Project IGI screens [19:38:32 EST] by - Rush
Incite has posted 2 exclusive screenshots and a small blurb on Innerloop's Project IGI. 

Spec Ops 2 vs. Delta Force 2 review [19:23:54 EST] by - Rush
Tech Extreme has put up an article comparing Spec Ops 2 vs. Delta Force 2. Here's a snip:

SO2 is a very fun game, the greatest thing about it is how easy it was to pick up. I may play a lot of computer games, but any idiot should be able to figure this one out. There are four campaigns in which before each mission you gather your troops and plan the mission. Controlling and coordinating your four men may seem hard, but this game makes it extremely easy. DF2 is a lot more challenging and intricate. It consists of 19 missions and 2 campaigns that are fairly difficult. The game is very challenging but it is almost as easy to get started as SO2. The format is like most other first person shooters so it is easy to figure out; the menu consists of your health, a map, weapon etc. In a normal mission you have 3-4 soldiers, but you don't really control them they only do something if you do something. So there is not much planning and depth in the game. For your average gamer, as far as game play goes, SO2 is much better. This goes for the AI as well.

Not the best written article, but still worth a look-see. (Thanks to Suppressive Fire, among others.)

Urban Ops interview [17:47:29 EST] by - Rush
Robert from SimHQ emailed me with the news that they've put up a pretty in-depth interview with Gary Stelmack from Red Storm Entertainment, where they discuss Urban Operations naturally. The interview also has a few pics to go along with it. Here's a clip from the article:

What components of Urban Ops will carry over into the original Rogue Spear? Will it be like the Eagle Watch add-on, with separate icons, etc.?

Once you have Urban Operations installed, the only reason to run the Rogue Spear executables, will be to play multiplayer with people who do not yet have Urban Operations. There are separate icons, etc., but, unlike Eagle Watch, you will be able to play a Rogue Spear campaign from within Urban Operations. It will pick up with wherever you are in your current Rogue Spear campaign as well.

SimHQ also has word on the intro video for UO. Here's what they said:

- We just got our copy of Rogue Spear: Urban Operations in the mail, and just as they have in the past, Red Storm Entertainment has delivered a very cool opening video. It's set up much more like a movie trailer, with credits, fade-aways, etc., and one big surprise that really took us back....Rainbow arriving in a MH-60! It's just a video, though...not gameplay. Sorry! ;) Look for our review soon.

The game is set in the present day and you take the role of Jones, a tough SAS veteran who now works for the British government, carrying out the kind of covert operations that governments never admit to. Jones is initially sent to free a man held in a military prison, but he soon discovers that the prisoner is involved in an arms deal that threatens the US with a biological attack. In putting a stop to this, Jones travels to different scenic locations around the world on a mission that has a very distinct James Bond feel about it. As well as sneaking around Russian military bases, Jones also finds himself running across the top of speeding trains or dangling from cable cars - rather like the climax of Where Eagles Dare.

Sounds rather cool to me... The game should be out Q2 2000. (Saw that bit o' news over at Suppressive Fire, among others.)

Novalogic interview, part 3 [19:15:11 EST] by - Rush
I noticed over at Delta-Force2.com that CombatWorld has posted part 3 of their interview with the folks over at NovaLogic. The Q&A covers all of NovaLogic's products, but here's a Q&A about DF2:

Q: The Delta Force 2 game gave me 25 levels. On the box it said there are 40 levels. Can you help me? - Anthony 

A: There are actually more than 40 levels, Anthony: 25 missions in the two campaigns, 20 stand-alone missions (accessible through the Quick Missions option in the main menu), plus two secret missions that are unlocked in the campaigns if the right conditions are met in the other missions.

Do be sure to read the rest.

SWAT 3 is not a "run and gun" sort of game - in fact, it's almost impossible to win most of the missions without following realistic SWAT procedures. A major part of this involves teamwork. As the element commander, you have the ability to easily order your element members to cover an area, breach doors, deploy flashbangs, or handcuff surrendered suspects. If you give inappropriate or reckless commands, however, your teammates will lose respect for you (and make their own decisions) or, quite often, wind up getting wounded or killed. Though the team AI isn't perfect, your teammates are definitely more than cannon fodder and can be extremely helpful once you learn how to use them.

Temporary Tango FAQ [02:27:29 EST] by - Rush
Rodion has put up a FAQ for TTT v1.3.  Here's a sample Q & A:

Q. Why do the Secret Service and other Rainbow Tangos shoot so fast and deadly accurate? 

A. First of all, all AI enemies use the "autoaim", thus they aim for the head quickly. Second, I've pumped up all their stats to max, but this doesn't mean they are perfect killing machines. In fact, because their aggressiveness is max, they still have a good chance of missing you when you're moving around fast, because they are not "keeping their cool".

More Urban Ops shots [01:57:04 EST] by - Rush
GameSpot has posted some nice pics of Redstorm Entertainment's upcoming expansion pack to Rogue Spear, Urban Operations, which should be in stores by April 5th. 

The game, which is being backed by Redstorm Entertainment, features an amazing subway battle scene equipped with brutal gunfights, precision teamwork terrorist take-outs, and a whole lot of brilliant gadgetry. It all reminds us of another first-person shooter published by Redstorm Entertainment.

It's speculated that this is the Rogue Spear port for either the N64 or Nintendo's upcoming "Dolphin" console (I'd guess the latter.) In any case, the movie is a must see and comes in either 12 MB for those of you on dial-up lines, and a 60 MB version for those that want the high quality, and/or have a speedy connection (or a lot of patience.) I grabbed the 60MB version, and its really, really cool! Def give this one a look! The article also has some stills grabbed from the movie to check out as well.

Private Wars news [19:04:09 EST] by - Rush
Two items of Private Wars news has surfaced today. Avault is reporting that a 1 or 2 mission demo of Private Wars should be released before E3, which takes place in May. The Avault article also has 9 screenshots to view. Looking good, so check it out. (Gotta admit -- looks kinda like Rogue Spear.. :)

Also in PW news, Matrox has put up a page showing off the environmental bump mapping that the game engine will handle. Here's what Sergey Titov, CEO of TS Group Entertainment has to say about it:

"Central to Private Wars - it's unique realism in portraying the real world. Our designers work hard on building the most believable levels for the game. Any feature that could make the computer picture look more real is appreciated by them. Environment Mapped Bump Mapping technology featured in G400 is something that not only makes our gameworlds more real, but also makes them look more detailed and adds an additional excitement factor to the game."

Gotta say too, the bump mapping def looks realistic. I've always hated how everything is just so flat in "3D" games these days. Such are the pitfalls of a polygonal engine tho..

Thanks VE for the news.

Flag and Frag tourney update [10:57:13 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has posted the results of the 'flag and frag' DF2 tourney. Here are the results:

Top Killers 
1-Cin *FF 1130 kills
2-Asschun *FF 1071 kills
3-Legionnaire 968 kills

Top Flaggers 
1-Legionnaire 145
2-AtomAnt*TWM* 67
3-PaNzer*TWM* 44 

Top Kill-to-Death
1-John 0.00 -this represents infinity! Player didn't die once!
2-Fido 0.00 
3-FFKiller :) 81.00

Congrats to all the winners!

Temporary Tango v1.3 out! [07:56:53 EST] by - Rush
A few days late, but Rodion has released The Temporary Tango mod v1.3 for Rogue Spear. There are some bug fixes of course, and new features. Here's what's new:

1. New weapons
2. New SP mission (Operation Olympus Siege), replacement of Perfect Sword, with new map textures, and new actors with new skins. 
3. New and improved weapon sounds (each new tango weapon has a unique sound of its own). 
4. Most (if not all) bugs (found in v1.21) are now ironed out. 
5. Due to popular demand, I've brought back the frags ;) but still no HB Sensor. 

This is an update to version 1.21, so make sure you have that installed. Be sure to read the v1.3 installation notes carefully, and install it to the correct directory, as there was an error in the readme.txt in the archive. Click here for the full scoop.

Devil's Bridge review [07:46:02 EST] by - Rush
3DGaming.net has put up a review of Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge for your viewing pleasure, complete with screenshots. Here's a snip on sniping:

One really good thing about this game is the sniping, though. If you like to snipe your prey, this game is pure gravy, the control of your scope is by far the best I've ever seen in a game. If you want to zoom up to or away from the German soldier you have your eye on, hold your right mouse button and use your mouse or track-ball to control the distance of your zoom, there is no preset zoom. It makes things more realistic than the usual snap-to-zoom that we see in every other shooter.

Good review.. Check it out!™

Top 3 Killers
- Cin *FF - 708 in 44 games 
- PaNzer*TWM* - 469 in 30 games 
- Dannyboy *FF - 331 in 24 games

Top 3 Flaggers
- AtomAnt*TWM* - 48 in 34 games 
- Cin *FF - 24 in 44 games 
- PaNzer*TWM* - 20 in 30 games

Top 3 Kill To Death Ratio Leaders
- Cassio *FF - 9.20 in 6 games
- Çørrüp‡ør - 6.00 in 4 games
- Asschun *FF - 4.38 in 22 games 

It looks as if the 'Killer' and 'Flagger' leaders are going to be hard to catch up with, however the Kill-to-death ratio competition is still within reach for anybody today.

Another SWAT3 review [05:58:41 EST] by - Rush
Gamers Back Alley has also posted a review (with some cool snaps) of SWAT3, where they give it a 81.5% overall. Here's how they sum up the teamplay aspect:

As I told you in the introduction, SWAT 3 is a true tactical team play game. If you don't work together you'll wont survive long. The game isn't like Quake where u can just try a suicide run into terrorist area, trying to take out a few, 'cause you'll die when yer just entering the room. :) Another thing that separates this game from games like Quake is that not everyone has to be killed. Sometimes you need to apprehend a suspect, so they can interrogate him. Also sometimes the terrorist gives up and throws his weapon down to the ground, in that case u can still kill him but u wouldn't do that in real life. So your team has to cuff him. In this game 1 shot can be your death so beware and try and count on your teammates, they might be controlled by the computer but they aren't idiots. Which brings me to the next point.

SWAT3 review [05:48:09 EST] by - Rush
The Dawg Pound (hey, I don't make this stuff up..) has put up a small review of Sierra's SWAT3: CQB, where it garners a 9/10 rating. Here's how they start it off:

Finally game companies are releasing the type of game I've always dreamed of while getting creamed at twitch-fests like Quake. Rainbow 6, Rogue Spear, and now SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle have all transcended the mostly mindless point and shoot - 90 miles per hour - gee look at the whiz bang effects type of first person shooter. With command of a team, the need for stealth rather than gunplay (most of the time), and more planned tactical action than wild firing SWAT 3 should be exactly what I need to excel.

Flash Point Interview [18:29:40 EST] by - Rush
Black Baron from SimActu sent word that they've posted their interview (in French) (or English) with Marek Spanel, designer on Bohemia Interactive's upcoming game, Flash Point: Status Quo 1985. There are 2 new screens at the bottom of the interview page, and a few more screens up on this page too (scroll to the bottom..)

Frag and Flag 48 hour tourney [08:57:18 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has some more info up on the DF2 'frag and flag' tourney they're having.. Click on the banner below for more info.

In conjunction with SquadLinks, Delta-Force2.com will be announcing within the next 24 hours a revolutionary competition for the Delta Force 2 community. The competition will run for a 48 hour period, with three prizes of $100 for the contest winners. SquadLinks, has placed an embargo on further information, however Delta-Force2.com will reveal more details at any moment in time within the next 24 hours. DF2 gamers can maximise their chance of winning one of the cash prizes by entering the contest at the earliest time possible

Playing the five new mission maps in multiplayer is extremely confusing at times, because the maps are pure chaos. The tight corners, lots of overlooks, and multiple paths makes for some great gaming (yes, I like chaos). :) I really look forward to playing on these maps. However, I don't think I'll be too impressed with the new multiplayer maps (see below) for the simple reason that they are just too simple and too balanced. For example, the old train tracks is just a smaller version of the old Road Ambush. Also, it's balanced exactly like Bunkers, so this only smells like another excuse for snipers to camp and wait out their opponents. Some of the new maps are tighter and will make for better games, such as the Underwater Habitat, but maps like Old Train Tracks left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Be sure to check out our description and bird's eye views of these maps!

UO cutaway maps [22:41:31 EST] by - Rush
The official Urban Ops website has been updated with cutaway maps of some of the levels in UO. Def give 'em a look!

TTT update [22:34:02 EST] by - Rush
Rodspear has posted pics of some of the new weapons to be included in TTT v1.3. He also mentions that TTT v1.3 is an upgrade, so you need v1.21 installed first in order to upgrade to v1.3. No new release tonight, but it should be very soon now..

Rogue Spear: Urban Ops preview [18:55:49 EST] by - Rush
Game Over has posted a preview of the expansion pack for RSE's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear, Urban Operations, giving it a 79% overall. Here's a taste:

While only five new missions are included for the campaign play, there are a few new (okay not new, but the classic missions from Rainbow Six) missions to play in multiplayer and the new custom mission option. Yes that's right, there are now custom missions. You can play any of the levels in any different game type. Save the hostages, assault, recon, lone wolf, terrorist hunt, or the new game style option of defend can be played on any of the included levels. Think that last board you played assault on in the campaign would be cool for rescuing hostages? Well go ahead and give it a try. In multiplayer, it adds a little bit more interest for those of you who'd rather kill terrorists than each other, or in the small games when you don't have enough players for free-for-all to be entertaining.

Dunno what it is with RSE, but they just don't pack a lot of missions into a game.. It took me only 4 days to finish RS, and I'll prob be done with UO in a weekend.

Spec Ops 2 review [18:47:12 EST] by - Rush
PC Gamer UK has posted a small review of Zombie's Spec Ops 2: Green Berets, where they give it a 66% overall. Here's what they liked about it:

There are highlights, though, and these are twofold: the intuitive Battlezone-style ordering system and the fabulous array of weaponry you get to play with. The load-out screen lets you equip your squad of up to four men with everything from thermite grenades and recoil-less rocket launchers to the trusty AK-47, the Vektor 5.62 assault rifle and the awesome Objective Individual Combat Weapon. Oh yes, in terms of firepower, it's good.

Graphically, SO2 is similarly impressive. Zombie's Viper engine handles indoor and outdoor locations with competence, not to mention delivering some impressive dynamic lighting and explosions; and decals go beyond just bullet holes to include footprints and blood trails.

At least they rightly point out that Zombie created the modern squad-based shooter genre. Thanks SimHQ for the news.

Flash Point news, screenshots [04:31:44 EST] by - Rush
GA-Strategy has posted some news (and 2 new pics) on Flash Point: 1985 Status Quo, the tactical game in development by Bohemia Interactive. They spoke to the game's designer, Marek Spaniel. Here's what Marek had to say:

"Flash Point is an immersive war game," explains designer Marek Spanel. "It also offers very impressive environments and a thrilling story." Flash Point: 1985 Status Quo is not your run of the mill first-person shooter, but promises more in-depth gameplay and tactical thinking. "It is made for players who like to think tactically, yet be able to move around peacefully... with sudden adrenaline filled moments of combat and dangerous situations," says Spanel.

Players will find that Flash Point offers more to gamers than meets the eye. "Flash Point is an action game, but its background is more immersive than any other action games - the environments and the simulation of all the units is very complex," explains Spanel. "Our effort is not just to create a pre-programmed situations and then let the player run through it. Flashpoint is more like a virtual world with a set of its of own rules and logic."

According to Spanel it's up to player to learn how to survive in this world. "We know this world is virtual but we are trying to make it as real as possible. The time of day and weather will changing dynamically and every single unit in the game uses their own computer brain. The same effort is given to the solo campaign - many missions have various endings and it is up to the player to choose what happens."

Flash Point: 1985 Status Quo is a tactical combat action wargame that promises an unprecedented freedom of action integrating command of large squads and use of any available vehicles for total immersion. Player can also experience the best cold war military equipment - infantry, mobile, armor and aircraft - in large detailed 3D environments.

EB Release dates [00:35:19 EST] by - Rush
Cpl. Buddha sent me an updated release list according to the EB computer. Here 'tis:

President Ryan bolts to safety!

The v1.3 mod is set to include:

Urban Ops GOLD (for real this time!) [03:34:04 EST] by - Rush
While highly anti-climactic, RSE has posted that Urban Ops has indeed gone gold, and should be in stores around April 14th. Curiously, the news item is dated March 13th, for whatever that's worth.

Urban Ops preview [03:24:57 EST] by - Rush
While snooping around at Suppressive Fire, I noticed that Prima Games has put up an Urban Ops preview. Not much new info, but worth a look anyway. Here's a snip on the new weapons:

Of course, for these new missions, you will need some new weapons. Not to worry. Urban Operations includes some new light machineguns, such as the M249 SAW, to give your operatives all the firepower they could want, as well as a silenced sniper rifle. Now you can get your snipers in closer to the enemy without alerting them to your presence. You have got to give this weapon a try.

One thing this game does have, however, is atmosphere. The missions are varied enough and the overall feel is really excellent. Your squad, as well as the enemy, make realistic noises. Your boots creak, the wind howls and the weapons sound really good. The key to completing the missions usually requires you to use stealth and silenced weapons. This is where SO2 really excels as it manages to build up a nice tension as you sneak your men around under the veil of darkness, picking off the enemy one by one. You can order your men into a stealth-mode, which refrains them from using the heavy artillery. This is usually advisable if they don't have silenced weapons. Otherwise they will very quickly fall to enemy snipers.

Good, honest review.. Check it out.

G36K assault rifle info [01:51:46 EST] by - Rush
Planet Rogue Spear has posted a highly detailed page on the G36K assault rifle, which will be included in the Rogue Spear expansion pack, Urban Operations. The article even includes pics of the weapon as found in UO and real-world pics as well. Check it out if ya need to know exactly how much powder is in the bullets!

DF2 and U.S. Army [01:21:17 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has the goods on the latest doings from NovaLogic, in (cue dramatic music) the story that would not die. Awhile back we heard the U.S. Marines were testing DF2 for part of their combat training, and this time is the U.S. Army. 

Here's the PR:

Computer game developer and publisher NovaLogic announced today that its special forces action game, Delta Force 2, will serve as the foundation for a U.S. Army training project.

NovaLogic Systems, the subsidiary formed to bring the company's simulation technologies to the military, will work with the Army's Training and Doctrine Command Analysis Center (TRAC) in Monterey, California, on the high-profile Land Warrior system.

Land Warrior is first and foremost a weapons system intended to integrate existing equipment with modern electronics to increase soldiers' lethality and survivability. The system will equip soldiers with improved weapons and advanced communications and imaging technology, all while staying within weight limits carried by today's soldiers. Key components of the Land Warrior concept are a self-contained computer and radio system; a Global Positioning System receiver; a helmet-mounted LCD display; and a modular weapons system that adds thermal and video sights and laser ranging to the standard M4 carbine or M16A2 rifle. The Land Warrior soldier will be able to use the weapon's video sight and helmet-mounted display to aim around corners or over barriers without exposing his head or body, [How cool is that?! - Rush] and the laser range finder can be used in conjunction with the GPS receiver to call in precision artillery fire. The system will also improve communication, navigation, and situational awareness.

The judicious use of commercially available hardware and software to speed development and reduce cost is a hallmark of the Land Warrior system. NovaLogic Systems' agreement with TRAC-Monterey calls for the software company to modify Delta Force 2 to incorporate Land Warrior's capabilities and interfaces -- the heart of an initiative to investigate the use of re-engineered commercial software as a training tool.

Delta Force 2 already included many of the features TRAC-Monterey wanted for the soldiers who will train to use the Land Warrior system: the ability to render vast outdoor terrain as well as indoor and urban settings; multi-player support for as many as 35 users in a single scenario (DF2 supports 50 users); varied weather conditions; map displays; night vision; a large array of real-world weapons (including the M4 carbine); and a full-featured mission editor.

"The Army is truly looking ahead with its Land Warrior program," said Bob Springer, President of NovaLogic Systems. "They are very intelligently using the best technology in the consumer market to ensure the highest quality training for their soldiers. We're proud to be part of the Land Warrior team."

So there ya go, 2 branches of our armed forces get to play games during training! Oh, BTW, that cool weapon that uses the display and fires around corners is probably the OICW..(*cough*Spec Ops*cough*)

More Navy SEALs pics [01:06:20 EST] by - Rush
Ha, Navy SEALs has gotten more press in the last two days than in practically the entire last year. 

CombatWorld has posted a story on it as well, along with 8 pics from the game in its early days (not the same 8 pics we saw yesterday..)

[Update 03:25] And this should come as no surprise, but the official Navy SEALs website (which was http://www.navyseals.net) is now down.

More Navy SEALs shots [17:31:31 EST] by - Rush
Looks like I was scooped, but here are the rest of the Navy SEALs pics from my anonymous source.

Delta Force 2 interview [17:31:31 EST] by - Rush
DeltaForce2HQ has posted an interview with NovaLogic PR man, Dan Bennett. Lots of interesting Q's and A's. Here's why Dan thinks DF2 rocks:

[DF2 HQ] - What makes Delta Force 2 rock in your Opinion?

[D. Bennett] - Lots of little details that all add up to something special: Hearing the terrorists scream in their native languages...making a beautiful sniper shot at maximum range...sneaking up on a bad guy and double-tapping him with the suppressed SOCOM...calling in artillery and watching the big guns do the work.... Oh, and the penguins. The penguins are very cool. You have seen the penguins, haven't you?

More great info can be found in the article. Check it out.

Flash Point questions [13:27:50 EST] by - Rush
Black Baron from SimActu sent word that they have an interview planned with Marek from Bohemia Interactive, the guys working on Flash Point. If you speak French and want to get in on the questions, hit the SimActu forums to post your questions.

RS: Urban Ops website updated [05:25:33 EST] by - Rush
If you haven't hit Redstorm's RS:Urban Operations website lately, it's been updated with all sorts of new info, including a news page, background story, weapons pics and info, terrorists pics, and more (most are found in the features page.) Check it out!™

Navy SEALs pics [01:04:29 EST] by - Rush
A little birdie delivered some pics of the recently-canceled Navy SEALs game to my email inbox. The pics show the potential of SEALs, and what it would have looked like. 

I'll have two more pics that show off the game much better tomorrow (or Monday night sometime..), and possibly even more in the future. (Webmasters: feel free to grab these shots and re-post them.)

[Update 14:15]: The little birdie dropped off 5 more shots. Stay tuned!!

Team Fortress 2 is to ship with around 20 (give or take a few) maps with different goals/objectives. There will only be a few general Capture the Flag maps in the game, as the game is focused on new concepts of gameplay, which will push the engine's limits. Each map is different from the others, each modifying the gameplay, giving an overall unique gameplay experience. So far, knowledge is known of 5 escort maps, each ranging from escorting one human or AI controlled player, to where you have to escort multiple groups of players, with multiple teams trying to kill certain others. In Afghanistan, you must claim territory, and receive benefits from being in control of that land. A good way to accomplish this is to use your engineer well, by building sentry guns to stand your ground.

Flash Point screenshots/wallpaper [17:08:22 EST] by - Rush
Speaking of Bohemia Interactive, they've put up 2 new Flash Point screenshots that can be used as wallpaper. Check them out here.

Flash Point FAQ [17:03:57 EST] by - Rush
Suppressive Fire has put up a FAQ for Flash Point, with everything you need to know about Bohemia Interactive's upcoming game. Here's a bit on the game's sniping features:

Q - Will there be snipers in the game, and if so what features will they have?

A - Sniper: yes. M21 for the US and SVD Dragunov for soviet army.

 

Q - Can you go inside buildings (towers) and snipe, and if so will your vision be changed meaning: A soldier in a tower will see longer then a soldier on the ground?

A - Buildings: yes, you can go inside buildings. Vision wil not change but you'll see far enough normally in Flash Point and you'll have much better overview for example from a church tower.

Flash Point seems to have all the bases covered.. Looking forward to this one.

Delta Force 2 review [01:27:35 EST] by - Rush
PCGamer UK has posted a review of NovaLogic's Delta Force 2, giving it an 86%. Here's how they describe the single-player portion of the game:

And it's Delta Force 2 the single-player experience that I - and I suspect, most of you - have in mind. Rest assured it's just as brutally straightforward as the first one. If you get hit, you die and the words, "Bravo is down! Mission is aborted!", crackle across the radio. For despite the fact that you're joined by a team of two or even four other soldiers on some missions, success or failure is all down to you. As in Delta Force, the others are only there to support you, and follow the same routes every time. Whether they survive long enough to help you is partly down to your skills and - because this is war, after all - partly down to good, old-fashioned luck.

True, much of DF2 is 'been there, done that' if you've played the first one, but its still a fun game nonetheless.

Devil's Bridge review [04:19:21 EST] by - Rush
Avault has posted their review of Illusion Softworks' Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge. Here's a snip on the mission design, something that always grabs my interest:

It was the missions and how they played that made Hidden & Dangerous so wonderful, and thankfully, Illusion has expanded their knack for the grandiose. Overall, each mission is much larger than before, and the objectives associated with them are on par with the new scale. Adding even more to the expanded scope is better continuity. A lot of detail went into making sure each scenario flows into the next, and while the campaigns seem disjointed, a lot of atmosphere is built into the presentation and setup for each mission. The briefings are still the most interesting around, and for the most part, setting up, configuring your squad, and getting your orders remains the same.

Great in-depth article and lots of snazzy screenshots too.

The single-player experience in Codename Eagle, while somewhat short, will be one of the nicest surprises of the year. The game has a decent engine that elevates its status with a good physics model and interesting mission designs. There is a good portion of humor baked into the storyline, and the central character is one with which people can identify. TalonSoft, Codename Eagle's publisher, has a knack for spotting sleeper hits, and I'm predicting they've found themselves another one.

Nice screenshots to go with it as well.. check it out!™

More Urban Ops shots [19:16:44 EST] by - Rush
Dunno if these are legit (since the warez version of UO has made the rounds..), but Gear4Games has posted 19 new UO shots. Saw that over at R6@Stomped.

Rogue Spear character extractor [19:11:27 EST] by - Rush
I noticed over at Suppressive Fire that Rainbow Six @ Stomped has a program up that lets you edit everything about RS characters, you can even create new ones. Grab it here. (2.12 MB) Let the cheating begin!

Networking 101 [17:09:45 EST] by - Rush
Robert from SimHQ sent word that they've posted an article on setting up a LAN for some local multiplayer action. If you've got a few PCs in the same room, and want to try some lag-free gaming, def be sure to check out the article.

Codename: Eagle shots [16:53:29 EST] by - Rush
After going gold yesterday (in the U.S.), 3D Action Planet has posted some new screenshots of Refraction Games' Codename: Eagle. Here's how they describe the game:

In Codename Eagle, you take on the role of Red, a member of an elite commando unit trying to foil the world domination plans of a young Russian Czar. The twist is that this is all happening in an alternate timeline around the year 1920, so things aren't necessarily how you might expect them to be. Codename Eagle's gampelay is an interesting mix of action and adventure. You play from a first (or third, if you so choose) person point of view, but in addition to shooting things you have to explore, acquire objects, and use them to solve puzzles. You also get to drive several different kinds of vehicles, ranging from motorcycles to trucks to tanks, to even a biplane. The game has a lot of character.

It may not be all that tactical, or squad based, but it is a thinking man's military shooter..

Sierra Studios recently announced SWAT 3: Battle Plan, the multi-player add-on to SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle is scheduled to ship Q3 2000. Battle Plan will allow gamers to experience the real world of L.A.P.D. SWAT by deploying actual SWAT weapons and tactics in new missions and multi-player modes.

"We are also going to package our level editor with SWAT Battle plan so that the player can create their own levels and environments. I can’t wait to see what kind of SWAT levels our fans come up with!"

RS: Urban Ops preview #2 [14:55:24 EST] by - Rush
Black Baron from SimActu (French sim site) sent word that they too have posted a preview of RS: Urban Ops and some screenshots. 

RS: Urban Ops preview [14:50:38 EST] by - Rush
Spoons from SimHQ sent word that they've posted a preview of RSE's RS: Urban Operations, along with lots of screen shots. They start with the installation, and cover all the aspects of the game in great depth. Here's a snip on some of the mission types:

- Defend - Here's where it gets really fun. A new mission type, this game can only be played on the Urban Ops maps. You are allowed one operative, and your task is to prevent the tangos from doing something. That "something" is usually flipping a switch near your starting point, but also includes a bodyguard situation where you have to protect an individual from the attacking hordes. This is the only type of mission where you'll also see a new enemy behavior...the ability to throw grenades. That action is scripted, so it basically plays out the same each time, but it's still very impressive to see a hail of grenades tossed your way. Now you know what it feels like to be a tango! After you've killed the initial waves of enemy attackers (yeah, right), you have to go hunt down and knock off the rest of them.

- Recon - For all of those players who enjoy the "sneak and peek" missions, this game is the one to beat. you have to get into an enemy-occupied area, perform a task (disarm a bomb, plant a bug, a tracking device, camera, etc.), and get to your extraction point...undetected. It's playable on all of the Urban Ops maps, two of the Classic Levels, and the Rogue Spear levels where that was the mission.

Defend sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. Can't wait. Kinda bummed the enemy grenade toss is scripted, but it'll still add a challenge..

Each team member is an individual, with unique skills. The nature of the respective mission will determine whether you need a squad of assault specialists toting shotguns and urban breach armor or a demolitions expert loaded with door charges. Choose what you carry carefully because lock picks aren't going to stop that sniper and a .45 pistol won't open that reinforced door.

Here we come to an important point — death. Since each member of the Rainbow Six team is unique they are removed from play permanently if they are KIA. Lost members are replaced by nameless rookies who don't have nearly the training of the original team members. This will give you a special appreciation for keeping your men and women alive, like a real commander would have for his/her own personnel. I liked this about R6 and reckoned it in a way to my blissful time (a lot) spent playing Myth and Soulblighter and the veteran troops I kept alive from start to finish.

Spec Ops PSX preview [03:15:27 EST] by - Rush
My good buddy Rick from Suppressive Fire sends word that FutureGamer has posted a preview of Spec Ops for the PlayStation, along with a few screenshots. Here then, the usual snip:

I only play military games if they're realistic.
Then you're in luck! As you zoom in on the head of an enemy soldier, unaware of the imminent death awaiting him, you almost cackle with glee as he turns round to face your gun and you nail him right between the eyes. As you trudge through the undergrowth, you soon realise fiery death is on the cards if you run about like a crazed maniac. Stealth is the name of the game, and lying in mud, scouting out the territory, will take up a lot of your time. Of course, all the guns have been faithfully recreated...

Underwater Base

Urban Ops preview [04:49:11 EST] by - Rush
Grr, see what happens when I play too much Age of Kings! I miss all the news!  

Seems like PC.IGN has posted a preview of Urban Operations, which as anyone knows is the upcoming expansion pack for RSE's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear. Here's what we can look forward to with the new missions:

But it's the new missions that intrigued us the most. The first mission, Iron Comet, sees the Rainbow team take to the streets of Istanbul. A UN negotiator has been kidnapped and you must rescue him from his captors. The catch is that the action takes place in a crowded marketplace. With stray bullets flying around, civilian casualties become more than just a possibility -- they're almost certain. These so-called innocent bystanders often make the mistake of running right between you and the tangos thereby putting not only their own, but also your life in jeopardy.

Once Mr. Negotiator is safe and sound, you're off to rescue hostages in the London Underground. Running around the subways is the perfect sort of action for pure Rainbowy goodness. From there, you'll move on to disarm bombs amidst the canals of Venice, hunt terrorists in the more squalid areas of downtown Mexico city, and rescue hostages in a lavish Hong Kong hotel. The new missions are fun and reasonably challenging. As much as the civilians on the first level frustated me by their very presence, I hope that more of them will be included on the later missions. The only non-combatants that I found after that first mission were just hostages.

Sounding real good to me; can't wait! Thanks Suppressive Fire for the goods!

More Urban Ops shots [16:05:30 EST] by - Rush
Pie's Tactics has posted 8 new Rogue Spear: Urban Operations screenshots. Looks like he's in the middle of a website redesign, so he's got a temporary site up, and the pics are right on the main page.

Amazon level

The PSX version is out in Europe in the US version should be out soon, it is almost a completely new and different version, the same art, but brand new levels, so even if you played the PC version, the PSX version will be brand new.

I also saw the Dreamcast version of Spec Ops2, that one is looking very good, although that one is almost an exact copy of the PC version, save some menus.

So no matter what your gaming platform of choice is, Spec Ops is available, and a worthy member of your collection!

Flash Point shots [15:34:27 EST] by - Rush
The boys over at Suppressive Fire have posted word that Bohemia Interactive Studios have put up some more screenshots of Flash Point in action. Check 'em out.

CS beta 6 mirrors [07:56:08 EST] by - Rush
Voodoo Extreme has a huge list of Counter-Strike beta 6 mirrors so you can grab the full version, or update as necessary.

More Battle Plan pics! [07:12:44 EST] by - Rush
TacticalGames.net has 10 new shots of Swat3: Battle Plan, along with the same pics from Avault. They're def looking sweet, so check em out. (Site best viewed with IE.)

Perhaps the best example of this at the moment is Counter-Strike, a mod for 1998's hit first person shooter, Half-Life. Counter-Strike puts you in the role of either a terrorist or a counter-terrorist, fighting it out online as part of a team with a range of realistic weapons and equipment.

It's a simple enough formula, but today Counter-Strike is probably the most popular multiplayer first person shooter in the world. Most days you will find more people playing Counter-Strike online than Quake 3 Arena or Unreal Tournament.

Check out the article for more.

DF2 Q&A on CombatWorld [22:37:25 EST] by - Rush
CombatWorld has posted part 2 of their Q&A with NovaLogic. Here's a sample:

Q - Would it be possible to add "Attack and Defend" to the NW lists? It is a great game, not just run and shoot-'em-up. Also, how bout longer dead times so getting killed has some real pain involved? And, finally, (thanks for staying with me), the scoring should be the difference between kills and deaths. Again, make 'em pay for getting killed. Thanks for listening. 

A - Well, first off, thanks for representing Norway. Attack and Defend missions should be up and running for DF2 NovaWorld games now. Go take a look. Your other comments will be considered; we're always looking for suggestions on how to improve the game.

SWAT3: Battle Plan shots [21:06:01 EST] by - Rush
Avault has posted 6 new screenshots from SWAT3: Battle Plan, the multiplayer add-on to SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle. Here's a snip from the article:

Battle Plan will deliver six more missions and support for up to 10 people via a LAN or the Internet. Fans can create an alliance with the opposing team and attempt to complete a mission’s objectives during a cooperative game, enter a simple deathmatch, or shoot it out in a SWAT 3 tournament. Also included will be proprietary level and art editors for creating new missions, and customizing characters and weapons. More information on the add-on is expected to be available soon.

Counter-Strike Beta 6 [20:56:14 EST] by - Rush
Counterstrike Beta 6 has been released. Grab it from 3Dfiles. Here are some of the features:

Misc 6.0 Notes:

Assassination Gameplay: One member of the CT team will serve as the VIP. The object is to get the VIP safely to the pre-defined escape points. If he dies, the CT's lose the round. If he makes it safely, the CT's win. VIP has a unique skin, only carries a knife, and has ample body armor. Certain weapons cannot be purchased by each team in this gameplay scenario. 

Escape Gameplay: The T team starts out in a fortified location and must "escape" to one of the pre-defined escape points. The CT's must exterminate them before they can escape. The T's win the round once 50% of the team has successfully escaped. They can also break into the armory to steal weapons, or just get out of there. The two teams will switch roles after every 8 rounds of play. 

After buying NVG, you toggle it on/off by using the "nightvision" command. Be warned that the NVG will not be effective on every hardware setup. It may or not work well for you. 

To switch between right and left hand weapons, go to: multiplayer > Customize > Advanced Options There will be a checkbox for you to select the hand of your choice.

Coming soon! [17:44:37 EST] by - Rush

RS: UO not gold! [15:41:04 EST] by - Rush
According to the RSE forums, RS: UO is not gold yet! Here 'tis:

WebMaster, 01:27pm Mar 9, 2000 EST 

Not Gold 
Sorry, guys. 

I guess we'll know once there's an official PR.. I can't seem to get onto GoneGold at the moment to see if they've posted a follow-up yet..

[Update 18:41]:  Here's GoneGold's reply to UO not going gold:

I really didn't want to do this but...

"Officially" Red Storm is saying that the game is not gold yet on their Forums. The PR department isn't ready to make the announcement, so that's their official stand. Here's what I got...

"... Why email you from home you ask (or maybe you already know)? Urban Ops just went gold and the development team is taking a few days off!..."

Of course I would never say WHO the author of that is, but believe me, the game is done. ;)

So, expansion pack is done, but the PR dept just hasn't made the announcement. It doesn't really matter much at this point; we'll be getting it soon enuf!

Rainbow Six WinAmp skin [08:49:20 EST] by - Rush
I found this cool Rainbow Six WinAmp skin. (By the way, the Rainbow Six files section is now open, but a bit short on files, I know..)

No proximity mines in Urban Ops [08:03:15 EST] by - Rush
Rogue Spear Retreat has put up mention that there will be no proximity mines in Urban Ops according to Joe Sauder, lead engineer on the project. Here's the relevant part:

One important decision that we've had to make, after doing this kind of testing, is to remove proximity mines from the game. I'm sad to see them go (I spent many a late night working on them), but at the same time, I'm kind of glad to see them go. Camping is always a concern in multiplayer games, because it can grind down the flow of gameplay to a halt. But, at least if you're camping with a sniper rifle or something, you still have to pay attention to what is happening around you. With prox mines, on the other hand, you could simply put down a few of them, and go hide in a corner somewhere. If you killed someone with your mine, you'd probably never know it, and it sure wouldn't have been due to any skill on your part! Also, the person who got killed was typically left with a rather frustrated feeling, since they were killed by this automatic device, rather than by another player. So there you have it, prox mines are history.

I have to agree, without respawn, prox mines would def kill gameplay.. Check out the designer logs here.

Urban Ops website update [02:10:39 EST] by - Rush
The Rogue Spear Urban Ops website has been updated with 7 new pics (in the downloads section) that can be used for your desktop wallpaper, ranging from 640 up to 1280. Check 'em out!

Looks like they've got some more concept art up too, in the designer logs section.

Delta Force 2 patch fixes [01:04:06 EST] by - Rush
NovaLogic has updated the DF2 developers notes page with the list of fixes for V1.06.15. Here's the goods:

This update addresses a glitch in climbing ladders, a problem with server side chat, and an issue with weather names in the Mission Editor. Graphic problems with female characters and ghillie suits have been fixed.

There ya go, short and sweet.

More Urban Ops shots [12:37:25 EST] by - Rush
SimActu.com sent word that they have 8 exclusive Rogue Spear: Urban Ops screenshots online. The site is in French, but the pics are viewable in any language. :)

Thanks to SuppressiveFire for the news.

Flashpoint news [02:04:27 EST] by - Rush
GA-Source has posted some news on Bohemmia Interactive's Flash Point: 1985 Status Quo. Here of course is a snip:

They've also got 3 news pics up, detailing on how the levels are designed. Check it out!™

Rainbow Six: Covert Operations [01:49:11 EST] by - Rush
Hmm, I'm not quite sure what to make of this yet, but RSE has announced Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Covert Operations Essentials (Covert Ops). One thing is sure: RSE loves long game titles!

Anyway, here's a snip from the PR:

Covert Ops is an extension of the popular Rainbow Six franchise, in which players will not only get to play new and exciting levels, but will also get an insider’s look at the world of covert operations.

Bridging the gap between fiction and real-world special operations, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Covert Operations Essentials is an exciting overview covering the subject of counter-terrorism from 1970 until the present. Covert Ops will contain video interviews with top experts in the field, as well as photos and video footage of weapons and equipment, along with a description of situations where they are typically used. A special “Making of Rainbow Six and Rogue Spear” section is an added bonus. Players will also be able to test their skills and knowledge through interactive “Officer Candidate School” testing, as well as by playing the specially created game levels.

Read the entire press release that EvilAvatar has posted for more.

There was some concern that it would be an FMV game (which no one seems to favor, as they're pretty lacking in actual gameplay), so GA-Source has posted a follow-up to the story. Here's the goods:

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Covert Operations Essentials promises to bridge the gap between fiction and real-world special operations, with video interviews with top experts in the field, as well as photos and video footage of weapons and equipment. This has lead to several questions about the actual gameplay of the new title. Is this a completely FMV game? Are the playable levels similar to R6? Will I need R6 to play these levels?

According to a Red Storm representative, Covert Ops will have R6-like gameplay areas, which will be playable for both single and multiplayer. Another interesting fact that GA-Source has learned is that you won't have to have Rainbow Six or Rogue Spear to play the new levels. So besides the informative content, interactive tests, FMV, etc. there will be new playable levels that feature actual R6-like gameplay.

Another Delta Force 2 patch [01:28:49 EST] by - Rush
There's yet another patch for DF2, v1.06.15. Use the game's auto-updater, or hit 3Dfiles for it. Look for the list of fixes later when NL gets around to posting it. :)

Thanks VE for the news.

Urban Ops RPD shots [16:05:08 EST] by - Rush
Another day, more Urban Ops shots. SimHQ has posted 3 shots which show off the new RPD light machine gun. The thumbnails are right on the main page, so just click here.

Urban Ops preview & shots #2 [02:43:16 EST] by - Rush
CombatSim has posted an update to their Rogue Spear: Urban Operations preview, after another day of examining it. This time they take a look at the new multiplayer spaces. Ha, sounds like they're in a race with SimHQ.. 

In any case, here's a snip on the highly anticipated 'graveyard' space:

Graveyard is a night map with an added element of poor weather to make things a little more interesting. Although there is no lightning flashes, the crack and boom of thunder adds a nice touch, and definitely adds a bone-yard type ambiance effect. This map is relatively small, and has a few small structures and numerous tombstones to hide behind. There is also a second level, sort of a sub-basement that can be accessed from three different stairways.

SWAT3 'postmortem' [18:19:16 EST] by - Rush
The guys over at Gamasutra have put up a 'postmortem' on Sierra's SWAT3. These are always a great read as they are usually written by a member of the development team, and tell you what went right, and what went wrong with the development of the game. 

This time up Jim Napier (the lead programmer of SWAT3 and wrote the game’s graphics engine and networking code) discusses the development of SWAT3. Here's a snip:

SWAT3 was a large project. We overcame some difficult obstacles and shipped a quality game in a relatively short amount of time. The US version shipped in November, and the foreign versions a couple of weeks after that. The game had only a few minor bugs, and no show-stoppers. We’ve recently released a patch that fixes those bugs and includes a comprehensive tutorial and other information to supplement the manual. The game has received some excellent reviews, and we’re excited that so many people enjoy playing it.

A lot of great info in there.. do check it out! Thanks VE for the news.

SWAT3 guide [18:08:26 EST] by - Rush
I received email from the folks over at Old Man Murray letting me know that they've put up a SWAT3 Guide on how to play the game "70's TV Cop Show style." Here's a snip:

The main objective of your game should be to not get shot. The uniformed members of the cast are dispensable. If you can't remember a squadmate's name, then let him take the bullet. (I suggest not learning any names) Never, ever lead the way into battle. Often, the true measure of leadership is your willingness and ability to delegate responsibility. In policework, that means choosing a subordinate to get plugged. Do you remember when Deke (the sniper) was shot in the neck and was thought to be paralyzed? Remember what happened the next week? He was back climbing trees and scouting rooftops. Your fellow cops will bounce back and may even appreciate the down time to catch up on some paperwork, which piles up when you run S.W.A.T. as an assassin squad.

As you can see, its not your typical gaming guide.

Urban Ops shots #2 [16:26:58 EST] by - Rush
John from SimHQ sent me more email, letting me know they've posted even more screenshots of RSE's Rogue Spear: Urban Operations, this time covering the multiplayer maps and two more of the original Rainbow Six maps. They've also got a preview in the works as well. Stay tuned!

Good list of fixes..

Spec Ops Dreamcast [13:32:14 EST] by - Rush
My good buddy Rick sent me this yesterday, but I forgot to post it till now. Anyway, EBWorld has posted that RIPCORD GAMES' SPEC OPS: OMEGA SQUAD for the Dreamcast is coming 6/14/00. Look for it then!

Devil's Bridge review [13:08:36 EST] by - Rush
GameOver.net (which does up some of the best online reviews out there) has posted a review of TalonSoft's Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge. Here's how they start it off:

Hidden & Dangerous was one of the most frustrating titles of 1999, possibly second only to Ultima IX: Ascension. It sat on the cusp of greatness until it's many intolerable bugs were revealed one by one. As we await the hopefully bug-free sequel from Illusion Softworks, an expansion pack has been made available. Hidden & Dangerous: Devil's Bridge offers a number of additions to the original title such as new missions, weapons and vehicles, yet the same old bugs seem to rear their ugly head in what could have been a saving grace for the original title.

Devil's Bridge is based on the British Special Air Services, an elite group of soldiers that were gathered and formed in 1941 and were considered one of most powerful Special Forces agencies in the world. Only the strongest, swiftest, and most daring were accepted to join the SAS. Here's your chance to become a member of that elite force in Devil's Bridge.

Good, fair review, and they give it at 51% overall. Nice pics to go along with it. Check it out for more.

SWAT3 review [12:53:48 EST] by - Rush
I saw over at SimHQ that Reviewers 'R' Us has put up a tiny review of SWAT3. Here's a clip on the game's difficulty, which makes for good gameplay:

One of the most absorbing aspects of the game is the sheer difficulty of the 16 missions. They may be few in numbers, but most are incredibly difficult, and it can take days of solid playing to complete just one. And even once you do it, you can still come back and play again and again because everything important in the level (hostages, terrorists, etc) is randomly placed each time you start the mission.

In the end they give it a nice 94%.

Delta Force 2 update [12:53:48 EST] by - Rush
A few days late, but the DF2 update is finally out (v 1.6.14). Use the game's auto-updater to grab it. According to SF the variable zoom is in, as are the gun emplacements.

Codename Eagle preview [22:50:30 EST] by - Rush
Gamespy has slapped up a preview of Codename: Eagle, the quasi-tactical shooter that's already available from Take 2 in Europe, which should be coming to US shores sometime between March 29th and April 14th. Here's the obligatory snip, this time on gameplay:

The gameplay is an interesting mix of action, stealth, and adventure. Action elements are probably the ones most people are familiar with, so I won't dwell on those. There's shooting, running, and shooting while running, as well as shooting while hopping on one foot for the particularly skilled. One fun thing that Codename Eagle adds to the mix is the effective use of vehicles. Ever since the days of Doom I wanted to be able to take control of some sort of vehicle and run or gun down my foes from the comfort of a posh ride.

Very in-depth preview.. Thanks to Rick from SF for the heads up.

Even newer BMStoMIS converter [22:27:11 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has posted word of an update to yesterdays BMStoMIS converter for Delta Force.. grab the new version here.

Acquisition Expands AIS' Scope With New Internet, Gaming And Design Expertise

Seattle, WA, February 7, 2000 -AIS (Advanced Interactive Systems), the emerging global leader in high-tech, interactive computer simulation training and entertainment systems, today announced the acquisition of Zombie(tm), a cutting-edge, Web-based design studio, gaming and Internet portal company.

"This is a perfect match on several levels," said Al Davis, Chief Executive Officer and President of AIS. "Combining Zombie's very advanced technology and high-level architecture with our existing expertise and sales capabilities adds tremendous value for our customers and gives AIS an established avenue into the gaming and Web market. Zombie also brings a very creative team to work with our own talented people, further strengthening our position in the marketplace. We envision developing new games and training protocols by combining our simulation technology with their gaming expertise."

"This merger is exciting," said Mark Long, co-president and founder of Zombie. "We see potential to leverage leading-edge technology developed by Zombie to a much wider customer base. It is a mix that makes sense. The companies are surprisingly alike in cultures and the way we do business -- our aggressive styles, our desire to be the best, and of course, our focus on military-style simulations."

Long and Zombie co-president and founder Joanna Alexander will continue to manage the subsidiary and also become Vice Presidents of AIS.

"This is a win-win for both companies," said Davis. "Zombie gains by accessing our global sales force, resources for future growth, international presence and skill at marketing simulator technology. AIS gains immediate access to the international gaming market, as well as Zombie's applied research and development capabilities in such areas as computer graphics and gaming via the Web. We fully expect that this integration of AIS and Zombie will yield tremendous results for our current and potential customers around the world."

About Zombie

Mark Long and Joanna Alexander founded Seattle-based Zombie in 1994. They started the company after completing the design of a virtual reality (VR) game console for Hasbro in 1993. Zombie has designed and/or produced eight original titles for DOS, Win3.1, Win95, Win 98, Mac OS formats and completed three console ports to Playstation, and Sega 32X formats.

Zombie also designed and developed a motion-based, real-time, 3D ride for the new DisneyQuest center in Orlando, Florida, and produced a music video. Long previously worked with Sarnoff Labs in defense simulation. Alexander, Zombie co-president/technology director, conducted virtual reality research at Sarnoff. While at Sarnoff, Alexander formed and led the team responsible for design and development of the Hasbro console game system.

Zombie clients include Take2 Games, Panasonic, Activision, BMG, Disney, and GT Interactive. The company has strategic relationships with Encore Software, Ripcord Games, Microsoft, Silicon Graphics, Sarnoff Labs, Wildstorm Comics, RTime, and the William Morris Agency.

In 1998, Zombie released "Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way," the first in a series of highly realistic, real-time, three-dimensional, third-person games based on elite warfare units. Spec Ops set itself apart from the rest of the shooting game genre by incorporating real-world military combat in genuine global hot spots, with weapons and tactics used by the U.S. Armed Services. Zombie's interactive tank battle simulator "Spearhead" also was released in 1998. "Spec Ops2: Green Berets," sequel to the genre-busting Spec Ops, was released recently and currently is arriving at stores.

In addition to single-player computer use, Alexander said the Spec Ops games have multi-player capability on the Internet. "An exciting feature of these games is that players can enter an Internet 'lobby' (similar to a chat room), hosted on a Zombie server and connect with other users anywhere in the world to play, she said."

Zombie also is developing a series of Internet portals, called "The HQ Network (CentralHQ.com)," designed to serve the specific needs of members of the U.S. military and their families. The network's properties include all branches of the military, combining free email/fax/voice messaging; online banking and bill paying services; and customizable and military-tailored content. It is designed to serve as the home page for the approximately 2.8 million military households that are online.

About AIS

Founded in 1993, AIS is a dynamic, multi-dimensional applied technology company that develops and markets the world's most sophisticated, super-realistic computer simulation training and entertainment systems. In 1998, AIS unveiled PRISim(tm), a dramatic advancement in fully interactive computer simulation systems that has set the international standard for firearms and judgment training for law enforcement and the military. The patented AIS "ShootBack(tm)" cannon makes PRISim as real as it gets. AIS also continues to enhance and market its original product -- the TechnoHunt(tm) archery simulator that emulates true-to-life bow hunting environments and lets archers customize range training to fit their own skill levels.

In late 1998, AIS expanded its reach into the international training and simulation market through its acquisition of Nitor, a British-based company that creates ranges and specialized training centers for elite military and anti-terrorist units around the globe, and markets its own simulation system, Ultima. AIS further strengthened its existing research and development capabilities in 1999 when it acquired Reality By Design (RBD), a Boston-based company that develops cutting-edge virtual reality training systems for the military and other applications.

Spec Ops PSX [21:32:08 EST] by - Rush
My good buddy Rick from SuppressiveFire sent me word that Take 2 has released Spec Ops for the PSX in the UK. Here's the PR:

SPEC OPS STEALTH PATROL from Take 2

"SPEC OPS STEALTH PATROL" is the 1st in a series of action oriented, realtime 3D games based on actual special forces operations. Gameplay centers around five multi staged missions, each with a variety of objectives in huge and intensely realistic outdoor environments. Like U.S. Army Rangers, the rangers in spec ops never work alone. Player will control not one but two rangers, each with a uniquely chosen group of powerful weapons.

Features:
- Impressive and realistic 3D gameplay in stunning outdoor environments from snowy Korean mountains to South American jungles.
- Intuitive interface and inventory system.
- Variety of missions and sub-objectives, from blowing up SCUD bases in North Korea to rescuing hostages in Afghanistan.
- Authentic weapons and vehicles.
- Three levels of difficulty ensuring high replay factor
- Unique "Buddy System" allows the player to take command of a partner to provide backup, support and cover.

Check out some screenshots:

Rogue Spear review [19:18:11 EST] by - Rush
Also from SuppressiveFire, I see that Software Now has put up a review of RSE's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear. Here's a bit on the planning and AI:

The joy of Rainbow six was the detailed planning that was put into each mission as you tried time and time again to come up with the perfect attack with zero casualties and absolute destruction for the terrorists. If you are finding it difficult or tedious to come up with the plans you can opt for the computers suggested plan (which is usually a good bet). Once the initial plans have been set its time for the execution. This is where the enemy AI is really tested. Many times enemy terrorists can be found in various positions of either patrolling an area or standing around with others. If a room has a terrorist and you throw a grenade in you can hear them shout "Grenade!" and come out running…that's when ya cap em one! Another cool thing is if you shoot one in the leg or if they hear/see you they yell for help or go and get some.

They give it an 8 overall. Check out the article for more.

Rainbow Six 3? [19:08:42 EST] by - Rush
Looks like today is Rainbow Six day.

Rogue Spear Retreat has gathered some sketchy information on Rainbow Six 3 that they gleaned from the Designer Logs over at the official RSE Rogue Spear: UO website. Here's the snip:

Carl Schnurr, producer of Rogue Spear, had previously hinted that there were more "plans" for the R6 series in the pipeline, but we haven't had more definitive news until today when sharp-eyed readers scouring the depths of the new Urban Ops Designer Logs found the following quote ...

Chris Kemple, 2D artist on UO, said this in his designer log: "I've had a big pile of fun, and should plans remain constant, I'll be rolling over to the next title in the "Rainbow" and Rogue Spear" lineage very soon, for more wacky spec-ops misadventures."

Not much, but its a start.

Doug Littlejohns speaks [18:59:56 EST] by - Rush
I saw this little snippet over at SimHQ:

Red Storm President and CEO, Doug Littlejohns, will be presenting sessions at the 14th annual Game Developers & Game Executives Conference on March 7-12 in San Jose, California. Several other RSE employees will be running sessions as well, on topics like Mathematics for Programmers, Formation-Based Path Finding with Real World Vehicles, "Entertaining The Masses," and more.

Steve Cotton interview [18:55:15 EST] by - Rush
Rogue Spear Recon (the site that uses more colors than I do..) has put up an interview with Steve Cotton, Producer of RSE's Rogue Spear: Urban Operations. Here's a snip:

(CRT_Rscott {RSR}) Has the 3D engine been tweaked at all since RS, have any new features been added?

(Steve Cotton {RSE}) The most noticeable additions to the engine are shell casings ejecting from guns & the ability to fire more than a 30 round clip. Technically the 3D engine is the same. Other things may look better than they did in Rogue Spear but this is only because of our own increased experience with our proprietary tools, which are always evolving.

Lots of other great stuff in there as well.. check it out!™ :) Thanks SF for the news.

Codename Eagle U.S. date [01:35:07 EST] by - Rush
[Update]: Cpl Buddha just sent me news that the EB computer has Codename: Eagle slated for March 29th, so look for it between then and the April 14th date GA-Source is reporting.. :)

Urban Ops MP3 [01:18:34 EST] by - Rush
This actually came out a few days ago, but Bill Brown (composer on RS:UO) has released an MP3 (3.4 MB) of the music of RS: Urban Ops. Its really a great tune, so grab it here if ya haven't gotten it already.

New BMStoMIS converter [18:52:06 EST] by - Rush
Delta-Force2.com has posted word of a new BMStoMIS converter for Delta Force.. Head on over to grab it.

SWAT3 review #327 [18:43:51 EST] by - Rush
3DRetreat has put up a review of SWAT3 with an overall score of 4 out of 5. Here's a bit on the gameplay:

As stated by the developers, this is a tactical simulation game and not a strategic action game. In your role as the element leader, you are given total control of your squad in real time as the action unfolds instead of designing your whole battle plan in a mission planning stage ala Rainbow Six. S3 truly simulates what it would be like to be a real member of a SWAT team. One of the key features of S3 is the interactive reticule that you can use for everything. The ability to point at a door and tell your red team to "breach, bang, and clear" is so awesome. It becomes second nature as you keep playing the game and soon you will be making great use of your two teams for some very realistic hostage rescuing.

Rogue Spear: Urban Operations site opens [18:17:19 EST] by - Rush
Redstorm Entertainment has (finally) opened the official Urban Operations website, with background info, and screenshots for you to enjoy. Give it a look... Thanks SF for the news.