Wednesday, January 8, 2003

New UT2K3 Dedicated Server Released -- 6:51 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Epic released a new dedicated server package for Unreal Tournament 2003 for Windows (247M) and Linux (237M). The links are to 3D Gamers. This brings it up to version 2166b. Here's the scoop from the readme:

This is a dedicated server only version of UT2003. It contains ucc.exe and the minimum files required to host games for retail UT2003 players. You may use it for free provided you agree to the terms in the License.txt file in this archive.

After you install it, you will need to get a dedicated server-only CD key here.

Licq 1.2.3 Released -- 3:14 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

A new version of my favorite Linux ICQ clone, Licq, has been released. This version fixes a ton of bugs and memory leaks and has very good support for the v8 protocol. A complete changelist can be found here and you can download it here.

Freelancer Hands-On Preview -- 1:35 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

PC.IGN got 10 hours to play a build of Freelancer, Microsoft and Digital Anvil's much-delayed space sim. Here is their preview. The more I hear about this game, the more it sounds like a big, shiny version of Elite. If that's true, it would definitely be A Good Thing. Thanks Blue's News.

J.t.Qbe comments: Hmmm, interesting preview. I'll say up front that it sounds like it's going to be an interesting game. However, it also sounds like they're pushing it in the direction of some of the recent Elite wannabes. Two words: "missions" (Elite allegedly had a few, but I never saw one) and "story" (Elite's story ended when you closed the manual). Elite never ended (till we quit playing); Freelancer will, though you can continue playing after finishing the story.

I wonder if Freelancer will end up being more Privateer 2 than Elite. If it's done well, will anyone care? I won't: I'll gladly play it either way.

Tuesday, January 7, 2003

DeCSS Author Acquitted -- 1:17 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Jon Johansen, author of the DeCSS DVD unencrypter, was acquitted of all charges in Norway. The court ruled that there's nothing illegal about playing DVDs that you yourself have purchased. What a novel concept. Here's a snip:

The court ruled there was "no evidence" that either Johansen or others had used the decryption code (called DeCSS) for illegal purposes. Johansen therefore couldn't be convicted on such grounds, nor for acting as an accessory to other alleged illegal activity, wrote judge Irene Sogn in the court's ruling.

Nor, wrote Sogn, was there any evidence that Johansen intended to contribute to illegal copying.

The court determined that it is not illegal to use the DeCSS code to watch DVD films obtained by legal means.

It's nice to see the entertainment industry getting some well-deserved kicks in the teeth. Only they would try to send you to jail for using something you bought. I saw this link on a number of sites.

The Master comments: My biggest complaint with the Entertainment industry is not the fact that they make money; I am offended by their methodology. I am tired to death of albums with 1 good song, and 9 fillers that I absolutely hate. I am tired of having to shell out hundreds of dollors to purchase DVD-playing software, when I should be able to get that for a nominal fee. The RIAA does not deserve control of any form over my viewing or listening habits. And I am tired of being called a thief by the movie industry and the FBI every time I play a movie I own. And I bloody well own enough of them.

Oh, and when are the music companies finally going to lower their CD prices like they were supposed to do years ago after they got busted for price fixing?

New GameBoy Advance -- 12:32 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Nintendo revealed their new GameBoy Advance which features a lighted screen and rechargeable batteries. I'm not sure why I want one of these, but for some reason I do. Thanks Slashdot via Planet GameCube.

The Master comments: Subliminal messages in the news broadcast?

Past Two Days' News

The Haus is powered by:

All original information on this website is copyright © TheHaus.Net, 1999-2005. The use of original images, text, and/or code from this website without expressed written consent is prohibited. The authors of this site cannot be held responsible for any damage, real or imagined, which comes from the use of information presented on this site. All trademarks used are the properties of their respective owners. This site is not to be used as a floatation device (but if you try, I want a video tape of it).