News From The Net From Sue First some info adapted from links Alex sent me from www.bluenews.com. Myst Online Beta Plans ---------------------- Uru: Online Ages Beyond Myst will be the title of the upcoming online Myst game, and that registration is currently underway to participate in the game's beta testing starting in January 2003. Those interested can register for the beta on the game's official website at www.uru.ubi.com, and here's a bit on the game, including the use of voice communication: "Uru will take advantage of broadband to deliver a continually updated, immersive environment and storyline, with content that grows, changes and evolves constantly. It will also be the first persistent world to support real-time voice communication. Uru is designed to appeal to a broad audience and enable players of all skill levels and interests to experience expansive ages of the Myst universe in a uniquely social environment. Playing their own avatars, hundreds of thousands of players will meet new people, all realistic impersonations of themselves, play games, solve mysteries and embark on a voyage of discovery with friends. Players will be able to customize their level of interaction with other players, choosing to play alone, with small groups of friends or in areas where they can meet new people." A batch of new screenshots and concept art accompany the announcement. Shadow of Memories Demo ----------------------- There's a Shadow of Memories Demo on Computer and Video Games, a downloadable PC sample of this time-traveling adventure game that was originally released on the PS2. Holy paradox Batman! The twist in this game is that the player must travel back in time to prevent his own murder. Shadowbane Ship Date, Websites ------------------------------ Ubi Soft is targeting a March 25th ship date for Shadowbane, the upcoming MMORPG in the works at Wolfpack Studios. The release goes on to say that they have plans to continue to expand its beta test over the coming months, and has this to say about these web sites: "The company has unveiled the Chronicle of Strife, an extensive community site for Shadowbane players at http://shadowbane.ubi.com. Besides daily announcements and updates, the Chronicle of Strife features in-depth details of Shadowbane races, classes and disciplines, interviews with the developers and an encyclopedia containing the lore of Aerynth. The site also features a newspaper-styled College of Heralds in which community members report on the evolving politics, religion, war, commerce and other events occurring in the live game world. Ubi Soft has also re-launched Shadowbane.com with a new look and updated information about the game." Now some pieces I found: Xplosive -------- Xplosive have a large number of new releases in their cut-price catalogue. Here are some of them: Battlezone II Crimson Skies Diablo Links LS Classic Pandora's Box Star Trek Hidden Evil They are either œ9.99 or œ4.99 each. SimCity 4 --------- SimCity 4 is just out, here's some info: Tuesday, January 16, 2003 - EA Ships SimCity 4 Play god, play mayor, or play with your Sims in this ultimate SimCity experience REDWOOD CITY, Calif., January 14, 2002 - Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced the release of the long- awaited 4th generation of the PC game SimCity, SimCity 4. Featuring new simulation and graphics engines, new regional game play and the new ability to track the lives of individual Sims as they go about their daily routine, SimCity 4 is the most realistic, powerful and personal SimCity experience ever. "In SimCity 4 a city comes to life like never before," said Lucy Bradshaw, Executive in Charge of Production at MaxisT, developers of the #1 selling PC game of all time, The SimsT. "This is the most responsive, personal and satisfying SimCity yet." Right from the start, players experience new God-like powers of creation as they lay the groundwork for their cities by molding mountains, carving valleys, seeding forests and laying rivers. With these new landscape creation features, players can now construct the most realistic metropolis imaginable. Unlike earlier games in the series, SimCity 4 cities do not live in isolation from the world, they are part of an entire region. Each city a player creates becomes part of an ever-growing tapestry of municipalities that, once connected by transportation networks, share and compete for resources. Depending upon the choices made by a player, this multi-city game play can result in a variety of outcomes within that region. For the first time ever, players can follow a Sim as they go about their life in the city. Players can personalize their Sim and immediately move him or her into any area and watch them experience life in the city, first hand. Is he or she enjoying a happy existence in an urban utopia or enduring a futile fight for survival in the inner-city? A player's Sim provides valuable clues to improving the city. SimCity 4 allows players to actually touch their handiwork and feel the pulse of their creation. Whether a metropolis is booming with expansion or decaying through neglect, the new SimCity 4 simulation engine gives players immediate feedback so they can react to its every need. Individual buildings and their lots now provide feedback to the player who lives there. Bigger, better and more relevant disasters are also available along with the ability to dispatch the police or fire department to areas in the city where they are needed. Your every decision in this new SimCity has much more of an impact and gives you the ability to respond more effectively. Day and night, the movement in SimCity 4 is first-person, frenetic, palpable and unpredictable. Pursuing a lifelong fascination with simulations, legendary game designer Will Wright and the team at Maxis created the original SimCity in 1989. Critically acclaimed, it garnered dozens of awards and sold millions of copies both domestically and internationally. SimCity 2000T followed in 1993. SimCity 3000T, released in 1999, became the #1 selling PC game that year. SimCity 3000 and SimCity 3000T Unlimited, an enhanced version released in 2000, combined have sold over 5 million units worldwide. For more information on SimCity 4, please visit http://www.simcity.com. SimCity 4 works with Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows 98. Windows 95 and Windows NT are not supported. The game requires 500 MHz Intel Pentium III or AMD AthlonT processor,128 MB RAM,8x CD-ROM/DVD- ROM drive,1 GB free hard disk space plus space for saved games. Additional space required for Windows swap-file and DirectXT 8.1 installation. Additional requirements include a 16 MB video card with DirectX 7.0 compatible driver. Players will also need a DirectX 7.0 compatible sound card, keyboard and mouse. Impossible Creatures -------------------- Impossible Creatures is also now out from Microsoft - details from www.microsoft.com/games/impossiblecreatures A real-time strategy game of combat and discovery, where imagination and experimentation are your biggest allies in a struggle against evil. The year is 1937 and you are Rex Chance, renowned world adventurer and war correspondent. You have spent your life exploring the wilds of Africa, the ice shelves of Antarctica, and the sultry jungles of the Amazon. You've seen every beast on earth. or so you thought. You've just received word from your long lost father, scientist Dr. Eric Chanikov, who disappeared many years before. Suddenly, he now begs to see you. So you fly to the Isla Variatas in the South Pacific where he works in the employ of wealthy industrialist Upton Julius. But what begins as an innocent reunion quickly turns sour as you come face-to-face with the Sigma Technology. What is the Sigma Technology? Imagine possessing the ability to combine any two animals into a single creature. Flying elephants, giant ants, amphibious sharks...anything you can conceive. The possibilities boggle the mind! What benefits might it bring? What evil might be wrought? World of Warcraft ----------------- Blizzard are setting up the online game, World of Warcraft, due for release early in Feb. Read on: Four years have passed since the aftermath of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and a great tension now smolders throughout the ravaged world of Azeroth. As the battle-worn races begin to rebuild their shattered kingdoms, new threats, both ancient and ominous, arise to plague the world once again. World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Being "Massively Multiplayer," World of Warcraft allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory. There's a preview at www.ugo.com Project Entropia ---------------- And finally, there's another MMORPG due at the end of Jan from MindArk. It's called Project Entropia and here's the blurb from their website: Project Entropia is the next generation of interactive entertainment. In Project Entropia you will able to enter a whole world with amazing three-dimensional environments using a computer and the Internet. It is a massive virtual world where millions of users can interact with each other at the same time. Project Entropia includes a real economy system that allows you as a user the opportunity to exchange real life money into PED (Project Entropia Dollars) and then back into a real currency again. Project Entropia is free of charge with no monthly costs, which means that aside from the fees for your own local access to the Internet while you are connected, the client software is available with no payment to MindArk. All you need to do is download and install the software at the end of the page, obtain your secure account details, and you're ready to begin exploring the planet Calypso. When you decide to enter the world of Project Entropia as a citizen you will be able to create your very own visual three- dimensional persona. This is easily done using the character generation system that exemplifies the freedom Project Entropia offers you. Once downloaded, a manual located in the Project Entropia folder will help you to get started. Just ask any other colonist the way to Atlas Haven where you'll often find a gathering of colonists. Project Entropia allows you to experience a life inside a vast virtual reality as it suits you. It offers social interaction with people from all over the world. Project Entropia will also compliment your dreams and fantasies with adventures inside an expanding science-fiction universe. For all of you who are familiar with the term "massive multiplayer online role- playing games" or MMORPG, Project Entropia will be that and much more. If you don't know what a MMORPG means just read on! As an MMORPG, the world of Project Entropia is set to take you on an epic journey into the future, to a place far from Earth, beyond the borders and frontiers of known space. The central point in the human universe is now focused on one single colony on a distant planet named Calypso. The world on Calypso will be under constant development and initially includes one vast continent with large expanding cities where you begin your life. The cities will offer you an immense virtual playground for social interaction with other players in a thriving social community. Should you choose to leave the peaceful and secure cities you may be forced to struggle against the wild untamed nature, against hostile mutants and invading robots. You must learn to use all available resources and a growing multitude of skills, wit, guts, teamwork and equipment to reclaim a lost paradise. The Project Entropia community also has a thriving presence at this website and becoming a member offers many benefits such as discussion boards, tips and friends. The community is further enhanced by a monthly news magazine covering many aspects of the Project Entropia world including real life news from MindArk, to fan profiles and even a little fun! If anyone tries either of these out (Alex? Dave?), do let me know. - o -