Wednesday, February 28, 2001

Freelancer Postponed to 2002 -- 4:59 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

The Lancer's Reactor is reporting that Microsoft and Digital Anvil have pushed back the release date of Freelancer to Spring 2002. They have a brief Q&A with the Digital Anvil team on why the game has been postponed. Thanks Voodoo Extreme.

Half-Life Contest Winners -- 3:55 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Jeh at Planet Half-Life let us know that they, in conjunction with Valve Software, have announced the winners of their mapping contest. The winners get some cool stuff and have their maps included with the next Half-Life update. Congratulations to the winners and all who entered!

GeForce3 Official Info -- 2:35 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

If you haven't yet had your fill of GeForce3 information, head on over to NVIDIA's site for all the official news. You can even register to win one. Too groovy.

Elite Force Add On -- 2:28 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Raven announced an add-on pack for Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force. Mike Gummelt updated his .plan with a list of some of the new things in store for the add-on. I like the idea of this gametype:

Assimilation - Federation vs. Borg. The Borg have a Borg projectile weapon, a taser weapon and can assimilate Federation members. They also have a short personal transporter ability and adaptive shields. The I-Mod can get through these shields. The object for the Borg is to Assimilate the entire Federation team, the object for the Federation team is to kill the Borg Queen.

Check out the full update for the whole scoop.

Shogo from Tux Games -- 9:33 am CST, Update by A.T. Hun

I saw some complaints on Linux Games about it taking several weeks for their copies of the Linux version of Shogo to come in and, once it arrived, it didn't have the needed serial number. I emailed my Hyperion Software contacts who had this to say:

The delay was probably due to Tux Games just ordering the copies that were pre-ordered and then having to wait for new copies to come in from Germany.

There was indeed a problem with 30 copies not having the correct manual with the serial number but this has been cured in the meanwhile.

There is talk of having it available from an American source, but no official word on that yet. I hope to be placing my order soon and give a full review. You can snag Shogo for Linux from Tux Games. No affiliation, yadda, yadda.

UPDATE! I just placed my order, I'll let you know when it comes in.

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

EZ-Net Broadband -- 10:55 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

I just saw on EZ-Net's (our gracious host) site that they have two broadband solutions available: wireless and DSL. I was one of the "beta testers" for the wireless. As a matter of fact, I was the first one to get it installed. It's really been a treat to use--I couldn't be happier (OK, maybe a T1 directly to my house would make me happier, but my kids have this strange tendency to want to eat three times a day). If you live in Oconto, Oconto Falls, Peshtigo, or Marinette, Wisconsin, you owe it to yourself to check out EZ-Net's broadband solutions. You can thank me later. Tell them A.T. sent you!

N.B. Lest anyone misunderstand, I was not asked by anyone at EZ-Net to say this. I just think they do a great job and that you should know about it. 'Nuff said.

The Master comments: Heck, I'm not even a customer and I'll vouch for that. Ez is the best--they're there when you need them, every day.

SPARC for $995 -- 4:07 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Yahoo News is reporting that Sun is planning on selling a SPARC workstation for $995. Here's the specs (specs on a SPARC--I kill me!):

Prices for the Sun Blade 100 workstation begin at $995. This entry configuration is exclusive to web orders placed within the U.S. It features the 64-bit, 500 MHz UltraSPARC IIe processor; Solaris 8 Operating Environment; 128 MB RAM; 15 GB hard drive; Sun PGX64TM onboard 2D graphics with 8 MB SGRAM; 48X CDROM; and a highly integrated I/O, including 10/100 Ethernet, four USB ports, and two IEEE 1394 digital video "firewire" ports.

Kudos go to Wraith for noticing this on Slashdot. I believe his exact words were, "GIMME! NOW!"

GeForce3 Previews -- 9:49 am CST, Update by A.T. Hun

NOW the previews are starting to roll in. Read all you ever cared to know about NVIDIA's new GeForce3 chip at the following sites: HardOCP, Sharky Extreme, Tom's Hardware and AnandTech. Hopefully by the time that games hit the shelves that can actually use some of the GF3's power the cards will actually be somewhat affordable for regular human beings.

FWIW, so far my favorite preview (from an "easy to read" standpoint) is AnandTech's. The Tom's Hardware one is the longest and most likely to make your head cave in.

While I'm pondering all this information, it struck me that 3D Realms had better get Duke Nukem Forever out quite a bit before Doom3 comes out (or even the first Doom3 Test for that matter). If DNF comes out too close to Doom3 and Doom3 has incorporated all these swell new features . . . ouch. Could be painful for Broussard and the boys. It would seem that with the advent of the GF3, their technology window is closing rapidly.

UPDATE! Evil Avatar got a press release from Hercules announcing the 3D Prophet III based on the GeForce3. It will be available in March for $529. Start saving those pennies!

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