the 411:

Welcome to the Prima Fast Track Guide™ for SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle. Here you will find quick walkthroughs of all of the operational missions. However, for hint, tips, and training missions, check out SWAT 3: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. It also includes information on all weapons and equipment as well as additional details for each mission.

Looks to be pretty in-depth... check it out if ya need help in any of the missions.

These planning phases are what make Rogue Spear such a great game. The basic game playing in Rogue Spear is the fun part. You and your team follow the selected route and take out whatever gets your way in kind of an elite manner. Gameplay, to me is pretty hard. In the gameplay aspect, Rogue Spear is very realistic. When you are carrying out the mission phase, if you are shot one time then you are dead. There are no multiple shots and then your dead, only one… no more, no less. Two is too much. (Ahem, a little Monty Python quoting.) The other realistic aspect is how you play. You have to use common sense when playing Rogue Spear. You can't just run up to the enemy and try to shoot them because usually they will kill you way before you even get to them. You have to command and inch your way towards the enemy line to accomplish you goals. Rogue Spear has GREAT gameplay and is one of the most realistic games that I have ever played!

I guess you can say the reviewer liked the game. Thanks SuppressiveFire for the news.

Unlike Rogue Spear, SWAT 3 is designed to give you direct control over the two teams that compose your squad. There are no waypoints here; instead, you change the team's orders on the fly with a few key commands. This free-form design could have turned the game into a big mess, but the AI is extremely solid, and the teams are quick to react to incoming orders. They also do a great job of covering each other, checking corners, and responding with lethal force when the situation warrants. More remarkable is the fact that because SWAT 3 is a police-based shooter, every squad member must conform to specific rules of conduct. Again, this could have been a major hurdle, but it's handled with finesse.

Rogue Spear comes out the overall winner.

Rogue Spear review [04:57:09 EST] by - Rush
Continuing with the Rogue Spear news, Fatal Gaming has put up a review of RSE's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear, giving it a nice 94% overall. Here's a bit on the new gameplay options:

The game's replayability factor is also improved with added mission-play options. After completing a mission, you're given the option of replaying it in Lone Wolf mode - where you have to get yourself to the extraction point all on your lonesome - or in Terrorist Hunt mode, where you can take in a full 4 squads of your choice operatives and...well...kill everything in sight. Trying not to sound too gruesome, I can tell you that the latter is extremely satisfying :) Rogue Spear also features a number of very useful and informative training missions, letting you get into the game and introducing you to the skills you'll have to master in order to complete objectives, so that you're not in the dark when you face your first band of terrorists with your name engraved on their bullets.

Rogue Spear info/shots [04:44:27 EST] by - Rush
GameCenter has smacked up a small article and screenshots of Urban Operations, the upcoming expansion pack for Rogue Spear. Here's the most relevant info:

Urban Operations will feature five new levels, each with four game types. In addition, the expansion will feature five classic levels from the original Rainbow Six (which were redone for Rogue Spear), new weapons, and five new multiplayer maps. The terrorists will also have new skills.

With 3D tactical combat games having become such a boon for game developers and publishers, few will realize TS Group’s Private Wars was one of the first titles to begin development in this genre, long before Specs Ops and Rainbow Six hit shelves and dominated user mind share. Now the Adrenaline Vault has learned that the long-time coming Private Wars is being split into two independent products: Private Wars: Countdown and the original Private Wars.

Countdown is being described as a slimmed down version of the full Private Wars concept that will attract more casual--i.e. non-hardcore tactical simulation--users and highlight the Private War brand with a twisting plot full of intricate human drama. The game will contain between 8 and ten missions, lots of cut scenes and be priced to move. Closed beta of the product begins Jan. 20.

Other news on the Private Wars front includes the addition of a radiosity solution to the indoor renderer, which TS Group’s Sergey Titov tells us allows the development team to create the most realistic indoor environments to date. A new Private Wars website and TS Group web home are also in development, so watch for screenshots and other content to appear soon.

Go into fierce 3D combat action with a squad of well-trained commandos in SpecOps II: US Army Green Berets, from Zombie VR. This painfully realistic covert-ops simulation is involving and highly detailed. The game engine utilizes Voodoo 3Dfx graphics, or gracefully defaults to software rendering if needed. Multi-camera views and strong team discipline give a fresh feel to this sequel. Form your squad by selecting the rank and firing position you want to occupy, then carefully select personal gear and weapons. More than a mindless shooter, SpecOps II's close-combat simulation aspects spare no expense. Weapon specs, clip counts, and tactical cooperation are life-and-death factors. Interfacing with team elements is less than intuitive, though, so you'll need to study (and perhaps print) the menu of commands from the archive's Readme file. This demo features a single night-vision mission.

If ya haven't yet tried the demo, do check it out!

Another hidden mission in DF2 [04:31:22 EST] by - Rush
SuppressiveFire has posted word on yet another hidden mission in Delta Force 2. Here's the info:

At first you play the operation 'Global Enforcement'. There you choose the mission 'Broken Wing'. Your task is to destroy two MIG's which stand in a base. When you have killed all enemies and the two MIG's and when you reach the 'Extraction Point' you completed the mission. But before you should go in the high building with several floors. In the second floor you can find a laptop on a desk. When you take this laptop and finish the mission you have access to the secret mission 'Four Horsemen'.

SWAT3 vs. Rogue Spear [04:24:19 EST] by - Rush
GamesDomain has put up a pretty spiffy comparison between Rogue Spear and SWAT3. Here's a snip on how the games play out:

While SWAT 3 is set inside buildings and "close quarters", Rogue Spear tends to spend more time in the urban environment than on room clearing. The difference in settings is reflected throughout most of the gameplay where SWAT 3 will have you close enough to see the whites of the eyes of your enemy, while Rogue Spear challenges you to make out that dot on the screen up ahead and decide whether it's a threat or not. That dot-recognition process is a bit tricky and I find myself getting increasingly frustrated at having been taken out by someone I thought was part of the background. It's a challenge to see the enemy, yet this challenge seems to be related to the computer game more than to the real-life setting of urban warfare. Granted, it can be hard to see a camouflaged enemy in a bombed-out city, but in Rogue Spear the challenge is more due to the fact that even modern graphics don't reflect reality 100%. Taking this into account when getting killed for the fifteenth time on the same mission will frustrate you endlessly.

Good stuff. Check it out.

Just over 40 missions complete the game. The campaigns contain more of the same missions that are included in the single missions. They basically involve running around from waypoint to waypoint and finding all the enemies and killing them. But sometimes you have to be careful that you don't go on a shooting rampage. Some missions require elimination of the soldiers and then doing something else. For example, one mission in Operation Common Resolve required a search of some convoy vehicles for the virus package. So to complete the mission, you first have to eliminate all the soldiers surrounding the truck and inside the truck, and then search the trucks for the package. Other missions require you to complete a mission before something happens. For instance, one mission required stopping a munitions train before it reached the border. There's a neat way of finishing this particular mission, but what I will say is that you can't do it running. On average, a mission may take an hour to complete. This time can be shortened or extended, depending on whether you go after all the soldiers in a particular mission, or only the ones that you encounter along your waypoints. Some missions may take longer because you may have to restart the mission from scratch after being shot at and having the life sucked out of you. Novalogic provides enough variations among the missions to keep you going through to the end of the game.

Good stuff, give it a look-see.

Navy SEALs info [01:09:33 EST] by - Rush
GA-Source has posted an interview with Codemasters General Manager, Craig Alexander. Codemasters is of course working on Navy SEALs. Here's the SEALs part:

We have restarted development of a squad-based tactical simulation based on the exploits of the Navy’s elite fighting group, the Navy SEALs. This title will benefit greatly from the fact that we will be working with best-selling author and former SEAL Richard Marcinko. Initially, it is being developed for the PC, and we expect to ship in early 2001.

Not much, but any news is good news. :)

Devil's Bridge preview [00:42:17 EST] by - Rush
PC.IGN has put up a pretty in-depth preview of IllusionSoft's Devil's Bridge, which is the expansion pack to Hidden & Dangerous. Here's a snip on the level design:

The mission maps are even larger than you remember and just as detailed. The buildings and camps have a very natural feel to them and are quite convincing in terms of layout and appearance. Trees and vehicles, sand dunes and sewers are all included not only for appearance's sake; they're also tactically relevant to your mission goals. Nearly everything in the game can serve as possible cover…except maybe the vehicles. They tend to blow up when shot at. But you can commander them and drive around the map wreaking havoc on the poor unsuspecting oppressors. There're even jeeps and motorcycles with gunner positions so you and a buddy can wage your own war together.

Nice pics too. Check it out..

Delta Force 2 secret mission [20:20:21 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has word of how exactly to enter the hidden mission in DF2. Here's the goods:

" In the mission 'counter punch' in the first campaign, jump into the back of the truck in the first enemy base. Run to the back of the trunk to pick up the code book that enables the secret mission 'bounty hunter'. Complete the level to gain access to the secret mission. "

Rogue Spear review [20:04:40 EST] by - Rush
The guys over at Voodoo Extreme have kicked up their own review of Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear, giving it a 94% overall. Here's a snip on the graphics:

The models themselves are actually quite realistic looking, as long as you don't get too close and notice their square heads. Terrorists might be in suits, heavy armor, or environmental activist uniforms. This creates a sense of diversity, and gives you a feel of taking down different people each mission, instead of taking down the same ol' terrorist every time. The color scheme of each level is very indicative of where it takes place. In Oman, the desert is full of yellow and browns, while once you go inside the more industrial gray colors take over. The graphics get the job done, but don't expect too much more here.

Good review, the reviewer def pulls no punches..