1up.com conducted an interview with id Software’s Tim Willits and Todd Hollenshead about the vaunted first-person shooter developer’s myriad projects in the pipeline:
1UP: What’s going on with Quake Wars? I think you guys are due for an expansion. What do you think?
TW: [Sighs] Well, again, that’s one thing. If the market would support it — we may do it.
Rage, Wolfenstein, and Doom 4 are also discussed.
OpenAnno, an open source real-time economic sim loosely based on the Anno series, has a new release:
Do however note that this is a development release solely to show off what we have done so far. It is intended to be viewed as a technical demo and to get people interested in the project. You can do some basic playing, but nothing great yet.
There’s also a new demo video.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ openanno.org ]
LambdaRogue is a roguelike role-playing game with an emphasis on story:
Download: [ sourceforge.net ]
Hothead Games sent in the following press release to announce that the second episode of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness has gone gold:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Oct. 1, 2008 - Hothead Games is pleased to announce that the anxiously-awaited Episode Two in its well-received Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness game series has reached Gold Master status for the Windows®, Mac® and Linux® versions. In recognition of this momentous milestone, Hothead has further announced that Episode Two will be priced at $14.95 for download this fall via the Greenhouse digital distribution service (www.playgreenhouse.com) and other popular digital distribution systems or 1200 Microsoft points on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. The PLAYSTATION®Network version of Episode Two is also expected for release shortly thereafter with similar pricing. “Episode One was a huge investment for us and established a great base from which we built Episode Two. It allows us to focus even more on the fans in developing future games in the series,” said Hothead’s CEO, Vlad Ceraldi. “Our new game has a lot of great enhancements that were made possible by direct fan interaction and we are extremely excited to get our game into their hands and get their feedback.”
The madcap Penny Arcade experience continues in Episode Two where gamers return to the deranged 1920s universe of New Arcadia and rejoin Gabe and Tycho of the Startling Developments Detective Agency to visit crazy new areas, combat bigger and badder enemies, solve even more wacky puzzles and get ever closer to unraveling the mystery in the sinister heart of New Arcadia.
You can read our review of the first episode here; there’s also a new trailer at Gametrailers.com.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun has posted two reviews of note:
Engadget is reporting that you can now pre-order (US | World) the Pandora open-source handheld game console for $329.99 US. Developed through internet forum discussion, the hardware specs are:
The first batch of Pandora systems, limited to 3000 orders, will start shipping at the end of November.
The Super Mario-inspired platforming game Secret Maryo Chronicles is now at version 1.6 with basic translation support, new editor features, and sprite updates.
Screenshots: [ View ] Download: [ secretmaryo.org ]
Koonsolo let us know they’ve released the first in-game video of Mystic Mine:
Guide your gold car through a mine, switching rails with the mouse or keyboard. The gold car can only go down, but thanks to an optic illusion in the levels, you can always reach every point.
See the video:
The family friendly nature of this game makes it suitable for all ages. The difficulty of the game adapts to your skill, making sure everyone will enjoy. More than 200 levels can be played with different missions and powerups, creating unlimited hours of fun. The missions include picking up coins, bringing diamonds to tunnels, racing to flags, etc. Various pickups modify the car behavior: a balloon makes it go up but not down, a ghost allows it to move through everything, …but whatever you do, avoid the dynamite!!!
Platinum Arts’ calimer sent in a release announcement for version 4.0 of Last Man Standing, their Doom 3 cooperative multiplayer-themed modification:
Thought LMS was finished? Guess again! We have lots of updates for you including the possibility of a major improvement coming to your Doom 3 Coop experience!
We first would like to give a massive congratulations to AO! He now works at Slash Damage working on Quake Wars! If I had a hat it would certainly be off for this great Coder, Team Member and GDC companion. You can read more about that here: http://www.splashdamage.com/node/64
In addition thanks to The Master the Last Man Standing theme is now playable on Guitar Hero! We hope to have the files out to you soon but if you want a taste of it in action, check out the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f5EJDyXXzQ (editor’s note: what about Frets on Fire?)
And finally there is some behind the scenes work happening at LMS. I don’t want to give it away in case it doesn’t end up turning out how we expect, but if it does happen your Doom 3 Coop experience will be significantly improved :) In honor of this we are going to be releasing a video of LMS Doom 3 Coop action every day for the next two months. The final one will feature a special surprise :D They will be featured here daily: http://platinumarts.net/Doom-3-Coop-Last-Man-Standing-Clip-Of-The-Day/
Enjoy our first video as it includes something never seen yet in Doom 3, battle across water! Be sure to check back frequently at http://Doom3coop.com as we will have more updates on LMS including on the upcoming mappack :D Also check out http://kids.platinumarts.net for our free 3D Game Design tool. There is an RPG soon in the works ;D Take care and thanks for your interest in Last Man Standing!
-calimer
Linux Game Publishing, a company that ports Windows games to our platform of choice, is looking for programmers:
Description: We are looking for experienced software developers.
The following skills are essential:
- Strong C/C++
Also, one or more of the following skills are essential:
- OpenGL, with some knowledge of DirectX
- OpenAL, with some knowledge of Windows sound systems
- SDL, with some knowledge of Windows programming
Additional info and contact information can be found at the above link.
Thanks to reader daebowolf for pointing out Privateer: Ascii Sector, a text console-based space combat/trading game:
What sets this game apart from most others is its ‘graphics’. Privateer: Ascii Sector uses only ASCII characters in 16 different colors to present its environments. This might take some getting used to for most players, but it also means that the game’s single designer and programmer can concentrate on gameplay instead of fancy graphics. Check out the screenshots to see how the game looks.
Download: [ asciisector.net ]
GemRB version 0.3.1 has been announced; the project is an open source clone of BioWare’s Infinity Engine, which was used in a few classic computer role-playing games. Changes include:
Thanks to SpoonMeiser for sending in the following:
According to their blog posting, Soviet Unterzögersdorf sector 2 is coming soon!
Soviet Unterzögersdorf is a classic style point and click adventure game. Sector 1 was fantastic, if a little short. We’ve been waiting for what seems like forever for sector 2.
A new mod project for Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has been revealed: Tribal Wars, which looks to be bringing the jetpack-skiing/disc-chucking gameplay of the Tribes series to the world of Quake:
The purpose of this project is to develop a game that is very heavilly oriented toward teamwork and communication with a Capture the Flag set of rules. Each player has an arsenal of powerful weapons at their disposal, but they also have a jet-pack as well as the ability to slide across terrain. This results in a very fast and challenging gameplay. The highly skilled players flourish, but those who work together as a team always come out victorious.
There’s a teaser trailer and screenshots available at the developer’s blog already.
TransGaming sent in the following press release to announce Cedega version 6.1, an implementation of the Windows OS API on Linux with an emphasis on game compatibility, for their subscribers:
The new release also marks the evolution of Cedega into a community supported Membership service, offering Linux consumers with the best and broadest gaming experience available today. The growing consumer base currently gaming on Linux systems requires an enhanced service offering that leverages the strengths of the global community and provides a forum for gamers. The new Cedega Gaming Service Membership, available at www.cedega.com, offers consumers participation in a vast gaming community, supporting hundreds of PC games and providing top tier Member support and community services.
The 6.1 launch re-establishes Cedega’s lead position in providing Linux gamers the ability to play today’s newest PC games while giving them Membership within the leading global Linux gaming community. All Cedega Members will receive year-round updates to the Cedega Gaming Engine, enabling new triple-A PC games like Call of Duty(R) and SPORE(TM). The new Cedega release also marks the launch of a new Cedega Certified Series of PC Games, which provides Members with an easy to identity seal-of-approval for games running under Cedega. Over 40 recently released Cedega Certified PC games will ensure the hottest titles are available and supported for Linux gamers.
“We are delighted to provide the Linux gaming community with a total upgrade to Cedega”, commented Vikas Gupta, CEO & President of TransGaming. “With the Cedega Gaming Service we have revamped every facet of our product for our Members and are now delivering support for some of the hottest games, while offering a much richer community experience. We have also introduced free Trial Memberships which will more easily allow Linux users around the world to experience the power of Cedega.”
The Cedega Gaming Service offers three levels of Membership, starting with a new Trial Membership that offers Linux gamers the ability to explore the Service and try a PC game for FREE running under Cedega’s Gaming Engine. Fully paid Memberships to the Service are offered in 6- month and 12-month packages, and provide Linux gamers with full access to the power of Cedega. Full Memberships offer access to all online services at www.cedega.com, including the searchable games database, community tools and forums, Cedega Certified games technical support, promotional specials, plus access to the Cedega Gaming Engine and all software updates during their active Membership.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun pointed out a neat-looking Spring mod called P.U.R.E.:
Despite sharing a name with that PS3 ATV thing, it’s actually an entirely free RTS - built on the Spring engine - with ambitions of Total Annihilation/Supreme Commander-scale battles. And it’s about blowing up robots, so I like it already. Download the newly-out release candidate 2 of P.U.R.E. from here (it’s 260Mb), find out more about it here [...]
HTC has announced details concerning their G1 smartphone, which uses Google’s Linux-derived Android operating system and will be available in North America and the United Kingdom for use on T-Mobile’s cellular network:
“Increasingly, connectivity does not just mean a phone call, but rather access to the world’s information,” said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms for Google. “Today’s news signifies an important first step for the Open Handset Alliance: With Android, we’ve opened the mobile Web not only for millions of users, but also to mobilize the developer community that understands the next most important platform in the world rests in the palm of our hand.”
Over the next several years it seems likely that more computer games will targeted at the mobile space, so it’s gratifying to see a high-profile open platform anyone can create titles for. The Android SDK is already available; there’s also a sample game with source code at the Android Developer’s Blog.
It also looks like there will also be at least some games available at launch for the G1, based on this promo video which shows Pac-Man in the phone’s marketplace application.
Well? Answer! The fate of the world depends on it!
Frictional Games, the developers of the Penumbra series, have announced a few details regarding their next title:
Helsingborg, Sweden (September 19, 2008) – Frictional Games announces that they are hard at work with a new, currently untitled, horror game. The upcoming project is set in the late 18th century and will take the player on a thrill-ride through the depths of madness and explore the dark side of the human emotions. Frictional Games promises to deliver a truly frightening first person survival horror game.
The primary aim is to make the game as scary and atmospheric as possible. “There are plenty of ideas that we never realized in the Penumbra games. We think it is possible to go a lot further in terms of evoking unsettling feelings and a sense of dread in the player”, says co-founder and sound designer Jens Nilsson. The atmosphere is not the only focus of the game though and Frictional Games is determined to deliver a solid gameplay experience.
“We intend to give players a lot of freedom in our upcoming game”, explains Thomas Grip, co-founder and lead programmer at Frictional Games. “Instead of following a laid out route we want players to choose for themselves how they want to progress and how deep they want explore various aspects of the game world”.
Though the project will have a large focus on freedom, story will not be neglected. Frictional Games have been hard at work to develop a multitude of new ways to tell a story and yet allow for a dynamic gameplay. The goal is to make the story and gameplay converge and create a truly engaging and unique experience.
Release date is currently unknown. Stay tuned for more information by visiting the web site http://www.nextfrictionalgame.com/ or by signing up for the newsletter at http://www.frictionalgames.com/propaganda/.
Moreover, the possibility of a Linux port (the Penumbra series was all ported) was addressed on their forums:
Linux / Mac:
Hopefully. Nothing is sure at this point though.
Wolfire Games has announced that a sequel to Lugaru, a third-person action game, is under development:
Overgrowth is a 3d action-adventure game for Mac, Windows, and Linux, coming soon from the independent game studio, Wolfire Games.
In the meantime, please check out screenshots, preorder Overgrowth, and keep track of our progress on the Wolfire blog and forums!
