It's getting to the stage were the game needs no introduction, but could you tell us about what makes the game so special, and briefly, what the story is?

Cevat: Far Cry is a non-linear action FPS with full range of tactical action. Play like Rambo, play tactical and cautious, play stealth or long-range, it all is included to allow you to play the game the way you like it as a gamer. Encompassing the non-linear level-design we tell a compelling story [...]

The third route into the jungle is the stealthiest and involves approaching from the eastern estuary, again avoiding the popular South Beach and entering the interior from a high overgrown gully that provides perfect cover for a sneak attack. And you'll have to attack eventually, because all three arteries into the island heart bottleneck at the stone stairway that provides a curving spine for this supine island beauty, winding right up past impressive (abandoned) twin gun batteries to the proud concrete of her overbearing comms centre. Sneaking is aided by the HUD radar and a stealth bar, which combines your visual and audio profile, as detected by the enemy around you.

Full Spectrum Warrior is based on a game commissioned by the U.S. Army to train light Infantry troops in urban combat situations. Soldiers are placed in a tense, hostile, and claustrophobic environment where they must complete a variety of military objectives.

Players act as the Squad Leader, providing direction to Alpha and Bravo fire teams. The successful Squad Leader effectively uses cover in the environment and moves his fire teams in a coordinated fashion so they can protect themselves from possible attacks that could come from any direction. Full Spectrum Warrior puts you in the dirt with your men, where danger lurks around every corner.

You say the AI is advanced: what are some of the abilities of the AI? For example, do they take cover when being fired at, or do they just keeping running at you like an iron zombie, and, is the difficulty of the AI determined by the difficulty level you select, if any difficulty settings are available?

Every AI is created when the level is loaded, so they follow their duties and personal desires (to scratch his head or talk to somebody), but will react to any intrusion from the gamer, based on sensory modeling (hearing and seeing). Depending on what he saw (how much, how far etc.) or what he heard (interesting or threatening, how far?) he will decide how to pursue the gamer. And in many cases the AI will apply group-tactics (outflanking, reinforcements, cover-fire etc.) to offer you a nice and dynamic (unscripted) challenge! Oh and AIs are using Vehicles to chase you!

DJ: What would you say are the main differences between Hidden & Dangerous 2 and its original? What were the most important changes you wanted to make for the sequel?

LV: Well, there is now a complete 3D and real environment for the tactical map mode. What you see is what you get, that makes a big difference. There is also much more freedom when using real-time tactics and quick commands. The interface is simple and quick but necessarily comprehensive for those trickier and more sensitive moments. We’ve paid much more attention to the use of stealth during action as well as to the role of various physical features in influencing the gameplay. The friendly and enemy artificial intelligence has also been completely rewritten to add the best possible feeling of realism from the game’s numerous characters. Otherwise the game is as faithful to its roots as possible while still managing to raise the bar from where it last left off.

The workhorse for the U.S. during the Vietnam conflict was the helicopter and it will serve the same purpose in Battlefield Vietnam. [...] As it was the case in actual combat, players will be able to mount the side miniguns and lay down suppressive fire as the infantry troops are being taken away from the field. Up to three people can fit in the Huey (that is if we're not counting the pilot). Besides being able to mount miniguns, players can fire from their M16's out the open bay door. Passengers in other vehicles like jeeps will also have the ability to fire weapons while moving, which should make the gameplay even more interesting.

Entertainment software developer and publisher NovaLogic, Inc. is pleased to announce that the first expansion pack for the number one selling PC title Delta Force - Black Hawk Down is currently under development at Dallas-based Ritual Entertainment.

"When NovaLogic approached us to develop the Team Sabre expansion pack for their number one selling PC title Delta Force - Black Hawk Down, we were delighted, and eagerly accepted as we are all big fans of the title," commented Ritual Entertainment's Richard 'Levelord'™ Gray. "In Team Sabre we intend to deliver the same gripping action and intensity of Delta Force - Black Hawk Down in two potential near-future arenas: the jungles of Columbia and the oil-rich coast of Iran."

As well as 10 new single player missions over 2 campaign scenarios and 30 new Multiplayer maps Delta Force - Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre will also feature select new weapons and vehicles for Delta Force to utilize.

Delta Force - Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre will ship during Q1 2004 on PC CD ROM.

Simply put, the environments are spectacular. In the sky you can see paratroopers descending in the distance, artillery exploding, even planes going overhead occasionally. The village you are in is a crumbled mess, with several buildings on fire, the fire burning realistically and throwing light in real-time.

We understand that you are enhancing NPC AI, both enemy and friendly. Could you give us some details on your plans or aims in this area?

Nash: One of the big changes to the AI is that it will be morale-based. Groups of enemies will have group leaders who make their decisions based on their morale. So if a battle is going well, the leader may decide to continue advancing, if it's not, they may decide to retreat (or banzai, as the case may be).

Individual soldier morale will further determine how zealously the men will respond to orders, or if they'll respond at all. Chances are that if a Captain tells the last remaining squad mate to flank a fortified position by himself, moments after his buddies were all killed, he may ignore that order and head for cover instead.

The MOHAA Breakthrough demo will engage up to 32 players in fierce combat on two different maps: Anzio and Palermo. Experience the innovative new multiplayer Liberation mode, as well as a host of new weapons and soldiers for both Axis and Allied forces.

Why have you used the Indonesia setting and what does the locale offer to the gamer that is unique or interesting?

Indonesia is a good setting for Joint Operations, as it offers a very varied landscape. You can have dense jungle, mountains riddled with intricate tunnel networks, vast areas of rice paddies and amazing stretches of coastline all within a few miles of each other. Each area will present a different challenge to the player in terms of what equipment to use, and which vehicles to command.

The new engine, which is created especially for Pacific Assault, clearly allows for some splendid new features and graphics that surpass those we've seen in Allied Assault. From what we've heard the engine's flexibility will allow for numerous innovative effects, such as grass bending after grenade explosions, advanced water and particle effects evident when you shoot a few rounds into the water, high-res textures and more. In addition to offering a great deal of improvements in the graphics, Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault aims to take full advantage of the Havok physics engine. Still, as the developers revealed, the advantage of powerful technology won't get in the way of the game design.

The most important aspect of this expansion, is the game's ability to deliver an amazing multiplayer game that gets you entrenched deep into enemy territory. Secret Weapons, delivers just what everyone needed by still providing the all important multiplayer mode, but with a new twist. With the addition of Secret Weapons, players now have the ability to play maps where certain objectives must be met before the map can be won.

As Chris' charisma and reputation improve, he's given more and more NPC slots in the top left of the HUD, and by walking up to a fighter and pressing E, Chris can easily recruit his services. From here, he can direct fighters to attack a target (by pointing at it and pressing 2), defend the current position (3) or regroup on him (1), and these chaps are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. In contrast to what you might usually expect from NPC AI, they seek cover and vantage points intelligently, fire on enemies making use of any handy machine gun nests, and follow you without ever snagging on some unexpected piece of scenery.

The game also sports extensive background animations, which increase the feeling that players are just a tiny part of the battle. If you’ve tried the demo, you’ll probably have noticed parachute troops gliding down, illuminated by artillery fire in the night sky. But it gets better. After you’ve scaled part of the hill that leads into the ruins of Stalingrad one of the officers calls for artillery support and then the horizon in the Russian-controlled part of Volga lights up. Then you’ll see grenades passing overhead and wreaking havoc on the entire city.

The sequel to the best selling tactical strategy game, Hidden & Dangerous 2 puts you in charge of a squad of lethal Special Air Service commandos. Set over European, African and Asian continents and reflecting the theaters of war where the SAS operated, Hidden & Dangerous 2 will be every bit as groundbreaking as the original game.

In more than 20 missions, from the desolate winter of the Arctic to the searing heat of the Libyan Desert, Hidden & Dangerous 2 will immerse the player through both single and multi-play in the ranks of the SAS as you battle the armed forces of Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese Empire.

Hidden & Dangerous 2 is incredible in its ambition, detail and execution - if you have seen anything better, think again!

Fans of the Rainbow Six series have a lot to look forward to, and Athena Sword should gratify both tactical-shooter and action gamers alike. Team Rainbow expects to bag more tangos in style. When considering the current geo-political turmoil, where terrorist factions are recruiting by the droves, it's heartening that at least one more terrorist outfit is going to get snuffed, even if it's done in virtual reality. Expectations remain high as Athena Sword prepares to insert sometime early fall.

The developer has already completed work on its initial project, a hard-core military simulation that is already actively being used by the US Army to train its soldiers in field tactics. Full Spectrum Warrior is actually a slightly less-punishing version of the Army's game that will be made available to the public, both on the Xbox, and as we've learned, also on the PC.

Axis/Allies changes things around so you're a German leading German squad against allies.

Full Sound attemps to give better sounds to your own weapons (some folks complain your weapons don't sound as good as when AI are using their weapons)

1 Shot/1 Kill makes all weapons kill with one successful shot/hit (except friendly fire on your own captain)

Daylight mod "re-skins" the demo's sky to make it seem like a daytime mission

No Healthpacks mod removes all healthpacks for a greater challenge

Blood/Loadout adds more spectacular blood FX and gives you M1 Garand/Bar setup at the start.

Realistic Grenades shortens the toss length, adds more realistic explosion and the "cooking" feature used in MOHAA: Spearhead

What really makes this game impressive is the sense of scope. Never do you feel like you’re one man who can act alone and sway the war in your favor. Instead, you often find yourself feeling like you’re one man that’s part of a group that has to band together in order to survive. You don’t just want the guys fighting alongside you, you need to have them fighting with you. Running headfirst into the fray will most likely result in your untimely demise. Having a cool head, listening to your commanding officer and working with the team is the only way to keep yourself and your allies alive.

Throughout the game, Stone will be able to recruit other guerillas and order them about using a simplified command system. This means you can quickly and easily order one soldier to take out a machinegun nest, and another to guard a choke point, while you're on top of a van using a sniper rifle to pick out stragglers. While the earlier levels are easier and require far fewer commandos, later levels will tax Stone's command skills to the limit, often requiring the coordination of up to twelve different soldiers.